ELECTRIC POWER STATIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1931, Page 5

ELECTRIC POWER STATIONS

NO DAMAGE BY EARTHQUAKE.

BREAK OF A MILE IN SUPPLY LINE.

An assurance that no damage was done to power stations by the earthquake was given on Wednesday by the chief engineer of the hydro-electric branch of the Public Works Department, Mr. F. T. M. Kissel. Mr. Kissel said that ■no damage was done at Waikaremoana, and what little disruption there was at Waipukurau was cleared within an hour. A break in-the line between Waikaremoana and Taradale was not definitely located .until the day after the earthquake. The break was caused by steel towers carrying, away in the Waihu Gorge. There was some bad country m this locality, .which, was not only difficult to penetrate, but still harder to get supplies into. • The damage extended over five toilers, a length of about a mile. Temporary woolen towers were being erected, and the engineers hoped to have power on from Waikaremoana shortly. Napier, Mr. Kissel explained,, was being supplied in the meantime with power at -11,000 volts over the main line from Waipukurau, and power was available there on Wednesday night. A spare transformer was being transported to Napier as soon as the road was passable, and would be erected pending complete reconstruction at Taradale. When the main supply is available from Waikaremoana,. the line from Waipukurau, which at present is used as a 11,000-volt line, will go back into service at 110,000 volts, so that the southern area can get assistance from Waikaremoana. A supply to Napier, pending the erection of the new transformers, will be given over - the second main transmission line at 11,000 volts from Waikaremoana.