POWER LINES DOWN

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1930, Page 7

POWER LINES DOWN

FLOODS HAMPER REPAIR WORK.

SERIOUS SHORTAGE IN NORTH OTAGO. OAMARU, January 30. The work of repairing the break ir the transmission lines from Lake Coler idge to North Otago promises to be a more difficult task than was at first anticipated, developments to-day pointing po the work occupying several weeks. Heavy rain and warm nor-wester: have thawed the isnow on the ranges in the back country, and the Waitaki .is carrying a heavy volume of water which during the past fortnight gradually undermined the central tower in the river carrying the power lines, with the result that the tower collap sed yesterday afternoon, causing a complete dislocation of the supply to North Otago. The river at present is swirling down to the sea in fairly high Hood, and at the railway bridge is three-quarters of a mile wide. The water is discoloured, and is carrying debris in the shape of branches of trees and gorse 'bushes. The fallen tower was built of steel, and was set in a bed of concrete, resting upon piles, which were undermined by the flooded waters. The towel' wa e , carrying two sets of power lines, three in each, to aillow of the power being switched from one to the other in case of repairs or testing being necessary. LIVE WIRES SUBMERGED.

When the tower collapsed yesterday, the live wires were submerged, and were thrown out of commission, and this morning an effort was made to lift the fallen lines from the water and switch the power through the reserve.set of lines on the upper portion of the tower, about 3ft above the flood waters. Late this afternoon, however, the river was still rising, and the fallen tower was swept out of position, eliminating all chance of establishing connection by this means. The shingle spit on which the tower was located has completely disappeared, and the former site of the tower is separated from the nearest island of an size hv about 200 yards. It was whilst attempting to reach the central tower last Friday that a Christchurch linesman was swept off his feet by the flood and drowned.

On the island nearest the fallen tovvei'. a gang of men from the Awakino hydro works were engaged this morning erecting a temporary trestle to take the strain of the submerged wires, but this work was abandoned later in the day, when.the flood swept the tower down-stream. The men who are engaged on the Waitaki hydro scheme were brought to the scene because they are continuously employed over the river on the construction of the dam, and the have become accustomed to working under such conditions as those at present at the Waitaki bridge.

A DANGEROUS TASK

Tho task of affecting even a temporary restoration of the power is of a dangerous nature. The island on which it is proposed to erect the pole■ is separated from the mainland by about 100 yards of swirling water. A cable has been rigged over the flood at the narrowest point to convey men and material across. This morning an effort was made to tow a pole to the island, but the force of the waer proved too strong, and the pole was swept away, being'retrieved later and brought bnc l ' by means of horses. Timber and other material, however, was safely conveyed over.

At present it is estimated that it will take at least a week to affect repairs sufficient to ease anxiety as to the power supply to North Otago, while permanent repairs will not be possible until the river subsides, and the work will probably occupy some considerable- time.

Although the river is by no means dangerously high, the level of the water is considerably above normal, and is still rising. On both the Canterbury and Otago banks, the current is swift and strong, particularly on the south side, where it is noticeable that just below the bridge the stream assumes a convex shape, clearly illusrating the speed and force of the water which scoured away the base of the transmission tower. The chief difficulty which confronts the Public Works Department will be the stringing of wires and erecting pdles acrthe big stretch of flooded river. Throughout North Otago the power is being conserved to the utmost, the local units supplying only a limited current.