CABLES FLOODED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 December 1943, Page 2

CABLES FLOODED

TELEPHONES OUT OF ACTION.

MISHAP AT KURIPUNI. About 100 telephones in the Kuripuni area of the town were put out of 'commission yesterday, after water had ’'found its way into the underground 1 telephone cables serving that end of iMastert'on, It is hoped to have the service restored by tomorrow morning. , The trouble arose following a heavy fall of rain about midday) It appears that P. and T. Department men were joining up the cables, for which purpose the manhole cover had been removed and the rain water, which overflowed from the street channels, found its way into the manhole, flooding the cables and short-circuiting a number of telephone services before, the cables could be protected. A creek which .'overflowed in the neighbourhood may have contributed to the large amount of water flowing in the road channels. The Masterton Fire Brigade’s auxiliary pumping unit was used to pump ?he water out of the manhole.

Steps were immediately, taken, tj re'pair the damage and under the Reclion of a Departmental ’Wellington, gangs were ’throughout the afternoon and last 'night and continued work today and probably tonight. It is hoped to complete repairs by tomorrow morning.