WAIKATO IN HARNESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 77, 1 April 1932, Page 3

WAIKATO IN HARNESS.

CHANNEL EASILY FORDED. ARAPUNI LAKE LEVEE RISING. HAMILTON WATER SUPPLY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. The engineers at Arapuni expect the work of filling the lake to be completed by the end of next week, but the rate of progress depends to sonic extent on the condition of the water supply at Hamilton.

Owing to the partial failure of the main pumps at the Hamilton waterworks, a critical situation developed early this week, but a new pump has been installed, and the water supply of the town is now independent of the level of the river.

Sufficient water was released at Arapuni on Wednesday to raise the level at Hamilton high enough for pumping to be resumed. All heavy consumers ■ of water in the borough were also asked to keep consumption down to the minimum.

Two channels have been formed at parts of the river through the appearance of sandbanks since the diversion tunnel was closed at-Arapuni last week. Rocks formerly submerged can also bo seen, and the river is easily fordable between Arapuni and Horahora.

Horahora's output of power has been greatly reduced as a result of the diminished flow in the river. Below Horahora the rapids have lost their grandeur, and resemble only a sluggishly moving stream. At Cambridge the piles of the wharf are several feet above the water's edge, and at Hamilton the sft drop in the level has left the grey mud banks exposed. Outfalls to the town's drainage system are above water. In the reaches between Hamilton and Ngaruawahia the operations at Arapuni have reduced the river to half its normal size.

From the confluence of the Waipa and Waikato at Ngaruawahia the change in the river downstream is less noticeable owing to the volume of water poured into the main stream by the Waipa. At Taupiri not much difference is noticeable. At Huntly, where the river is exceptionally wide, there is insufficient water to cover the bed, and large areas of sandbank are exposed.

The river at Mercer is about 3ft below the normal level at this, time of the year, and the current is perceptibly slower. The water now just laps the piles at the outside edge of the wharf, whereas the depth at the wharf is ordinarily adequate to float the river steamers.