WIRE ACROSS POWER LINES.

Otaki Mail, 24 March 1939, Page 2

WIRE ACROSS POWER LINES.

SHORT CIRCUITS CAUSED. j DANGER EMPHASISED. j “At 3.30 p.m. on February lf;th u heavy short circuit occurred on Gladstone and Beach Roads, the E.11.T. circuit blowing the fuses and tripping the circuit breaker at the Shannon sub-station on the Levin circuit,” stated the engineer (Mr. ,T. A. Smith), in a report to yesterday's meeting of the Horowhemta Electric Power Board. “On investigation it was found that a piece of bale wire was across the lines near the woolshed on the Boys’ Training Karin property on C.D. Farm Road. “A party of boys working nearby were questioned if any of them had thrown the wire across -the line,” continued Mr. Smith, “but all denied having done so. The otlicer in charge ofi the party was informed of the matter and he undertook 10 report it to the acting-manager. This otlicer was later interviewed and he stated 1 lint he had traced the boy responsible. It was necessary to make urgent repairs to the , wires, which were badly damaged, and the power was oil the Beach Road circuit for one and a-lialf hours, causing considerable inconvenience to the Levin abattoirs, two dairy factories and a number of consumers. “A similar incident occurred near the same place on November 21st last., and on previous occasions, both at the C.D. Farm Road line and the lines on Kimberley Road near the institution, have been damaged bv the same practice. ’J’lie seriousness of the practice of throwing wire in the vicinity of power lines cannot be too strongly stressed, as serious damage to line, equipment, etc., may result, and inconvenience suffered by consumers. The cost of repairing the damage in this case was £3 Is.” Commenting on the report, the chairman (Mr. G. A. Monk) said that besides causing inconvenience to consumers, there was a very grave danger tc human beings and animals when power lines were down. This aspect could not be stressed too strongly, lie thought that in cases where the cause was traced tlie engineer should take the matter up with those concerned, see that the danger is realised, and thus endeavour to prevent a recurrence. Mr. 0. S. Keedwell considered that the farm authorities should see that bale wire was not left lying about. When that was done there would be no temptation to the boys. r fhe Chairman: I think that is the main point. Reference to an interesting fact was made by .Mr. T. G. \ invent. lie said that Canada imported New Zealand hemp for tying bales, and yet New Zealand imported baling wire from 1 Canada to do the same work. He did * not consider that was necessary, but * thought New Zealand should also use hemp for baling purposes. The discussion was not pursued fur-