THE POWER THAT FAILED.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1920, Page 8

THE POWER THAT FAILED.

WANGANUTS PLIGHT. Wangamti is having a bad spin with its electric light and power installations. Unlike New Plymouth, it has no hydraulic power, which doc 9 not go on strike, reduces output, or blows itself up now and again. Last week Mr. J. Townsend, Government Inspector of Machinery, met the Committee of the Wanganui Borough ouncil, appointed to investigate the cause of the recent tramway stoppages and failure of power. In the course of the evening Mr. Townsend related his experiences _ while an engineer at sea. The ship he said had a troublesome engine to run the electric light plant. There was trouble between the commander and the chief engineer. The engine put him in mind of the one in use Tn the power-house. It was called upon to develop electricity to supply the captain with light at all times day and night. Having only one plant like Wanganui, the engineer's had no time to overhaul the engine or to keep it up in an efficient manner. This worried the speaker to a considerable extent, and he suggested to the captain that the plant should be stopped for overhaul. He advised the captain that if this were not done there would be trouble, and the ship left in total darkness. The captain replied: "Leave it to Providence." "We continued for a week leaving it to Providence." added Mr. Townsend, "with the result that they had had a smash up." Continuing, the speaker said that had the plant been overhauled it would have saved hundreds of pounds. In his opinion, something simile* existed at the power-house. The trams were being kept running to satisfy the public, and the engines, in his opinion, were not in a fit condition to run any longer. He wished it to be understood that he was not reflecting on those who were in charge of the plant. Judging by what he had read in the papers', and the engineer's report to the Council, he (the engineer) should have been instructed to have the plant stopped to make the ne> essary repairs twelve months ago. If the engines were not shut down they would very shortly shut themselves dowji. At a later stage Mr. Townsend's prediction proved correct, for it was repjrted that the engine had stopped and . would not be running again until Friday