ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 253, 23 July 1935, Page 13

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

New City Sub-station

As the buildings grow higher in the centre of Wellington, so the services connected with those buildings have to be built up to cope with the new demand. Citizens may see at a glance what is happening at the southern end of Featherston Street, where the footpaths have been disturbed by huge trenches all round that block of which Nathan’s building is the focal point. The recent erection of such buildings as the Prudential and Colonial Mutual blocks, the coming of a new and lofty Commercial Bank, the construction of the new Government Life Insurance building in Customhouse Quay, additions to the Grand Hotel, the possible addition to the Union Bank block on Lambton Quay, to say nothing of the increased lighting facilities required for new premises in Boulcott Street and The Terrace, has created a demand for a new electricity distributing point, and that has been located ia the basement of Nathan and Co.’s building in Featherston Street.

There is already one sub-station in Featherston Street, between Brandon and Johnston Streets, but as this became fully loaded by the new buildings at that end of the street, the necessity of another sub-station became apparent.

It is understood that the station now being provided in Nathan’s building will suffice for many years to exune. The problem of securing space for such stations becomes increasingly difficult as the years go on and- city land becomes more valuable. Once the work is completed, the public will never be aware of the existence of these substations In the heart of the city.