POWER INTERRUPTION

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1930, Page 11

POWER INTERRUPTION

GUE TO MOTUKAWA MISHAP

TRAMS STOP IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

LIGHT BAD FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

A temporary interruption of the electric power supply from the Taranaki Power Board’s generating station at Motukawa last night brought the New Plymouth tramways to a standstill for nearly four hours and caused general inconvenience throughout the northern and centra) parts of the province. The interruption , began .about 5.30 p.m., when trouble occurred _m the region of the lightning arresters at the Motukawa station. Owing to the short-, age of water due to the prolonged dry wbather, New Plymouth has been depending on Tariki for--a fairly substantial supply of power for some time, and the New Plymouth and Tariki systems had accordingly been linked up. The mishap threw both systems out of order.

In New Plymouth the accident was signalised by the sudden fading of lights and for a period of about half an hour a dull glow from the lamps alternated with periods of complete darkness. Adjustments were made and for the next three and a-quarter hours New Plymouth carried its own load. The lights in the houses were barely sufficient to read by, and power was insufficient to keep the wheels of industry revolving. The street lighting was cut off altogether. • •• At 5.30 p.m. the trams stopped still in their tracks and there they remained until the Tariki system in good going order was brought in again at 9.10 p.m. With the failure of the main system of transport a bus service was hastily organised, and by.-6145 pane the main route and the suburbs of Vogeltown and Westown- were being fairly well catered for by. an improvised service. The inconvenience caused was greater than would usually have been the case owing to the exceptionally large Friday night crowd that was,in the town.

The trouble at the lightning arresters at Motukawa was speedily remedied, only to be followed almost immediately by further trouble,. The taek of effecting repairs wae rendered difficult by the fact that the men had to work practically in the dark. Stratford and the remainder of the Taranaki Power Board’® district had their service restored within a comparatively short time. About 9 p.m. New Plymouth was informed that it could once more come into the system, and at 9.10 p.m. conditions were normal once more. Lights brightened, street lamps shone again, and the trams started running.