COST OF A SNOWSTORM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22723, 8 November 1935, Page 6

COST OF A SNOWSTORM

IN WRECKED LINES POSTAL DEPARTMENT’S EXPERIENCE. A snow-storm which cost the Postal Department well over £IO,OOO descended on Canterbury Province one winter night last June. Telegraphic and telephonic communication was lost with all outside stations owing to the severe damage to the lines, and the department’s officers at once faced the task of restoring service in the minimum time, cost being a subsidiary factor compared with promptitude. Information published at the time showed how the repair staffs worked willingly under difficult weather conditions, first to give temporary outlets for telegraphs and telephones and eventually to make permanent repairs. Now the department’s officers have been able to count the cost of reinstatement though the interesting figures to be given in this article do not include special expenditure incurred in other directions, such as the prompt provision of temporary alternative means of communication. The damage occurred over a wide area extending from Christchurch to Kaikoura (125 miles north), Ashburton (53 miles south), and Otira (97 miles west) and including Akaroa, Amberley, Cheviot, Culverden, Gust, Darfield, Dunsandel, Kaiapoi, Rangiora Waiau and Waikari. All arterial circuits north, south and west of Christchurch were put out of commission and a total of about 140 toll and telegraph circuits were interrupted, while 1260 exchange lines serving about 2240 subscribers were also broken. In most of the lines practically all the wires were either broken or badly strained, necessitating replacement, while many poles were pulled out of alignment and required to be re-erected and butted. In addition, a considerable number of poles was broken and had to be replaced, although the proportion of broken poles was small compared with the total number affected. In one section between Christchurch and Kaiapoi approximately 50 poles were either broken or pulled down, while between Christchurch and Dunsandel 60 poles were similarly affected. Although there was a good deal of damaged material to be replaced, the greatest expenditure was upon labour. At one stage, 154 men were engaged on the work of restoring communication. These included gangs from the Wellington and Dunedin districts and also a number of mechanicians and mechanics who had been diverted from their usual duties at Christchurch to assist in the repair work. Casual labour was also engaged. The cost of material utilised for temporary and permanent repairs was £2804, while £7986 was paid in wages, thus showing that the spow damage in one night meant a cost to the Postal Department of £10,700.