ROWER SUPPLY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1938, Page 3

ROWER SUPPLY

BREAK DOWN AT COLERIDGE. (Per Press Association—Copyright). CHRISTCHURCH, June I'3. Rower supply I'tom the Lake ( oleridge hydro-ole: trie station ceased yestere.iy aiternoon at 2.35 when a serious fault developed in the main switch gear. The load, then at its peak, was switched on to the Waitski Station, which, wit.i generaitors of only I"LOO.) kilowatts, was unable to cope fully with the demand. Christchurch was in short supply until (i.Lj p.m., by which time Lake Coleridge brought partly into operation at 4.3 p.m,, was developing 900.) kilowatts. Dopes are held that further temporary repairs at Lake Coleridge to provide a bigger supply will he made to-day. The Waitaki and Lake Coleridge stations now run in parallel, and when the breakdown occurred there was a sudden black-out of all lights and an almost immodi to return to half-power, as the Waitaki powerhouse automatically took over the extra loading. With Lake Coleridge failing at a time of pcik loading in Christchurch, all demands were unable to be met from Waitaki, and the lowered voltage caused all lifts, heavy-powered plants, and lighting on direct current circuits in the city to be thrown out of operation, while all lights were weak.

The fault in the bus bars ol the iron-clad switch-gear at Lake Co.bridge damaged the main switch, but sufficient repairs weie made within one hour ; ,nd a half to enable four ol the generators to be connected up and to carry

light load. As soon as the breakdown occurred, Mr R. 0. Mao Gibbon, District Electrical Engineer for the Public Works Department, and other engineers left Christchurch for Lake Coleridge, and when communicated with by “Tim cress” by telephone - at the powerhouse shortly after 7 p.m., 'Mr Mao Gibbon said that it was hoped that t< liiporary repairs to the switch gear would be made by to-day. The permanent repairs would take some time.

The city trams were delayed a few minutes only, and when the power was very light, arrangements were made at 3 o’clock to put the steam plant at Palsgrave street into action. Refore steam could be fully developed, the Lake Coleridge supply was partly restored, and the steam plant was not brought into use.

One long transport delay took place, the 2.10 p.m. train from Christchurch to Lyttelton beingstranded near Woolston. The running was taken up by a steam locomotive, .which left Christchurch at .r o’clock and pushed the. electrically hauled train through to Lyttelton. The service was maintained with steam locomotives until G.dl) when the electric Cains resumed their running, The time-table, however, was disorganised 'Hie breakdown of the power supply seriously allectod the picture theatres that had afternoon sessions only. The two theatres, the Grand and the Liberty, which screen continuously, were forced to suspend screenings for one hour and a half, and the Crystal Palace was the only theatre able, because of the lower output, of its projecting and sound plant, to resume its afternoon programme quickly. In all the otbei theatres, the afternoon sessions were abandoned, the patrons being given the alternatives of a refund of the admission charges or passes to admit them to later sessions. All theatres held their evening sessions. '|’he broadcasting transmissions Imm Station 3YA were maintained. As soon as the regular power supply h:okc down, the emergency power plant, driven by an oil engine, was brought into operation, and the station <‘onIi„ i ted with its scheduled programme, id theme b the transmission was made at, n low power The subsidiary station 3YL—-was off the air part of the after.