Power Fails

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 69, 8 April 1937, Page 5

Power Fails

HAVELOCK'S PLIGHT Shortage of Water at Dam at Maraetotara OFF1C1ALS PUZZLED Sporadic dislocation of the electric power supply at Havelock North during the past 24 hours has been caused by an acute and sudden shortage of water at the dam which serves the township.'s supply plant. Further shut-downs in the supply are aiiticipated until an alternative means of supply of current can be provided by the Hawke's Bay Electtic Power Board, which is now tho contfolling authority. The firet indication of trouble came shortly after 7 o'clock last evening when the supply of electricity failed. Power Board officials immediately went to the dam at Maraetotara and worked until after 10 o'clock clearing away the weeds and other matter blocking the screen, but it was found that the water level was eight feet below the overflow, though only the previous day the water had been level with the overflow.

A supply of power was able to be maintained overnight, but as the suppiy of water this morning was found to be very low, it was deemed advisable to close down the plant for the day so as to enabl© the accumulation of water fiufficxent to give the board the chance of supplying power for io-night. It is hoped to switch on the power again at 4 o'clock this afternoon. . Officials of the Power Board are greatly troubled over this sudden shortage of water and are frankly puzzled by it, for, as already mentioned, there was sufficient water in the dam for their purpose on Tuesday night, yet within 24 hours a very considerable falling off took place. It is surmised that the long spell of dry weather gradually stopped the various springs that feed the dam and the combined effect of these stoppages was not felt until yesterday. It is believed that on a few occasionB

in the past simiiar experiences have been encountered, but the Power Board which took over complete control of the Havelock North Town Board's plant and service only a week ago, was not prepared for such a contingency. An alternative means of supply of electricity for use in times of emergency is to be provided. This informa-* tion was conveyed to a Herald-Tribune representative to-day by Mr H. H. Wylie, secretary of the Power Board. "To prevent trouble of this nature in the future, it is proposed to erect a line along the Napier-Havelock road to about the centre of the villagp and when completed this will enable the major part of the Havelook North area to receive a supply of power from the board's main eystem," he said," "This alternative means will be brought. into operation when any future failure in the electrio supply occurs through. a break-down in the township's plant." Mr Wylie said that a start on the erection of the new line would be made to-morrow morning and it was hoped that it would be completed early next week. "In the meantime every effort will be made by the board to keep a con» tinuous supply to the consumers at Havelook North," he said, "but I am afraid that the consumers are likely to have further interruptiohs until early next week, unless more water is at%ilable to keep the town plant going."