WORK AT ARAPUNI.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18149, 12 August 1924, Page 11

WORK AT ARAPUNI.

j MAIN CAMP. TO HOUSE 600. } | , | j (special to "the PBESS.') | • AUCKLAND, August 11. .■ ! A scene of considerable activity is, now presented in the (vicinity of tli© < site of the hvdro-electric works\ to be! constructed at Arapuni, on thoWai-; kato river. At two points are some dozens of tents, forming a, canvas town of considerable proportions, while Ta acentral position on'the site of the. Ara-puni-permanent village are a number of substantial cottages in which are housed the officials of the public Works Department, who are superintending the preliminary work in connexion with the main contract. ' Three works are in hand. The Public Works Department is construing a road on the western side of the river,from the dam site down stream to the site of the proposed low-level bridge, and connecting with the Arapuni-Te \wamutu road. A steel Howe truss, low-level bridge is being thrown across -the river in a convenient position a short distance below .the dam site. The steel trusses have arrived at 1 utaruru, and will bo transported to Che site as scon as they are required. _Th e Department expects to have the bridge completed in two months. It is aiso proposed ; to -build a steel high ■ level suspension bridge for Government traffic. 'The third job in hand is the construction of a camp for: the sub-con-i tractors' ca,rpenters._. The site is to the north of the permanent village Although . the contractors have oeen , at Arapuni only a week, they have • made 'substantial progress. Accom- • modation for 60 men is being provided i at 'once, and elaborate plans for the . construction of Arapuni permanent vol- ■ lage have teen prepared. These proi vide for a school, ■ with spacfoffS grounds, tennis courts, lawns, shrubberies. streets, conforming with tlown . by-laws, sanitary arrangements, eleci trie lighting, and all the facilities of a model township. . ; In the main camp accommodation [ for 600 men is - being provided, in the proportion of 20 per cent, married men ; l and SO per cent, single. Married couples with no families will be supplied with two rooms,' and those with . children with four rooms. All the ) workmen's quarters will be lined, and fitted with electric light, water, and . modern sanitary conveniences. The contract ftko provides- for the ; erection of change houses_and shower . baths, administrative offices, and stor- ; age accommodation, including a SCG- [ ton cement store at Arapuni. and an- . other of the same capacity at Putaru- ; ru. A Y.M.C.A. hall, with picture ; show apparatus and billiard tables, will also be provided by th© contractors who. believe that it pays to have contented employees. A temporary Post Office has been opened in the- Public WorXs Departmer.t building -in - the permanent -village. A regular car sertvioe is being run between Pntanirn. and Arapuni, and steos have, been taken to initiate a ; Service-"-to connect with the -south- - bound main trunk express at Franktoc.