TRAM POWER SHORTAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1062, 28 August 1930, Page 9

TRAM POWER SHORTAGE

KING’S WHARF TROUBLE CAUSED BY LOW TIDE An exceptionally low tide was the cause of the power shortage which seriously disorganised the tram services for three hours yesterday afternoon, The pumps in the old part of the King's Wharf power station failed to lift the necessary amount of circulating water, and this put part of the generating machinery "Out of action. Current had to be rationed, and the tramways power was supplied only intermittently to the outer areas. The Power Board's consumers were not seriously inconvenienced as regards house and office current, but trams carrying outward-bound passengers were trammed between five and six o'clock, owing to the fact that the ears which had crept as far as the outward termini were unable to return on schedule time. The maintenance of the regular time-table was impossible. One car which left the city for Dominion Road at 3.45 p.m. took nearly three hours to the terminus and back.

Regular running was resumed at 6.40 p.m., when adjustments had been made. The routes most seriously affected were Mount Albert, Sandringham, Mount Eden and Dominion Road. Lights in Otahuhu, Westfield. Panmure and Ellerslie were cut off for a short period early this morning while a change-over in the load was being made.