ELECTRIC POWER FAILS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27212, 15 October 1949, Page 6

ELECTRIC POWER FAILS

Black-out Affects City And Southern Centres SWITCH OVER TO WAIPORI Trams were stopped, streets* plunged into darkness, shoppers throughout the city thrown into utter confusion, and thousands of other citizens inconvenienced in a variety of ways for a period from 8.20 last night owing to a break in the electric power. Many districts, particularly the hill suburbs, the north end and St. Kilda and St. Clair were badly affected. The break was one of the most serious experienced for a long time and many centres as far south as Invercargill suffered. Centres in the north, including Oamaru, did not experience any trouble. ,

The first indication that most citizens' had that there was going to be a major blackout was the sudden flickering of lights and the breaking off into incoherence of their radio sets. In some of the more fortunate sections of the city this was the full extent of the trouble, light and power being restored almost immediately. The city streets were thronged with the usual Friday night shopping crowds at the time. Many shops affected, particularly those in George street, were still filled with customers and there was considerable confusion until torches and candles, kept for such an emergency as this, were forthcoming. To add to the general confusion in the streets* the sky was deeply clouded. It was fortunate for those at a distance' that the hold-up of the tramways was only of a temporary nature and the- cars and buses were soon crowded' to capacity. However, even when they reached their homes, most people found conditions no more inviting. In many instances, no light or heat was available until a late hour. The Dunedin Hospital was plunged into darkness and the outside power was not restored for about half an hour. In the meantime, the auxiliary power plant was set in motion, but naturally, there was some delay before this could be done. Theatre patrons also. suffered some inconvenience.

The Daily Times was informed from an unofficial source that ,the trouble was caused by a “ blow-out ” at the Halfway Bush sub-station, and that there had necessarily been some delay in finding the cause of it. When a Daily Times reporter telephoned the sub-station at a late hour last night, all the information that was vouchsafed was that “We are too busy.” Wherever the trouble started, it was soon evident that the Government power from various hydro supplies had been cut off, and that as far as the city was concerned it was forced to use power generated at Waipori. This power could be brought.on only gradually*.but as tfar as possible an effort war made to give preference in the restoration of power to those services which ’ were considefed meet essential. '