WAITAKI POWER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 256, 10 August 1934, Page 3

WAITAKI POWER

COMPLETION IN FEW WEEKS.

TRIBUTES TO ENGINEER.

(Per IVegs Association). OAMARU, August 9

In view of the early completion of the Waitaki dam, about 60 business men of Oamaru, representative of the Oamaru Borough Council, the Waitaki County Council, the Oamaru Harbour Board, the Waitaki Electric Power Board, the Oamaru Chamber of Commerce,- and the Oamaru Rotary Club, paid a visit to the Waitaki hydro-elec-tric works this afternoon at the invitation of Mr R. H. Packwood (engineer in charge). The work on the dam has progressed this winter to such a stage that it is only a matter of three or four weeks before the huge structure is completed. Two small gaps in the crest of the wall remain, and arrangements have been made to complete these next week. Of 11 temporary sluiceways in the dam, four have been sealed with concrete, and two are m the process of being sealed, leaving five, of which three more will be sealed during the next two weeks. The remaining two will then be sealed. While there are two permanent sluiceways to cope with the present flow of the river, Mr Packwood indicated that in the event of a flood, the remaining five gates could be lowered in the sluiceways in a hurry when the dam would function in the generation of electricity, and the sealing of the remaining sluiceways could be carried out next August when the river turns to its present low level. The organisation of the work is being synchronised to. enable the completion of the dam and the removal of machinery from the upstream, side of the dam. Several speakers expressed deep appreciation of Mr Packwood's assistance and courtesy to local bodies during his six years' stay in North Otago. The Mayor of Oamaru (Mr M. F. Cooney) on behalf of the citizens, presented Mr Packwood with a gift for Mrs Ptickwood in appreciation of «er hospitality and the great assistance she had given her husband. In reply, Mr Packwood thanked t\e members and officers of the local bodies for their help and courtesy to him, and for the tangible appreciation of Mrs Packwood's hospitality. He acknowledged the co-operation of the staff, and specially mentioned the worn of Messrs Bignell (overseer), Geddes (powerhouse construction staff), ami White (mechanical staff). The designer of the scheme, Mr F. T. M. Kissel (chief electrical engineer of the 1 üblic Works Department) would bo proud ol the successful carrying out of the work. He was pleased to note the harbour board's progressive proposal to deepen the water of Oamaru port, and hoped the district with electricity and limestone, and a deeper port, would set up an industry in the manufacture of nitrates.