IN DARKNESS.

Wairarapa Age, 19 December 1924, Page 5

IN DARKNESS.

ELECTRIC LIGHT FAILS. POWER HOUSE SWAMPED. Shortly before 9 o’clock last evening the inconvenience of the storm was added to by the failure of the electric light service, the town being thrown into complete darkness. Communication with the power house at Kourarau was also cut off, but when it was established later in the night “The Age” learned from Mr C. P. Drewitt, the Board’s engineer, that the Kourarau stream had risen to a treacherous height and had hurst through a bank at the power house, flooding the building till the machinery was submerged in four feet of water. At midnight the water was still rising. An emergency staff worked all night endeavouring to re-establish the service, but Mr Drewitt was doubtful if any power will be available even tonight.

Considerable inconvenience was caused in town by the failure of the lights. The switchboard attendants at the telephone exchange had an unenviable experience, for later in the night their emergency light fused and their exacting work had to be carried out by the aid of candle light. When an “Age” reporter applied for one of many rural calls he was greeted with the reply, “Wait till I find the key please.” The exchange clerks were further interrupted by the lightning making contact with the switch* boards, but despite their handicap they got through their wArk with a minimum of inconvenience to subscrib-

Patrons of the picture theatres, and other venturesome persons, made slow progress on their way home in the darkness, the flooded channels at intersections proving pitfalls for unwary feet. The publication of “.The Age” was temporarily interrupted, but the plant was quickly transferred to gas power and work proceeded with little delay.