TELEGRAPH INTERRUPTED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 225, 3 September 1936, Page 8

TELEGRAPH INTERRUPTED.

Allegedly Intoxicated Mdtor-

isi Smashes Pole.

LINES SEVERED.

Press Association—Copyright. Auckland, September 2

i There was a temporary interruption to ! the telegraph services between Auckland ' and some of the southern centres tonight as the result of a motorist colliding with a telegraph pole on the roadside near the railway bridge about a quarter of a mile south of Pokeno. The accident occurred at 8.13 p.m. arid the breaking of several of the lines carried on the pole held up part of the Telegraph Department's service for over two hours. The driver of the car was unhurt and he was able to drive the vehicle away. The impact of the collision snapped a nine-inch hardwood pole about six feet from the top. Members of the line staff from Auckland were at once sent to Pokeno and assisted the local linesmen in repairing the lines, service being restored at 10.50 p.m. Apart from the lines which were severed there were other wires which enabled communication to be maintained between Auckland and Wellington and several other points so that the interruption to the service was not of a very serious nature.

Shortly after the accident the Mercer police arrested a motorist on a charge of being intoxicated.