WAITAKI SCHEME.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 124, 7 March 1930, Page 2

WAITAKI SCHEME.

WORK UP TO SCHEDULE. • * ’ .. ■ *. ; ' / V - COMPLETION IN TWO YEARS. (Special to the “Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH* This Day. Mr Packwood (engineer in charge of the Waitaki power scheme), who is visiting Christchurch, in an interview, was emphatic in stating that work is proceeding according to plan, and that unless- some serious obstacle or difficidty was encountered the power plant should be in operation by March 31,, 1932. Mr Packwood said there are 600 men on the job at present, and the peak of production and personnel <1 should be reached about May. There will/ then be about 750 men. At present three shifts are being worked, so that construction is proceeding continuously night and day except on Sundays. \ The plant and personnel represent probably the greatest concentration of modern plant and labour that has ever been gathered together in New Zealand. So far, every thing is proceeding according to the construction plan devised many month* ago. No obstacle or unexpected difficulty has Jieen encountered to cause the eng'n'eers to modify their programme. If the.river follows its normal programme and has floods during the summer with a low flow during the winer, there should be’no reason why the construction should not proceed according to the plans. Of course, if abnormal or unseasonable floods occur.during the winter there might be some delay. Originally the programme called for the construction of coffer dams, and of necessity each had to be constructed during the summer time, so that concreting could proceed during £he following -winter. Of these coffer dams the first (central) one in the centre of the river had been duly completed according to programme and concreted to the predetermined height., Immediately on the construction of the first coffer dam the construction of the second one, which runs from the Canterbury bank, was undertaken, and despite the long-sustained and heavy floods work is progressing as designed, and excavation of the river-bed below the dam is now proceeding. Within three or four weeks it is expected to commence pumping, so that concreting may begin about May next, and ‘the level of tlie concrete completed to '•river water level. In this second coffer dam sluices will be provided of a capacity sufficient to take care of the winter flow of the river. The following winter (in 1931) the third coffer dam will be constructed, the river being diverted through the sluices of No. 2 coffer dam.

It will be seen then that this programme provides for all the work in the river being completed by the spring of 1931. It is estimated that from six to nine months will be reonired in which to complete the work above the .water level, and also the installation of machinery in the powerhouse afid other work, which is now proceeding simultaneously with thi river work.