Unusual Mishap

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 288, 19 November 1928, Page 7

Unusual Mishap

TO NAPIER TRAMCAR CRASH OF TELEGRAPH POLE An unusual accident befel the Hastings St. tramcar at the corner of Vautier and Hastings Streets shortly after 12.30 p.m. on Friday, when a pole carrying telephone wires and supporting overhead tram wires, snapped off at the ground just as the tram was passing, and crashed across the roadway a few yards behind it. The first warning that the motorman had was when he noticed the wires ahead of him commencing to fall. He immediately applied the brakes, and brought the car to a standstill. On alighting, it became apparent to him what a narrow escape the car, which was heavily laden with lunch-hour passengers, had had. Judging from the manner in which the two trolley poles were knocked about, it looked as though the car was a contributory cause to the accident. One trolley pole was badly bent, and the other had the trolley torn clean off. The appearance of the two poles leads to the belief that just after the tram passed over the loop points a few yards nearer to town, and was gathering speed for the run to the terminus, the trolley left the wire and swung skywards. The first set of stay-wires was swung across Hastings Street at the corner of Vautier Street, and in those wires the trolley became entangled. With the car rushing on, the poles to which the stay-wires were attached received a sudden jar that found a weakness in one, and down it came, snapping 20 or more telephone wires and the electric wires atached to the buildings adjoining. Even the insulators on the cottage at the corner were torn away from the building. As it fell, the pole landed across the overhead tram wires, but although forced towards the ground, they were of too stout material to break. The cause of the pole giving way so suddenly was easily ascertained, an examination showing that it was badly affected by dry rot, and the sudden jar it received brought about its destruction.

It was not long before members of the staff of the tramway and electricity departments and the Post and Telegraph Department were on the scene. Many hands made light work, and the tangled wires were removed, and the pole swung on to the side of the road. The damaged tramcar was taken along to the Dickens Street corner, and by that time another car arrived to take up its running. Half an hour after the mishap had taken place, the tram service had resumed its time-table.

Throughout the afternoon, workmen -were busily engaged in extricating the stump of the old pole, and with that accomplished a new one ’was erected. Before evening all the electrical connections had been reestablished and the telephone -repairs were well under way.