THE POWER LINES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 202, 27 July 1926, Page 7

THE POWER LINES

MAINTAINING THE SERVICE.

WORKING UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

While there has, fortunately, been, little interruption in connection with the electric power lines throughout the district, the maintenance of the supply has been attended with considerable difficulty, particularly in the region of the Linton crossing. At this particular point a post had, of necessity, been erected on an island in the river itself, but previous freshes had disclosed tho weakness of the connection owing to the destructive activities of flood waters, and the ManawatuOroua Power Board had determined to erect steel towers to carry the power lines across tho river, but unfortunately time had not permitted of the rectification of the position when yesterday’s flood waters inundated the countryside in that neighbourhood. Realising the weakness of the link in the service at Linton, members of the Power Board’s staff were despatched to that locality only to find that the roaring flood waters were threatening to swoop away what little of the island remained. The pole finally sank below the waters and, to free the fuses, it was necessary for one of the workers to swim out to effect the necessary cleare. ance. Such was but ono of tho many difficulties which tho staff members laboured under, throughout the course of tho day, they being for the greater part of the time forcing a passage through swamps and flooded areas. COPING AVITH THE POSITION.

Tho break in the service at Linton has resulted in tho power being diverted via the Te Matai road lines, but a “Standard” reporter was informed by Mr AV. A. AVaters, engineer to tho Maiiawatu-Oroua Power Board, tins morning that the dropping in tho height of the flood waters was anxiously awaited in order that the Linton crossing could he again brought into operation, for it would bo impossible for the Te Matai loop to carry tho load for milking machines. Tho matter of installing steel towers on the river banks had now become a matter of urgency, added Mr AVaters, for it was not improbablo that tho months of October and November would bring with them further freshes in the river. .... . , A break in the servico in the neighbourhood of Awahou was also experienced owing to a pole having been care ried away by a landslip, but the staff was quickly on the scene and no inconvenience was experienced by settlers. AVliilo tho position had been particularly bad in the neighbourhood of Rangiotu, and many ot tho settlers had been forced to vacato their residences, it had been found possible to maintain tho power service without interruption in that neighbourhood. A visit to the Ivaroro district was paid by Mr AVaters this morning, when a scene of desolation was witnessed, tho Karero road being under water in several places, while the houses in the region of the Lockwood estate were set in tho midst of a veritable sea of flood water, which was pouring uninterruptedly in nnd out of tho windows. AVhile a certain amount of stock had been lost, tho majority of the farmers had received sufficient warning to remove their sheep and cattle to points of safety. Tho encroachment of the waters, added Mr AVaters, has had tho effect of leaving the rabbits and hares homeless, and those who have made good their escape were to be encountered along the roads in large numbers.

Flood waters were also to he encountered on tho Jackeytown road for several chains on the Palmerston North side of the railway station, and road communication appeared to be out of tho question. Looking out over the Tainui swamp from tho end cf boundary road, another desolate scene was presented, tho area being but one vast sheet of dirty coloured water. AVORST FLOOD SINCE 1902.

A resident of the Tiakitaliuna district advises that, although the flood waters aro two feet lower in that neighbourhood than in tho disastrous ;flood of 1902, the neighbourhood of the Lockwood estate is probably a heavier sufferer, such a position of atfairs being attributable to tho fact that, whereas on tho occasion of the earlier flood, the downpour was centred in the Hawke’s Bay district, the present deluge was localised on this side of tho range, with tho direct result that the Oroua and Managono were more affected. Tho breaking of tho banks of tho former river lias, naturally, played a big part to this end. FLOOD INCIDENTS. Many district residents figured as interested onlookers at the river banks yesterday afternoon, a steady stream of motor vehicles and cyclists wending their way to various points of interest. Their excursions were, not unattended with considerable risk, and there are several incidents recounted where accidental deviations from the road surface in flooded localities reesulted in cars coming to rest in ditches or being upset with a resultant wetting to the occupants. . The blockage of a drain in Fitzhorbert street had the effect of forcing back tho rain waters and a miniature lake accumulated in the neighbourhood of the Fitzherbert and Ferguson streets crossing. Its presence seriously inconvenienced the householders, who had no option but to wade out or to their homes through several inches ot water. Travellers to Palmerston North yesterday from sorno areas were faced with the problem of negotiating the flood waters, which had increased in tho interim, on tho rturn journey, and while some endeavoured to force a passage, with the result that then cars became marooned; there were others who took the wiser course and remained in town. A. service car, the driver of "which had occasion to journey to Taikorea yesterday morning, accomplished the outward journey cpiite successfully, but found it impossible to follow the same route on the return trip, and had to skirt Rongotea and thread his wav round to Sanson bcfoie heading for Palmerston North. MAIN TRUNK TRAIN DELAYED. The south-bound Main Trunk train was approximately 3(1 minutes late on arrival at Palmerston North this morning. The delay was caused by a minor slip at the Mangaonoho bank. All. trains were running to the correct schedule last evening RAIN IN SOUTHERN HAWKE’S BAY. ■ The Rev. Rugby Pratt, who was visiting Napier over the week-end, in conversation with a “Standard” reporter, stated that Napier and Hastings were experiencing an exceptionally hot spell. “The weather was fine yesterday on leaving those centres,’’ said Rev. Pratt, “but south of Ormondville it was raining heavily.”