Wind Causes Telephone Faults

Press, Volume C, Issue 29669, 13 November 1961, Page 14

Wind Causes Telephone Faults

Gusty winds which reached speeds of 47 knots at times kept eight Post Office faultmen busy day and night throughout the week-end repairing telephone lines in Christchurch. “We have bad as many as 200 subscribers’ lines out this Week-end,” said Mr D. M. McFarlane, the Post Office divisional engineer, yesterday. “On Saturday night there were 80 subscribers without service, but everything is under control and by dusk tonight every line will have <■» faults were caused mainly by twisted and broken lines, most of them broken by gusts of wind, and some broken by branches and trees. There were also two more dramatic breakdowns when the head of a pole broke off

in New Britton and another pole caught fire in Waterloo road, Sockburn. Mr McFarlane said nothing ot significance had happened to the toll circuits, but twisted wires caused minor faults on the West Coast and south routes. Little tree damage was reported to the City Council Parks and Reserves Department. and the director (Mr H. E. Gilpin) said he was more concerned about the effect ot the wind on the week-old fire at the council's Chaneys plantation. Mr Gilpin took W of his staff out there yesterday, but he said the fire could probably be safely left alone after last evening. The Municipal Electricity Department repaired nine bouse service wires on Saturday, but no damage was reported from yesterday’s wind. The wind was north-wes-terly most of the day on Saturday with an average speed

of 25 to 35 knots. The gusts of 47 knots occurred about 11 am. and then the wind gradually slackened and switched to a light southwesterly between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Weather Office said the wind was easterly on Saturday night and was light and variable until 11 a.m. yesterday. During the afternoon it blew from the east at 18 to 20 knots, with a maximum of 29 knots, before beginning to taper off. Lyttelton Damage Strong gusts of wind cm the Lyttelton waterfront damaged a wooden railing on the new car parking lot at the head of the steamerexpress wharf. Vessels in port put out extra moorings. A violent gust which caused the incoming Maori to touch the knuckle of the wharf with her port side, caused a slight dent on her portside but apart from that no other damage was done.