SMOKE NUISANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23732, 12 August 1940, Page 9

SMOKE NUISANCE

RESIDENTS' COMPLAINTS KING'S WHARF STATION USE OF NORTHERN COAL . Bitter complaints of soot-laden smoke from the King's Wharf power station coating everything with a layer of grime were made during the week-end by residents in the vicinity of Princes Street. Finilv Place and Anzac Avenue. The manager of the Auckland Elect ricPower Board. Mr. R. H. Bartlev, stated that the trouble was caused through it being necessary for the moment to use northern coal, but that everything possible was being done to reduce the nuisance. A resident in Emily Plaee said that toward the end of last week when the wind was blowing strongly from the direction of the station the smoke was the worst he had known in nine years. Low cloud seemed to keep it down and it was necessary to protect the eyes from grit by holding a handkerchief over them. Even then his wife had to bathe her eyes to get relief from acute smarting. If a window was left open overnight there was a layer of grime on the furniture in the morning, he said. One morning he swept up a bucketful of soot from the footpath in front of his premises. Another resident said the table was laid overnight for breakfast and in the morning spoons had a deposit of soot in them. It was impossible to dry clothes outside, as the 3" were soon dirtier than before they were washed. Mr. Bartley said the board had been unable to obtain sufficient southern coal to demands from other sotirces. Waikato coal was normally used and it did not cause the smoke nuisance about which residents were complaining. However, with the present large consumption of 3000 tons a week at King's Wharf, the board had recently been obliged to use coal from storage. It was realised that the smoke was causing much inconvenience 'to residents, but everything possible was beine done to lessen this. Supplies of southern coal were coming to hand and in addition the load at King's Wharf would shortly be reduced, so that it was anticipated the nuisance would eease very shortlv.