TOLL OF RECENT GALE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 59, 10 March 1944, Page 4

TOLL OF RECENT GALE

MINOR DAMAGE TO POWER LINES IN WANGANUI AREA "The heavy gale of last week was responsible tor a good deal of Ininor damage to power lines." stated Mr. H. Webb, engineer, in his report to the monthly meeting of the WanganuiRangitikei Electric Power Board. "Waverley district suffered more than the Wanganui area, while at Marton little damage was caused. A tree blown across the main line to Waverley broke all seven wires on the line. Due to the power being off for some hours while repairs were being earned out, the whole of the lines in the area became heavily coated with salt; this led to considerable delay in restoring power as only a small section could be livened up at a time on account of the very heavy leakage over the salt encrusted insulators.

"On the Okoia-Wanganui East 11,000 volt line, where trouole has been experienced through fines contacting in nigh winds, the lines have been regulated and longer crossarms fitted on the longer spans. Although trouble has been experienced on this line several times a close inspection tailed to reveal any damage to the lines. Only the fact that flashes had been seen by the attendants at the sub-station indicated approximately where the contacts occurred.