KEEPING THE LIGHTS BURNING

Northern Advocate, 3 February 1936, Page 6

KEEPING THE LIGHTS BURNING

All night long three members of the staff of the Whangarei Borough Electricity Department worked in the storm to keep the light burning on the flood scenes, and give aid to those who were fighting the water.

Mr W. J. Dawson, the engineer, arranged that the street lights should remain on all night, and, when the current was available, they did so. Every now and then the power failed, the inky blackness adding to the confusion and wildness of the night. The powerhouse at Wairua Falls functioned as a submarine, with the giant turbines actually below the level of the angry waters, which dashed against the walls of the powerhouse, but could not ■ get in. This was possible as the result of structural alterations made after the previous giant flood in 1917, when windows and a doorway high up in the walls, were cemented up. A New Record. Even in that flood, however, the water round the power house, reaching lift lin, did not approach the height of 13ft 2in recorded during the week-end. Such a level has never been exceeded.

Early on Saturday morning the flood, at its highest point was within 18ins of the doorstep. Had it reached that level the power house would have inevitably been put out of commission. Mr Purvis and his staff had a most strenuous time working continuously from 6.30 on Saturday morning until p a.m. yesterday, when they were relieved by volunteers from Titoki, who assisted in cleaning the grills. When the power service did fail it was due to the screens at the head of the pipe line becoming blocked with flotsam cutting off the supply from the turbines. Trees Cause Trouble.

Within the town itself the electrical service withheld the terrific strain imposed by the storm with no dislocation, except in the case of individual services. Trees falling across the lines caused a number of breaks.

In Otangarei Road, one pole was washed out and another was broken.

Yesterday all communication with Portland and the Wairua Falls station failed, and there was anxiety lest further major faults in the transmission line should occur.

The power station staff took advantage of this help to enjoy a meal, tea, breakfast and dinner combined, and then returned to duty.