LEVEL OF LAKE RISING

Southland Times, Issue 23540, 21 June 1938, Page 6

LEVEL OF LAKE RISING

Gain Of Nine Inches

At Monowai

RESTRICTIONS NOT YET RELAXED Lake Monowai has benefited considerably from recent rains and the rise which began more than three weeks ago has been continued. The lake is now six feet below normal, a S 3 !* l nine inches having been made in less than a month. In spite of this improvement, it is considered that the catchment area supplying the lake has not benefited from rain to the same extent as other Southland areas and the authorities are hopeful that the extraordinary conditions which have made the Monowai district the driest part of Southland will soon end, allowing the lake quickly to regain its normal level. The steady improvement which has occurred has not been sufficient to justify a relaxation of the rationing of electricity in the country districts, but the engineer in charge of the Southland scheme (Mr A. C. Owen) stated yesterday that he hoped that it would soon be possible to restore a full service in all parts of the city. “I Can assure you that we are anxious to restore a full service and sell as much power as possible to the consumers," said Mr Owen in an interview with The Southland Times. The' restrictions had been imposed only because they were absolutely necessary and were being continued for. the same reason. The department appreciated that consumers were suffering serious inconvenience, but as soon as practicable the full service would be restored. In Invercargill during the last week the only restriction oh the use of power has been for advertising signs and shop window displays. Advertising signs have been illuminated on some premises, but the practice is not encouraged by the city electrical department.