SERIES OF BLACK-OUTS

Grey River Argus, 30 August 1939, Page 5

SERIES OF BLACK-OUTS

IN GREYMOUTH Lightning Interrupts Power Vivid flashes of lightning, accompanied by loud peals of thunder and 'heavy rain, were experienced at Greymouth last night. At 7.10 p.m. a particularly bright flash of lightning caused a breakdown in the supply o current from the Public Works De- ' partment’s electrical sub-station at I Dobson. The lightning contacted with i the main feeder line entering the 'substation, putting out of action the main switch gear, a panel in which was damaged, while the lightning also followed through to damage also at .the sub-station the feeder for the cir- ! cuit at the south end of Greymouth, connecting as far as Camerons. The panel damaged was the main one for the whole supply distributed from 1 Dobson, and it had to be replaced. Fortunately there were on hand at the sub-station two spare panels, one of which was substituted for that | damaged, and current was then restored for the main Greymouth supply. The interruption had occurred at 7.10 p.m., and by 7.38 p.m. the lights were on again, the replacement of the damaged position occupying only 28 minutes. At 8.30 p.m. there was another power interruption for five minutes, this being necessary for the connecting up of the supply for/ the Camerons circuit, which had meantime remained inoperative. The lightning, however, continued intermittently until midnight, there being a further electrical interruption in town about 11 p.m., and again current was cut off shortly before midnight, this interruption lasting for twenty minutes.

The telephone and telegraphic services were not affected by the electrical storm.