Birds Responsible For Power Breakdown

Northern Advocate, 30 January 1939, Page 8

Birds Responsible For Power Breakdown

With the stand-by line out of commission when a fault developed on the main supply line from Portland, seri-. ous stoppages to the Whangarei borough electrical service occurred this morning. The supply for the whole town was cut off. The cause of the trouble was birds. The first stoppage occurred at 8.15, but the service was restored a quarter of an hour later. The next breakdown was at 9.35, and the supply was not resumed until 50 minutes later. There was another stoppage shortly before mid-day, which lasted for a few minutes. Normally, when faults develop on the main line from Portland, known in electrical circles as the “north line,” the current can be switched through the reserve “south line,” which is carried on the same poles. Due to unusual circumstances, however, the stand-by line has been out cf commission for a little more than a week.

Both sets of lines, comprising in all six wires each of 22,000 volts capacity, enter the Whangarei sub-station through six apertures in a concrete wall of the building. Birds Cause Trouble These apertures have been partly guarded by glass discs, but have allowed sufficient space for small birds, such as sparrows, to enter the building, setting up a fruitful means of trouble in the electrical supply. In wet weather, the birds squeezing between the glass and the wire, would set up a short circuit and meet their death in a 22.000-volt “flash" that not only smashed the glass disc, but also inside Insulators. The birds would also build nests in the coils of the high tension circuit, causing further short circuits, crossflashes between the wires, and consequent dislocations to the town's service.

Preventive Measures To obviate the difficulty, Wilson’s (N.Z.) Portland Cement Co. Ltd., which is responsible for the supply, agreed to install a series of insulator bushings, completely blocking the birds’ ingress. Accordingly, a iittle over a week ago, temporary wires were erected bringing the supply from the north line into the sub-station through a window, the ordinary channels from both main and emergency lines being rendered “dead” so that the bushings could be fitted in place. This work should be completed at the end of this week, and it will be necessary to close down the service completely for about two hours next Sunday to effect the change-over back to the normal supply lines. It was unfortunate that in the meantime as the result of the weather, a series of breakdowns should occur at the Portland end of the main line when the emergency line was not available. Serious Effects The Whangarei dairy factory plant, the signalling system, at the railway station, and machinery at the “Northern Advocate" office were all rendered idle while the power was cut off. These establishments, together with houses on Lower Cameron Street, were the first to receive electricity when it became available once more. other areas being switched in gradually to avoid sudden strain on the supply system. Sundry housewives who pride themselves upon the punctuality with which they serve lunch, were embarrassed this morning, especially those who were unaware that the current was not heating ovens or points in the expected manner. Late lunches, however, were excused on Anniversary Day.

son. They won a prolonged first game. The score then went to 3—all, but again Smith and Wilson forged ahead to win the set 6 —4.

The tide changed in the third set and | Charters and Pattinson went on to a.. 5—2 lead. With the set, almost in j their grasp, they lost another volleying ! match, and Wilson and Smith crept up game by game till the score stood at s—all. They had the chance to win j in straight sets, but Charters and Pat-' tinson played desperate tennis and j took the next two games and set 7—5. Wilson and Smith went ahead in the fourth set, and though their opponents prolonged every game, took the set, winning the match G—2, 6—4, 5—7, e-h ' | Women’s Doubles. Misses Nessie and Margaret Beverley had an easy straight sets win over Misses M. Macfarlane and R. Taylor in the semi-finals of the women’s doubles. The early advantage in the second semi-final belonged to Misses B. Griffiths and J. St. George, who met Misses P. Cooke and B. L. Bishop. They jumped immediately to a s—o5 —0 ; lead, but Misses Cook and Bishop produced some dogged tennis and fought up till the scores stood level, and then they went on to a 7 —5 victory.

Fortunes fluctuated in the second set, but the score finally reached the same stage as in the- first, s—all. From there Misses Bishop and Cooke took the lead and finished to win the set 7—5; The match tvas theirs;, 7—5, 7—5. Mixed Doubles. '' Miss N. Beverley was good in the match in which she and W. T. Pountney captured the mixed doubles title. She put ( across some shrewd shots, and Pountney’s ‘ net work was excellent. All through it was good smashing by Pountney, and excellent volleying by Miss Beverley. Pountney’s retrieving of Rodney Smith’s smashing was spectacular’, and he and his win was well deserved. Further Scores. Results were:— Mixed Doubles. —Final: W. T. Pountney and Miss N. Beverley beat R. W. Smith and Miss P. Cooke, 6—2, 6—2. Men’s Singles.—Semi-final: N. F. Bedford beat J. W. Gunn, 7 —5, 6 —3, 8—1; N. G. Sturt beat J. T. Mayson, 62, 6 —4, 6 —3. Men’s . Doubles.—Semi-Finals: ,M. T. Wilson and R. W. Smith beat*J. C. Charters and R. Pattinson 6—2, 6—4. 5 6—l. Women’s Doubles. Senfi-Final; Misses N. and M. Beverley beat Misses M. Macfarlane and R. Taylor 6—3, 6—o; Misses B. L. Bishop and P. Cooke beat Misses J. St. George and B. Griffiths, 7 7—5. Intermediate Boys’ Singles.—Under 21: Quarter Finals: A. S. Burns beat W. T. Pountney. 6—l, 7—5; J. H. Molier beat M. Solomon 6—l, 4 —6, 6—2; B. Broun beat J. B. Smith 6—B, 6—4, 62; A. S. Lamond beat K. I. Clements o—6, 6 —o, 6—2. Boys’ Junior Singles (Under 18). — Quarter Finals: F. G. Haddock beat T. H. Knowles 6—4, 4—6, 7—5; J. B. Smith beat W. Huckstep 6—2, 6—o; A. S. Burns beat R. McMillan 6—l, 6—2. Intermediate Girls' Singles.—Quarter Finals: Miss M. Beverley beat Miss W. Smith 6—l, 6—l; Miss B. Potter beat Miss R. C. Hodges, 6—4. 6—2; Miss N. Symes beat. Miss M. Hodges, 6—2, 6—l.

Intermediate Girls’ Doubles. —Quarter Finals: Misses M. and R. Hodges beat Misses J. McDonald and R. Smith 6—4. 6—2.

In the Sheffield Shield cricket match between Victoria and New South Wales, the latter w r as dismissed for 120 in its first innings. James was the principal scorer, with 34. Scott took seven wickets for 33. Victoria replied with 176 for two wickets (Gregory 65 not out, Hassett 64 not out).