P.W.D. ENGINEER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 79, 3 April 1928, Page 8

P.W.D. ENGINEER.

MIL R. K. PACKWOOD'S NEW POSITION. WAITAKI HYDRO-ELECTRIC ' SCHEME.

Mr. R. H. Packwood, Public Works engineer, who is in charge of the Westfield railway deviation and waterfront roadway, has been notified or his appointment as district engineer in charge of the new Waitaki hydro-electric scheme, which the Public Works Department is to build near Kurow, South Canterbury. A dam will be constructed across the Waitaki River, its length being 1700 ft, of which 500 ft will be in the river. This is the principal work involved in the undertaking. The total capacity of the station, which will subsequently serve the whole of the South Canterbury, will ultimately be 17,000-k.w. or 100,000-h.p.

Mr. Packwood has been in charge of the Wcstfteld works since 1025 and has had extensive experience in road, railway, harbour building and hydro-electric schemes. He joined the Public Works Department as an engineering ciwlet 20 years ago after having been educated at Christchurch and Wellington. Among some of the public works which have been under his direction are the South Island Main Trunk railway, northern end, the Nelson and Midland railway, Napier-Gisborne, and Gisborne-Motu railways, the Waihi-Tauranga section of the East Coast Main Trunk railway, and the North Auckland Main Trunk railway. During .the latter stages of construction of the last-mentioned line, Mr. Packwood was resident engineer near Whangarei. He was also associated with the construction of the hydro-electric works at Waikaremoana, as well as the construction of the harbour at Waikokopu, Hawke's Bay.

Mr. Packwotfd intimated this morning that he did not know when he would take up his new appointment, but seeing that his present work was almost completed, it ir'ght be about the middle of the year. **