CITY'S LIGHTS GO OUT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1772, 10 June 1913, Page 4

CITY'S LIGHTS GO OUT.

? BLACK NIGHT IN CHRISTCHURCH. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Christchurch, Juno 9. Shortly after six o'clock last night ft "fault" ocourred in tho City Council a electrical system, and nil tho lights connected with it suddenly -want out. Tho City Council's engineer and his olnCMrs immediately iKgan a search for tho "fault," and, at a late hour, were successful, Until about a quarter to nino nil buildings served exclusively by tho council system wero in darkness, nut at that tiniVi t'ho current was switched on 1® somo of tho consumers. Naturally in a number of oases a great deal of inconvenienco was caused by the shortage, and complaints were numerous. At tho Police Station all was in darkness, and from tho outside there was no sign of life whatever. In tho watchhouso a small piece of candle guttered on a desk, and an open bull's-eye lamp flickered with a smoky flame alongsnlo. A man had been brought in on a cliiargo of assault, and there was a curious littlo ; sceno as tho various formalities wero go_no throug.li. The man was relieved of tho ! contents of his pockets, and was thori oughly searched with tho little group of , defectives and policemen collected round > tlio dim light. /.Throughout the evening i the station remained in darkness. T.lio telephone exchnngc suffered con- > siderably through, lack of light, and tliO I operators, with candles in their hands, wero kept busy watching for calls until . tho servico was restored. i, The organ at St. Andrew's Chiiroh. was , put out of action for tho night. Tho i choirmaster, however, had a tuning fork [ with him, and tho musical _ portion of tho service was proceeded with ■without . the usual organ accompaniment. Tim oi'gan nt tho Durham Street Church 'was [ also affected by tho "fault," but wns not put out of action. Mr. J. C. Scott, electrical' engineer to ' tho council, stated that ft short circuit occurred without a warning at nbouto, . quarter past six in tho underground main in Hereford Street, between Montreal and Colombo Streets. Ho was informed!' ' of tho stoppage of tho current at lrnlfJ past six, and immediately sent for aafiistnnco. None* could ho obtained, howover, and he had to undertake by him--6 self tlio cutting out of tlio faulty portion of 1110 main. By' half past olovon til® work wns finished.