STORM DAMAGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23260, 23 July 1945, Page 6

STORM DAMAGE

Heavy Cost To Post Office £150,000 For Line Repairs ; (N.Z.P.A. WELLINGTON. July 20. The Acting Postmaster-General (the Hon F. Jones) stated to-day that while it would be some time yet before the full extent of the storm damage to telegraph, telephone and toll services in the Canterbury area could be fully assessed, it. was now possible to say that the disruption of services was probably the most extensive in the history of the Post Office, and would involve an expenditure of at least £150.000 for repairs. Reports so far received regarding the major toll and telegraph routes, the Minister added, indicated that a total of 56 miles of pole line had been levelled to the ground, while approximately another 50 miles had many spans of wire broken, although the poles were still standing. Although there was extensive damage to the north of Christchurch, that area had escaped more lightly than the southern and western portions of the province. The Jlli’i'-r said that an indication of the damage done was given by the fact that in one length of line carrying an average of 30 wires, approximately 1000 poles had to be re-erected, and about 100 tons of wire would have to be salvaged from the wrecked lines. A survey showed that some 9000 telephones were put out of action. The approximate numbers for the exchanges mostly concerned were: Christchurch 6500, Timaru 700, Rangiora 350, Waimate 321, Temuka2ll and Oxford 180. Good progress had already been made with the restoration of services, and bv Monday it was expected that the Canterbury staff would be supplemented by 100 men drawn from other parts ot the Dominion. In addition, the assistance of service personnel was being' arranged. Emergency radio services had enabled telegraphic traffic, including press messages, to be disposed of without serious delay, the Minister said. Approximately 10.000 telegrams and 50,000 words of press dispatches were handled in this way. the staff working long hours to dispose of the traffic. The Minister expressed appreciation of the excellent work done by all sections of the Post and Telegraph staff.