WAITAKI RISES.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20909, 17 July 1933, Page 15

WAITAKI RISES.

NO DAMAGE TO HYDRO WORKS. Rumours of extensive damage at the Waitaki Hydro Works through a sudden rise in the river, reached Oamaru on Saturday, but enquiries from the departmental officers at the works discounted these statements. There was an unseasonable rise in the level of the river, due to the warm rain. It was equivalent to a rise of three or four feet above the normal level, but actually rose between seven and eight over the sluices in the' dam, on the Canterbury side, where the river has been confined to about half its normal width. Nothing untoward happened at the works and the water did not top the coffer dam on the Otago side, in which work proceeded as usual up to six o'clock on Saturday night, the usual knocking-off time for the week-end. The pumps were able to cope with all water entering the coffer-dam by way of seepage and the flood did not cause any trouble.

In the middle of May, 193J f * en«Jegged man, Mr William A<|§rfUHWV left Auckland to walk to the JWu* and back; last week he returned home, his self-imposed task accomplished, Mr Adamson, who wu for four years at the war without wjury, but who had the misfortune to lose his right leg when his motorcycle was struck by a train, decided to make his long journey to prow that he represented a genuine cjwe of a man who had tried in vain to obtain permaneht employment. As was his intention when he started, he accepted lifts in motor*cara whin they were offered him, but he never asked for a ride, "I was. splendidly reeeived wherever I went, with th* exception of Christchurch," said Mr Adamson, who "paid his way" by selling studs and tiepins, His longest single day's walk on hia crutches was one of 25 miles. .Curing Ms travels he met many men whom h* had known at the war, all o{ whom congratulated him on his pluck in making his long trek. At Inverctrgiil Mr Adamson had trouble with what remained of his right Iff, «» he was two weeks in hospital, whtJfe he underwent three operation!, •'I wore out five boots and three suit* of clothing,' but I put on more th*» a stone arid a half in weight, and never felt better than I do to-day," i he sai&