“POWER SHORTAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1930, Page 3

“POWER SHORTAGE

COLERIDGE STILL FALLING. 'By Telegraph—Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 11. No good news came from. Lake Coleridge to-day. The weather was fine but a falling barometer gave hope for a north-west wind, with rain. The level of the lake fell again to£Qaf', but the Public Works Engineers 'fail hoi now giving the exact figures.

Several meetings held in the city toNyjqy showed the concern of the power |||seirs abopt. the situation. have agreed, tentative, fy, to cut out the late shopping night, provided that all the retailers abide ■sy . this , decision.. it ; The street lighting in the city tonight was-cut down to> a minimum. 'Most of the streets were in complete darkness, but a few light still showed ihi Cathedral Square and at the busiest intersections.

■Tile- picture theatres will be greatly affected: by the power failure. All except the two newest theatres, how4evef, have stand-by plants, but these were; installed for the silent films, and tliey-,'ai - ei"not sufficiently powerful to oplVaie tile talkies. The Drainage Board to-day ran its dWn : section pumping plant, but, ! Unfoft|inately, : it can carry only half tHe ISad. ‘"A hew 1 ‘pump is being obtained for" the wafer supply but this cannot be operated 'for some weeks yet. I The biggest economies are possible in the domestic , use of current, but the.,.anijliotities are believed to be at a * loss' 1 toi discover how to enforce econo- ‘ tfiies whicl'i would, in cases, admittedly cause ''d* '“'serious hardship.