South Island News

Taihape Daily Times, 6 July 1918, Page 4

South Island News

CHRISTCHURCH IN DARKNESS, SOME NOVEL EXXPERIENCES. vThe 'Christchurch “Press” gives some interesting experiences of business people and others owing to the Lake Coleridge electric supplyv.being cut off during the bad weather.- >. At the central police station no electric current was available, and candies had to be used in all departments.

Many of the lifts in the city were put out of action for a time, and a'H unusual amount of climbing stairs had

to be done,

A large city hotel, which is connected direct with the Lake Colerpige scheme, and does not use the .City Council’s current, was without Tight all day. Gas was used in the building to some extent, but the gas ser-_ vice was far from sufficient, and as darkness came on a liberal supply of candles was obtained. It was in these conditions that the guests had their dinner. The hotel, which usually is aJ blaze of lights, had a strange appearance in the darkness.

The Public Library had an unwonted aspect last evening. In place of the flood of brilliant light at the entrance and in all the r'dbms, there was partial or complete' darkness. A dim lantern on the steps replaced the high candle-power street lamp. Inside, gag jets were used for the magazine room* The reading room and the reference room were closed. In the circulating department there was a gas jet over the counter, on which were books for the public to choose from. An occasional subscriber made use of his bicycle lamp in order to read the titles of books in the cases.

OAving to the stoppage of the Lake Coleridge electrical current, the electric lights at the nlagistrate’s Court could not be used yesterday.Indeed, the Court was without lights altogether, and at 4.45 p.m. a case char was no* nearly completed had to hi adjourned on account of the darkness. It is the custom to continue ai case until six o’clock at least, but without lights this was manifestly impossible The Opera House presented an unusual appearance last evening in the absence of the electrical currnt. The > building was crowded in every portion> many patrons being unable to gain; admission, and the artists-, accorded an enthusiastic The manager, Mr. had made complete arrangements for the stoppage of the and'Had secured a number of hurricane lamps with special large reflectors.. Six were placed in the footlights, and nine on each side of the stage, which appeared to suffer little-,-by contrast with the usual lighting arrangements. The auditorium was lighted by gas and one hundred candles. During the second half of the programihe the electric current Avas restored, the appearance of the light being greeted with loud cheers.

All the picture show ; theatres, except Crystal Palace, suffered very severely from the loss of current. They could not get it during the afternoon, but hopes were entertained that there would be sufficient to enable them to show their programmes in the evening. These hopes proved to be futile. A promise was made that there would be current at 8 p.ra.. but as it did not arrive the doors of The theatres remained closed. The public paid the theatres a high compliment by waiting at the doors in the rain until eight o’clock, when the crowds gradually melted away.

GALLIPOLI TO MESSINES,

Final attention is called to tlie abovelecture to be delivered in the Town. Hall on Monday evening next, at 8 p.m. by Chaplain Captain H. L. Blamires lately returned from France. The lecture has been delivered throughout the North to large and enthusiastic audiences and in Hamilton last "Wednesday evening was listened to with rap: attention by an audience that filled the large theatre to A special feature of the lecture is the exhibition of 100 excellent slides taken by the chaplain himself many of which depict the present front of battle and bring home very vividly the [ conditions under which our boys are nOw fighting. No one should miss this "highly instructive and interesting lecture. The prices are popular, adults one shilling, children sixpence and the proceeds in aid of Trench Comforts and .the Methodist Church Foreign missionary movement.