Power restored in Christchurch

Press, 4 January 1980, Page 4

Power restored in Christchurch

Electricity supplies had been restored to Christchurch consumers by yesterday afternoon. A spokesman for the Municipal Electricity Department and the Central Canterbury Power Board praised the efforts of staff who worked in appalling .conditions to restore power cut off by the storm. Many had returned from holiday leave after a radio appeal for assistance. The chief engineer of the department (Mr W. G. Johnstone) said that all that remained was to check lines that might pose problems because of the closeness of wind-blown trees.

The deputy general manager of the Central Canterbury Power Board (Mr P. D. Rutledge) said that his staff hoped t 0 restore essential services to Leeston, Prices Valley, Kaituna, and Ladbrooks as soon as possible. “However, they have been on duty for more than 12

hours and, although we hope to complete major work, we will be on the job early in the morning,” he said. Many power poles came down in the Heathcote County, especially on the Cashmere Hills. Some Cashmere residents were without power for most of the evening and workmen were out repairing lines from 1 a.m. yesterday morning and were still busy late in the afternoon. Teams of workmen cleared broken and uprooted trees. The Riccarton Borough had a “fairly normal” situation, according'to a spokesman. Water nearly covered Arakiki Street, Clarence Street, and the corner . of Riccarton Road and Clyde Road. However, by yesterday afternoon the situation was normal.' No homes or shops in the area were, flooded. Six power poles came down in different parts of the borough and' were replaced yesterday. . ' , ;

Full telephone services are likely to be restored by tomorrow. Bv early - yesterday afternoon, the Post Office had received reports of more than 3000 telephones being out of .service. The worst affected area was Islington where a major cable was damaged by water seepage. Other areas affected were Riccarton, New Brighton, Linwood, Papanui, Beckenham, and central Christchurch. Toll circuits were restored to Akaroa at 9 a.m. yesterday and by early afternoon and Cheviot. The acting divisional engineer of the Post Office (Mr B. L. Pattrick) said that he expected the radio toll circuits to Kaikoura to be back in service as soon as possible. The time taken to restore service to Christchurch subscribers would depend on the amount of water seepage discovered in telephone cables,