ELECTRICAL STORMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20131, 28 December 1939, Page 6

ELECTRICAL STORMS

EXPERIENCE IN WAIROA POWER LINES STRUCK SERVICES SUSPENDED (Special to the Herald.) WAIROA, this day. Electrical storms of an unusual and violent character were experienced in Wairoa on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The lightning was particularly dangerous and of a concentrated character. On Christmas evening the centre of the electrical disturbance was over the Awamate and Paeroa districts. Power lines were struck and service temporarily suspended from several transformers.

The storm broke with little warning on Boxing Day and was even worse than the day before. This time the centre was the Tuhara and Waiatai districts.

At 1.20 p.m. a direct lightning stroke occurred on the power line. This exploded the main line fuses for Tuhara and Waiatai and was sufficiently severe to open the Tuai power-house circuit breakers. One main fuse brace was shattered to atoms and an insulator on a main air break switch split. Nine transformers had their high tension fuses blown.

The trouble was widespread and difficult to locate, but every service had been permanently resumed at 8 p.m, temporary arrangements having been made to enable milking to proceed. When the storm broke the borough and all lines were out. However, the main trouble was located and isolated, all lines except those directly affected being switched in after six minutes.

The holiday staff of the Power Board achieved this and worked in heavy rain on both days until late in the evening to complete service to consumers.