PESTS STOP CLOCKS IN AUCKLAND

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1949, Page 8

PESTS STOP CLOCKS IN AUCKLAND

AUCKLAND, Feb 24

Ants, earwigs, mason bees and paper lice sometimes cause, Auckland street, lights to stay on during the dav and prevent some lights from burning at night. In a report to the Auckland Electric Power Board, the chief engineer, Mr A, O. Glasse, said that a variety of pests and rust ; ng caused bv humidity often affected clocks which governed the time switches.

“Ants, earwigs and mason bees almost invariativ result in the clockstopping, semetimes in the ‘on’ and sometimes the 'off position.” said Mr Glasse. As they were fairly fast workers, the trouble could eventuate shortly after inspection. Pauer lice which were extremely small, could either stop the clock or speed it up. The same trouble was experienced in other places. It was hard to keep pests out and some trouble must always be expected The board had about 7600 street lights on its system, exclusive of community lighting and some miscellaneous lamps. 'They were controlled bv 271 time switches and in addition there were 71 time switches: controlling telephone cabinets, bus shelters and community lighting. The board was formerly able to check the blocks once a week, but, because of shortage of labour and the night inspections, the check could be made only about once every tliree weeks In that time variations of up to half an hour either way were found.

To minimise complaints about the lights being on dunm the day. Mr Glasso recommended that, the board install a second time switch on all circuits One of the main troubles was the ae.e of the clocks, few of which were under 20 years old. At least GO to 70 changes a year were made. As the clocks were now past their useful life, the board should order new ones and gradually make replacements.