CHRISTCHURCH IN DARKNESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19042, 12 December 1923, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH IN DARKNESS.

BREAKDOWN IN POWER SUPPLY. FAULTY INSULATORS RESPONSIBI/E. Per United Press Association.), CHRISTCHURCH, December 11. A break occurred in the Lake Coleridge power supply. From 7 o’clock till 10 last night the lights were on and off at intervals, failing altogether at the latter hour. The trams were hold up until the Tramway Board’s steam plant was got into operation, and traffic Was on the move again after a halt of 50 minutes. The City Council s stand-by plant was also requisitioned, and it illuminated portion of the city, though at 11.15 p.m. the greater part, remained in darkness, and was likely to do so until the fault in the Coleridge transmission lines was found. and rectified. Picture patrr*i s were not inconvenienced to any groat extent, as the managements quickly brought their own plants into use. The breakdown was overcome by this morning. The breaks wore attributed in all cases to faulty insulators, as the result of rain falling after a dry spell for months past. In connection with the breakdown Mr Mao-gibbon (public works electrical engineer) said there wore three cases of insulator trouble. “We have never bad this sort of trouble before.’’ he added. The insulators which had failed were the new type which had replaced the old. They had been affected seemingly by the i-ain on them following a, prolonged spell of dry weather. The department had not expected the trouble which developed in the rain last evening. It was a complete surprise to find that *ho porcelain bad suffered in the way it had.