Power Cut Causes Run On Lamps And Candles

Northern Advocate, 6 April 1948, Page 6

Power Cut Causes Run On Lamps And Candles

STARTING about ten days ago, a rush on candles, lamps, heaters, and fuel oil in Whangarei has been steadily growing untii a climax was reached during the past 36 hours. Most hardware stores in the borough have been swept clean of lamps, and this afternoon only a few small sizes in this line remained.

No shortage of candles has been reported, and kerosene and methylated spirits are in good supply.

Primus and other types of heaters arc available in sufficient quantities to meet any reasonable demand.

Consumption was 5 per cent below the allocation.

Little hope is held of further supplies of lamps being' obtained from Auckland, which has a severe powc-r shortage of its own. One hardware store, which had six dozen lamps in stock three months ago, had only 10 lerc yesterday, and these were gone early this morning. Another firm was down to nine hurricane lamps this morning', with orders coming' in constantly. Many customers favoured table lamps, which are unobtainable since no chimneys are available. One firm had a few dozen lamps still on hand this morning, but the aernand was “exceptionally heavy." Owing to the lighting restrictions night classes at the Whangarei High School will in future commence half an hour later.

This was the reduction requested by the Electricity Controller during' the fortnight before it was fixed at 15 per cent.

If the full reduction had operated for the whole week, consumption would have been 24,000,000 units. Actual consumption for the week was 26,800,000 units.

The water levels at the lakes made it very important that reductions should be made now and in future weeks until the hydraulic position had recovered, officials said.

The 15 per cent was the ' minimum which authorities were requested to save.

Any extra power saved would make the position still more secure until the rains came. NO RAIN AT LAKES No rain fell in the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. yesterday at either Lake Waikaremoana or Taupo. No change occurred in the level of either lake, Taupo remaining at 9in above the minimum level of control and Waikaremoana being steady after a slight rise, 26.4 ft below overflow. Comparative lake levels are: 1 LAKE TAUPO

The classes will commence at 7.30 p.m„ instead of 7 p.m. The class usually held on Thursday night will not be held this week.

Effect Not Apparent. . .

WELLINGTON, Tue. (Sp.)—'The effect of last week’s steps to reduce North Island power consumption to 15 per cent below the allocation was not apparent, an official of the State ITydro-Electric Department said yesterday. The reason: It was late in the week before the restrictions could be imposed in most districts.

(Overflow level, 1177ft; minimum control level, 1172ft) 194S 1947 1940 1945 ft ft ft It April 5 1172.75 1173.1 1172.15 1176.2 March 29 1172.85 1173.35 1172.3 1170.45 LAKE WAIKA REMO ANA (Overflow level 201Gi't) 1948 1947 1943 1945 ft ft ft ft April 5 1989.4 1995.5 2006 2012.3 March 29 1989 1995.4 2000.5 2012.9