ELECTRICITY CUT OFF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18396, 11 May 1923, Page 6

ELECTRICITY CUT OFF.

TRAM SERVICES STOPPED.

THREE ROUTES AFFECTED

FAILURE OF LIGHTING.

NEARLY TWO HOURS' BREAK

A serious dislocation of the electricity supply in the city yesterday afternoon resulted in the cutting off of the lighting current in some districts and the suspension of portion of the tramway wr : vices. ,The cause was a derangement of the main plant at the King's Wharf power house. The stoppage of power and light in the affected neighbourhoods lasted from about 3.30 p.m.. until 6.15 p.m. At 3.30 o'clock the new 3000 kilowat turbine in the Electric Power Board's main station was thrown out of action, and there was some trouble also with the switch gear. As a consequence the alternating current circuit was cut off, as well as that supplying the extreme outer areas with light- and the Kingsland sub-station. The contretemps disturbed many householders, especially as tho evening approached and there was still uncertainty whether the current would be restored in time to light-en the darkness. In the city and on -all the other circuits, tho lighting was reduced to dimness. As tho day was dull, necessitating tho use of artificial illumination in many shops and offices, this partial failure of the f electricity was inconvenient. (/ The more senQVis inconvenience, however, was inflicted upon the users of the tramways. The Kingsland sub-station supplies the tramways with the entire power for the Dominion Road, Mount Albert, and Grey Lynn services. When the current was suddenly cut off at that station all the cars on thoso routes came to a standstill.. The tramways manager, on being informed of the mishap, at once made tho best arrangements possible to ' carry on some sort of a service. The power from tho old Hobson Street station, which u in course of demolition, was, after some delay, switched on to the Grey Lynn service, enabling that to be resumed shortly before the Kingsland power again became available. ~ In the meantime the best that could be done for the- residents of Mount Albert and Dominion Road was to run special cars for them from Queen Street as far as the top of &ymonds Street. \ • "'"' '' r - , The suspension of three. of the services, running as it did into the first, part jo/E the rush hour, when many hundreds of people were in Queen Street anxious to board their home-going cars, - added to the confusion of that period. Residents of the districts in which the trams were at a standstill were,at a loss to know why they were left out in the cold. Also, the lessor number of cars available caused those that were on . the" tracks to bo heavily crowded. Many people, unablo to obtain trams to th(jir proper destinations, boarded others which would carry them to some point not too far-away 'from home. Others waited with what patience they could command. One result' of the. dislocation of tho services was that. numerous intending passengers walked the whole length of Queen :-. Street to Wellesley Street, and even higher - up, • and caught cars on the / down-town - run. When tho Dominion Road and Mount Albert cars once more appeared in the city after tho Kingsland power [been restored, they were - 'rushed, most of them being filled long before they reached the foot of the mam thoroughfare. A , lit Mo relief was afforded by the intervention of owners of char-a-bancs, who put their vehicles on tho road. ,•:/';*;,

INADEQUATE RESERVE.

CITY COUNCIL'S sPOSITION.

PROVISION MUST BE MADE.

A statement dealing with '■.the serious: dislocation- of the tramway services was made by the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, last evening. ; . . . Mr. Gunson said the stoppage of the current came without, any warning to the .' City Tramways Department, and this in the present circumstances existing ' be- . tween the Auckland Power Board and the City Council was a matter entirely beyond tho control of tho Tramway Department. The tramways manager, ?' Mr. ;A. E. Ford, and the engineer, Mr. F. E.. Guerrier, were advised by the Power Board; engineer that tho stoppage was due to some defect which had developed at "'' the sub-station. All • tho power available from the Hobson Street, station was im- ' mediately switched over to afford the utmost possible relief, but it was obvious at this time of the year, and; nt the rush hour, when the accident happened, that*, It was impossible to copo with the portion. All charabanc owners were notified and the best was done to give the public relief in tho matter of a temporary service. ' ■ While fully recognising that an accident of this kind might occur at any time at any station, said Mr.Gurisom it was quite clear that both the. Power Board ana the City Council were working without an adequate reserve and in view of this further warning it. would be the duty of the council not to allow the demolition of the Hobson Street plant until there was ail adequate reserve installed by the Power Board against such mishaps, which always subjected tho public to enormous inconvenience. Mr. Gunson explained that recently the council allowed the board to start with tho demolition of the Hobson Street station on tho assurance that there were ample reserves, but in view of this breakdown the council had a responsibility to see that there was ample supply of current and adequate reserve for its tramway system. • As a result of yesterday's mishap he had cone into the question with Mr. G. R. Hutchinson, chairman of tho Tramway* Committee, and it had been agreed to ask tho council to tike steps to protect tho public against stoppage of the services even when these interruptions aro*e from a breakdown or a fault at the station. This could be done by a reerrvo plant, which should be available, for emergency calls. The'simple fact was that the demand for electric current was developing so rapidly not only for die trarn§ but for every other interest that the authorities had not planned jofficiently. and were being overtaken. This applied both to the council in the pa&t and the Power Board to-day. It thus became the dutv of the council to insist upon adequate provision and reserve* again" t failure ant! breakdown under any conditions that might arise.