£l0,000 IN A NIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1935, Page 2

£l0,000 IN A NIGHT

CANTERBURY SNOW STORM COST. POSTAL DEPARTMENT SUFFERS. The snow storm which descended on the Canterbury province one winter’s night last June cost more than £lO,OOO. Telegraphic and telephonic communication was lost with all outside stations owing to the severe damage to the lines and the department’s officers at once faced the task of restoring service in the minimum time, cost being a subsidiary factor compared with promptitude. Information published at the time showed how the repair staffs worked ! willingly under difficult weather conditions, first to give temporary outlets for telegraphs and telephones and eventually to make permanent repairs. Now the department’s officers have been able to count the cost of reinstatement though the figures do not include special expenditure incurred in other rections, such as the prompt provision of temporary, alternative means of communication. The damage occurred over a wide area extending from Christchurch to Kaikoura (125 miles north), Ashburton (53 miles south) and Otir' (97 miles west) and including Akaroa, Amberley, Cheviot, Culverden, Cust, Darfield, Dun-

sandel, Kaiapoi, Rar.gic a, Waiau and Waikari. All arterial circuits north, south and west of Christchurch were put out of commission and a total of about 140 toll and telegraph circuits were interrupted, while 1260 exchange lines serving about 2240 subscribers were also broken. ■ In most of the lines practically all the wires were eithe broken or badly strained, necessitating replacement, while many poles were pulled out of alignment and required to be re-erected and butted. In addition, a considerable nubber of poles were broken and had to be replaced although the proportion of broken poles was small compared with the total number affected. In one section between Clnistchurch and Kaiapoi approximately 50 poles' were ’ either broken or pulled down, while ; between Christchurch and Dunscndel 60 poles were similarly affected. Although there was a good deal of damaged material to be replaced, the greatest expenditure was upon labour. At one stage 154 men were engaged on the work of restoring communication. These included gangs from the Wellington and Dunedin districts and also . a number of mechanicians and mechanics who had been diverted from their usual duties at Christchurch to assist in the repair work. The cost of material utilised for temporary and permanent repairs was £2804, while £7986 was paid in wages.