CONFUSION IN CITY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 152, 29 June 1935, Page 11

CONFUSION IN CITY

AUCKLAND POWEI! FAILS

LIGHTNING AT ARAPUNI

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, June 28,

At possibly the busiest period of the week, Auckland was plunged into darkness shortly before 5 o'clock this afternoon by the failure of the electric power supply from Arapuni. The breakdown lasted for varying periods in different parts of the city, and with the power cut off from the tramway ■system -widespread confusion was caused in Queen Street, with thousands ot shoppers and workers awaiting transport to their homes. The interruption was caused through lightning striking an insulator in the outdoor station at Arapuni. "There had been a phenomenal display of lightning for some time." said one eye-witness, "and suddenly a vivid sheet seemed to strike right at the outdoor station. There was a loud explosion, followed by a flashing electric arc, and then came an almost deafening thunderclap." The striking of the insulator affected all the lines, and power was cut off from the whole district served by Arapuni. Hamilton and other towns as | well as Auckland were left without light. In the city the most serious effect of the power failure was the stoppage of the tramway service. A serious view of the breakdown was taken by Mr. R. H. Bartley ( . general manager of the Auckland Electric Power Board. "This is the fourth time this month that Arapuni has, failed," he said. "If this continues we shall have to look into the question very seriously and see whether in the interests of our consumers we would not be well advised to reopen the.JCings Wharf power station." .'