ELECTRICAL SUPPLY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 378, 27 April 1915, Page 9

ELECTRICAL SUPPLY.

THE RECENT STOPPAGE.

MR BIRKS'S EXPLANATION.

BOYS BREAK INSULATORS

The Christehurch City Council last evening received a letter from the.Government electrical engineer at Christcliureh (Mr L. Birks), with regard to the interruption of the supply of current from Lake Coleridge on Tuesday yyeniyg of last week. The letter expressed regret afc .the stoppage. Tho causes of the shut-down had b£e» thoroughly investigated, and complete precautions had been taken to eliminate such causes in the future. An extra set of lightning arresters for attaching to the line was on hand, and would be installed as soon as experience indicates the correct position. An appeal was being issued to the schoolmasters of all public schools along the line urging them to point out to the boys the danger of shooting or throwing stones at the insulators, and a stronger effort was being made by means of a substantial reward to suppress such malicious damage. The spare transmission line is now put under full pressure for two hours twice a day, and will shortly be maintained continuously under pressure, thus being constantly ready for immediate use.

The repair gangs had worked very well on the night of the stoppage, but the practice they had had would enable similar Avork in the future to be done in half the time, though the constant preparedness of the second line will practically eliminate the necessity for such extreme emergency work. The question of earthing the neutral point of the high tension system, as advocated by Mr Stark, was also under consideration. COUNCIL HAS CAUSE TO COMPLAIN. Cr A. S. Taylor moved that the letter be received. He said that there was no reason for the citizens to be alarmed. They must expect a few difficulties before the scheme was completed. At the same time the council had cause for complaint, in that it had not been informed that the second transmission line from Lake Coleridge to the <-ity was not working. If the Electrical Committee had known that the second line was out of action, it would have kept the boilers at the power house going, so as to be able to supply current temporarily while the line was being repaired. In this respect the council had good cause for complaint. YESTERDAY 'S STOPPAGE.

Or Cooper: T believe there was a stoppage of current to-day. Or Taylor: That was duo to something wrong in our own -works. Ho pointed out that there must be some slight difficulties in connection "with the scheme. This was by no means the lirst long distance transmission line that had boon built, and all those which had preceded it had had their troubles. The difficulties experienced in connection -with these lines had been of value in the present case, and advantage had been taken of every mistake previously made. WHAT WAS THE CAUK.K? Or Scott: Are wo to understand that the trouble was due to school children breaking the insulators'? Or Taylor: That is suspected. Or Scott: I have been led to understand that the insulators are not able to withstand the strain put upon them. The Mayor said that he could not say whether or not children were blamed for the trouble, but it seemed so from the letter. The town clerk said that one conviction had already been obtained against a boy for breaking an insulator. The letter was received.