SHORTAGE OF POWER.

Wairarapa Age, 26 August 1930, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF POWER.

RATHER SERIOUS POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH. LAKE COLERIDGE AT LOW LEVEL. CHRISTCHURCH, August 25. Faced with a shortage of electric power through an unprecedented drought in the back country and a consequent fall in the level of Lake Coleridige, the Public Works Department has asked the Christchurch Tramways Board to bring into operation from to-morrow its own steam generating plant and is appealing to the public for .strict economy in the use of domestic current. The position is not yet serious, but should the present drought continue for the next few weeks, the level of the lake may be po reduced that the maximum load at present existing could not be carried. The diversion of the River Acheron, which will provide a considerable additional supply of water, is being put in hand immediately. The Tramways Board’s plant has not been used for any length of time since the Lake Coleridge scheme was first completed, but has frequently been in use for one or two days. If the tramway load exceeds 1000 kilowatts, which is the maximum the station ean produce, the balance of power will be drawn from Lake Coleridge.—(P.A.)