LAKE ARAPUNI.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 72, 26 March 1932, Page 7

LAKE ARAPUNI.

REFILLING OPERATIONS. DIVERSION TUNNEL CLOSED. BIG CROWD OF VISITORS. The refilling of Arapuni Lake was commenced on Thursday night, when the diversion tunnel gates were lowered in order that the waters of the Waikato might once again be impounded to drive the huge turbines that generate electricity for Auckland and the Waikato. Hundreds of people visited the scene of operations yesterday, the roads to and from Arapuni being crowded with motor vehicles of all descriptions. Immediately after the gates had been let down to shut off the supply, a gang of men with pneumatic drills entered the tunnel to drill 100 extra weep holes, as it was considered that the borings formerly made might have become ineffective owing to the extensive grouting of the country that has taken place in connection with the work of rehabilitation. For the first 24 hours the water banked up rapidly and formed a lake of moderate size, but the rise will be slower as additional country is covered in the spread. Some anxiety was caused the engineers yesterday owing to unthoughtful visitors casting stones over the parapet on the downstream side. In the vicinity there are a number of delicate measuring instruments to determine leakage. Mr. T. Rabone, engineer in charge, said he did not wish to place restrictions on the public, but the road over the dam would have to be closed if people continued such foolish actions. A warning had been issued by the Public Works Department last week that the dam would be closed to vehicular traffic while the observations were in progress, but it was not intended to make restrictions as long as the instruments were not interfered with.