WAITAKI DAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 188, 10 August 1934, Page 14

WAITAKI DAM.

COMPLETION OF WORK GREAT ENGINEERING FEAT. BUSINESS MEN'S PRAISE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) OAMAEU, Thursday. In view of the early completion of the Waitaki dam, about CO business men of Oamaru paid a visit to the Waitaki hydro-electric works this afternoon at the invitation of Mr. P.. H. Packwood, engineer in charge.

The work on the dam has progressed j this winter to such a stage that it is onjy 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 fill these next week. Of the; 11 temporary sluiceways in the dam, four havfe ( been sealed Jft'ith concrete and two are in the process of -being sealed, leaving five remaining, of which three more will be sealed during the next couple of weeks. The remaining two will then be sealed. While the two permanent sluiceways 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 returned to its present low level. The organisation of the work is being synchronised to enable the completion of the dam and the removal of the machinery from the upstream side of the dam to be carried out at the same time. Opportunity was taken to express 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. Coonev, pa'id a tribute to the engineerin" g'enius of Mr. Packwood and his ability over the staff and ■workmen in bringing this huge undertaking to a successful conclusion. They ■were deeply indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Packwood for their unfailing courtesy and hospitality. Mr. Packwood had given devoted service to his department, and on belalf of the citizens he congratulated him heartily on the success attending his efforts. Other speakers also paid high tributes to Mr. Packwood's engineering ability.

Mr. Cooney, on behalf of the citizens, presented Mr. Packwood with a present for Mrs. Packwood in appreciation of her hospitality and the great assistance ehe had given her husband. In reply, Mr. Packwood thanked the members and officers of the local bodies represented for their help and courtesy to him and for their tangible appreciation of Mrs. Packwood's hospitality. He acknowledged the co-operation of the staff. The designer of the scheme, Mr. F. T. M. Kissel, chief electrical engineer, would be proud of the successful carrying out of the work. Mr. Packwood said he was pleased to note the Harbour Board'e progressive proposal to deepen the water of the Oamaru port, and he hoped the district, ■with electricity and limestone and a deeper port, would become industrial in the manufacture of nitrates.