P.&T. STORM-LOSSES

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 July 1945, Page 4

P.&T. STORM-LOSSES

ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE WELLINGTON, July 19. The Acting - Postmaster-General (Mr Jones) stated to-day that while it would be some time yet before the full extent of the storm damage to telegraph, telephone and toll services in the Canterbury area could be iuily assessed, it was now possible to say that the disruption of the services was probably the most extensive in the history of the Post Office, and would involve- an expenditure of at least £150,000 for repairs. Reports so far received regarding the major toll and telegraph routes indicated that a total of 56 miles of pole line had been levelled to the ground, while aproximately another 50 miles had many spans of wires broken, although thenooles were still standing. Although there was extensive damage to tne north oi Christchurch, that area had escaped more lightly than the soutnern and western portions of the province. The Minister said an indication of the damage done was given by the fact that in one length of line carrying an average of thirty wires, approximately 1000 poles will have to be re-erected and about 100 tons of wire -would have to be salvaged from wrecked lines. A survey showed that some . 9000 telephones were put out of action, the approximate numbers for the exchanges mostly concerned being Christchurch 6500, Timaru 700, Rangiora 350, Waimate 321, Temuka 211, Oxford 180. Good progress had already been made with the restoration of services and by Monday it was expected that the Canterbury staff would be supplemented by 100 men drawn Iroin other parts of the Dominion, m addition to the assistance of service pedsonnel which was being arranged. Emergency radio services had enabled telegraphic traffic including Press messages to be disposed ot without serious delay. Approximately ten thousand telegrams and fifty thousand words of Press were handled in this way, the staff working long hours to dispose of the frame. The Minister expressed the appreciation of the excellent work done by all sections of the P. and T. staff.