POWER SYSTEM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 July 1942, Page 2

POWER SYSTEM

REPAIRS WELL ADVANCED DAMAGE WIDESPREAD. MONTHS OF WORK AHEAD. Although no serious damage was done to the Wairarapa Power Board’s buildings and power supply system, the whole of the reticulation received a considerable shaking by the earthquake, and it will be some months before normal conditions are reached. The chief engineer, Mr H. B. Keenan, said he could not speak too highly of the work of the staff. Every man reported for duty and they had got on with the job right away. He said he was exceptionally pleased with the work that the staff was doing. Following the earthquake the board concentrated in the first place on restoring power to hospitals, then on providing power for re-establishing communications and thirdly for food supplies. The damage to the board’s power system and buildings will run into some thousands of pounds. It was widespread, occurring all over the board’s district. Gangs of men are busy throughout the Wairarapa making the whole of the reticulation safe. It is hoped to complete this work by the end of the present week. This, however, has to be followed up by a,thorough inspection of all outside and inside installations, a task that will occupy some months, so that the high standard of efficiency set in the past can be re-established. Other gangs are repairing the damage to buildings, which was only of a slight nature. Many different types of faults in the reticulation system occurred, as a result of the earthquake.