WAKAPUAKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 30 November 1938, Page 6

WAKAPUAKA

LINKING WITH WAIMEA POWER BOARD LAYING OF MARINE CABLE AN INTERESTING WORK Residents in the Wakapuake area after many years of waiting, are on the verge of receiving a supply of electric power which will enable them to enjoy the advantages obtained in other parts of the Waimea Power Board's area. The Nelson City Council have completed a portion of transmission lint from Washington Avenue through Rus* sell street to Haven Road on the board’* behalf, and the Power Board have connected this line over Britannia Height* to connect in with their 11 k.v line at Tahunanui.

Good progress has recently been made with the reticulation of the Wakapuaka area, and a number of consumers are ready to receive power when it is available.

On Saturday the Pearl Kasper was chartered by the Board, and the specially constructed marine cable was laid across the inner harbour from Russell street to the end of the overhead transmission line in the harbour, thus completing the final link in the supply of ’ power to Wakapuaka. The method to be adopted in laying this cable was given very careful consideration by the engineers, as the whole length of 40 chains, weighing nearly nine tons, had to be run out | without a joint. The mechanical strength of the cable was insufficient | to enable it to be hauled out over rolI lers for such a distance, and the tidal j waters, with the current set up by inj flowing and outgoing tides offered their j problems.

| The mounting of a drum of cable of such weight and height on a scow with j the possibility of a li*t which would interfere with its running also offered j possible difficulties, and it was finally I decided to lay the cable onto the Pearl Kasper's deck, and to lay it off during j the crest of a spring tide. The cable went off the scow without trouble, th* I whole operation being completed withI in an hour.

The cable has to be buried and it* ends connected to the transmission lines through boxes, and supply can then be made available to Wakapuaka.