POWER FAILURES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1939, Page 4

POWER FAILURES

CHAPEL st. area affected. A DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS. Power failures are usually a matter of mystery as far as the public is concerned as the lights go off and come on again without any other signs of trouble, but yesterday the exception ruled. A loud report like a gun going off and flames and smoke issuing forth from a transformer at the corner of Lincoln Road and Chapel Street disturbed the usual serenity of the police station and those in the vicinity at about 3 p.m. At the same time portions of the high tension fuse box were scattered over the roadway. The cause of this display of fireworks was a surge on the lines, brought about, it is stated, by overloading. The Chapel Street block, which included the Post Office and the “Wairarapa Times-Age” was the area affected by the blow-out. Queen Street, fortunately, was beyond the affected area.. Those who had business to conduct at the Post Office had the unusual experience of seeing officials working by candle light. Power was restored to the affected area at about 4 p.m. Earlier in the day a switch at the Waingawa sub-station was blown out, also due, it is stated, to' a surge.