Overview
Tues. Dec. 18.
Turned hay round house. Cycled down to Mangahao.
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Wellington City Transmission Line where the men are now straining up the cables. Stays have been fastened to the big double poles. Heavy rope running through double sheave blocks is attached to the foot of the next pole + the straining is done by means of a draught horse pulling on the loose end of the heavy rope. The three cables are strained simultaneously, the strain being equalized by means a apparatus called an “Equalizer” consisting of a beam with blocks + tackle similar to “chain + blocks” ploughing gear, and measured by a dynamometer attached to one of the cables + a loop of the equalizer. The dynamometer is simply a powerful spiral spring with an indicator registering the pull in cwts. [hundredweights] on a graduated scale. The cables are held by smooth faced grips which tighten as the strain increases. When the strain is shown on the scale of the dynamometer to equal 15 cwts each of the cables are fastened to one of the pair of pendant insulators on each of the cross-arm ends of the double poles + the insulators take the strain until the next stretch is strained up. A complete set of straining apparatus is used on each of the two transmission lines. 1/2pl[ate]. photos (1) General view of straining apparatus on Main Line. (2) Tackle + block, equalizer +c (nearer
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view) (3) Cables with grips + dynamometer, Stand-by Line. (4) View of straining apparatus on Stand-by Line with pole used as anchor. (5) Group of the men engaged on this job (all except Mr. Owen, the overseer). Took orders for 39 views of job. Drove to Levin + attended sale – afternoon tea with Father. Home early + carted 3 small loads of hay to new shed, Maud + children assisting by raking.