D.—l.

Waikaremoana Power-station, Headwords, and Village. Access Roads. —All roads were blocked by landslides and slips, Tuai being completely isolated, the worst being a huge landslide at the 20 m. peg from Wairoa. Fife-line. —No damage was done except for the tilting-back of a few cradles. Earth Dam.— Small cracks up to 2 in. wide and 4 ft. deep have been filled and rammed. Power-station. —Various small cracks appeared in the building, but no appreciable damage was done either to the building or the apparatus. Staff Village. —Practically every chimney was demolished. The main water-supply pipe burst at the entrance to the village. Repairs have been effected and conditions are now normal. Power Boards' Damage. Hawke's Bay Power Board. —This Board suffered severely not only on account of the earthquake, but also the fire which afterwards swept through Napier, destroying their store. A large number of transformers were shaken down ofi their platforms, and the distribution-lines were reduced to a mass of wreckage. Great strides have been made with the rehabilitation of services, as evidenced by the fact that the load immediately after the shake was reduced to about 400 kw., principally the Napier Borough pumping-plant, while early in June the load has reached almost 4,000 kv.a., which is greater than the peak load for 1930-31. Wairoa Power Board. —While not a great deal of damage was done during the earthquake, this Board suffered from the loss of their principal consumer, the freezing-works, whose buildings were destroyed by fire just subsequent to the shake. The load taken by the Board has therefore fallen considerably. General,. —Considering the severity of the earthquake, suprisingly little damage was done. The transmission-lines stood up in every case except Tower 220 on the Napier-Tuai line, where a huge landslide took place. One lesson learned is the necessity of fixing transformers and other apparatus securely to their foundations. This is being done all over the system. Oil switches which were bolted down suffered no great damage. The system was back to normal operation on 29th March, when the reconditioned bank of 110 kv. transformers was put back into service at Napier. IV. Construction. Mangahao Power-station. —The delivery of the relay-protection equipment was completed during the year, and the erection of same is in an advanced state. An acoustic shock-absorber was fitted to the main telephone system to guard operators from excessive shock to the eardrums during switching operations, lightning-storms, &c. A new transformer, protection system, and metering equipment were installed on the headworks line. Waikaremoana Power-station. —Relay equipment was received and installed during the year, and is practically ready for operation, only the final testing being required. An acoustic shock-absorber was fitted to the telephone, following satisfactory results from that installed at Mangahao. Adjustments were made to the turbine relief-valves, and these are now operating satisfactorily. Duplicate power-supply has been run to the governor-motors. The earth-filling at Lake Kaitawa at the position of the old spillway weir was completed and the water-level indicators at Kaitawa weir installed. Khandallah Substation. —The installation of the relay equipment is practically complete. A temporary wood-pile structure was erected as a terminus for the Khandallah-Melling transmissionline. A 110 kv. 0.C.8. has also been installed to control this line. Bunnythorpe Substation. —The renovation of the old building damaged by fire last year, and extensions to same to house new apparatus, made necessary by growth of load and the extension of the system, was completed during the year, and a good start has been made with the installation of apparatus therein. New 11 kv. switch-gear is being installed. The new storage-battery and charging-set has been installed. A telephone switch-board has also been installed. The two 0.C.8.s (for the control of the two Mangahao lines) which were damaged by fire in the substation building while awaiting installation are being reassembled, one being completed. A new bank of transformers has arrived at site and will be dried out shortly. To control the 110 kv. side of the two transformer-banks, have been delivered to site and will be installed shortly. A new lightning-arrester has been installed. Wanganui Substation. —The permanent water-supply system has now been completed. The stable has been converted into single men's quarters. A new lightning-arrester has been installed. Steelwork and switchgear have been delivered for the proposed extensions. The 0.C.8. to control the Stratford lines has been received, and erection will proceed shortly. A new storage-battery and charging-set has arrived. Woodville Switching-station. —The relay system has been completely installed, and was finally tested and put into service in early June. The 0.C.8. controlling the Bunnythorpe line was installed, and is now in service. A new workshop and battery-house were built, and the battery installed. This station is now complete until it is necessary to duplicate the lines from Napier. Dannevirke Substation. —The new relay equipment has been received on site and a start has been made to install same. A new 0.C.8. for controlling the Woodville line has been erected and put into service.

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