BLOWING THE BARK.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 60, 18 December 1924, Page 2

BLOWING THE BARK.

STOPPAGE x N POWER SUPPLY. 1 The Sequel to a Letter. Some little while back, during- a visit of the member for the district, Mr. F. F. Hockly, to that part of his constituency, representations were made to him by the Hinuera Settlers' and Ratepayers’ Association with regard to the menace of certain gumtrees growing in the railway reserve at Hinuera. It was pointed out to the member that the trees in their close proximity to the electric power lines threatened considerable danger to the system. Mr. P. Hawke, secretary to the association, says that the point stressed by the deputationists was not so much that the trees might fall across the wires, as that portions of them might become detached, and blowing- across the line cause short circuiting- or even more serious trouble. The member said he appreciated the gravity of the situation, and that he would bring the matter before the Minister of Railways at the earliest opportunity. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Hawke receved a communication from Mr. Hockly covering a letter from the Minister, which the former now desires published. It runs as follows: “ With reference to your personal representations regarding the risk of a short circuit being created on the electric power lines in the vicinity of Hinuera station, owing to a number of blue gum trees growing on the railway land, I have the honor to inform you that the Department’s engineer has personally looked into the matter and advises that there are no blue gum trees overhanging the electric power lines. The trees are on the one side of the public road, whilst a the electric wires are on the other side. The trees are tall and straight and have no overhanging branches, and it is not considered that there is any danger to the power lines such as has been suggested.—Yours, etc., J. G. Coates, Minister of Railways.” It appears that on Wednesday last, during the violent storm which occurred late in the afternoon of that day, and the effect of which was felt all over the district, a great deal of harm and inconvenience was caused by the trees in question. They are m the south end of the plantation to the east of the Hinuera railway station yard, and they consist of some twelve to twenty very fine specimens of eucalypti; they are in prime condition, and their long, exceptionally straight trunks suggest that they would nake excellent telegraph or power poles. They are growingpractical ly alongside the public hall and just opposite along the side of the Cambridge road, runs the power line.

The furious onslaught of Wednesday evening’s gale caught the gums and robbed them of their bark. It blew great strips off the trunks—in one case over 20ft long—and hurled them against the wires, causing, inter alia, the power to be shortcircuited. Stories told by eye-wit-nesses in Hinuera are to the effect that the display was at times terrifying, the flames shooting from the wires and bark lighting up the country for a long way round. The practical effect of the condition was that for some hours just when it \> T «s most wanted, no power was available in Hfnuera and elsewhere for milking, lighting and other purposes. The residents got into communication with the office of the Power Board at Matamata, and Messrs. A. E. Wrigley (depot manager) and F. Pearce (troubleman) immediately left for the scene of action. The official report of the position is to the effect that “ the cause of the trouble was that the bark blowing from blue gum trees, striking- the power lines, earthed an 11,000 volt line, blowing a fuse at the Horahora power house and causing a stoppage in the system throughout the southern part of the Matamata district.

The residents of Hinuera feel very sore about the matter, saying that the whole happening was forseen by them and could have been prevented had the Minister only listened to their opinion remitted to him by the member for the district. Mr. Hawke himself says that in reply to the letter quoted he pointed out to the Minister that wind was apparently a factor that the Department’s engineer could not grapple with, and the Minister accepted the engineer’s report in preference to Mr. Hockly’s personal representations on this matter. The seriousness of the power beng cut off to the farmers was emphasised to the Minister.

Needless to say, Mr. Hawke and the rest of his fellow members on the Hinuera Settlers’ and Ratepayers’ Association are now anxiously waiting further developments.