WAIKATO POWER STATIONS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28801, 23 January 1959, Page 10

WAIKATO POWER STATIONS

Preliminary Work BeMnd Schedule (New Zealand" Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 22. Preliminary work for the new 18,000 kw power-house at Maraetai and the 60,000 kw hydroelectric station at Aratiatia is taking engineers and surveyors longer than expected. Excavating at -Maraetal would not start before March, two months later than the original target date, the engineer in charge of hydro-electric projects on the Waikato river (Mr J. H Macky) said at Mangakino today. At Aratiatia, surveying, drilling and investigation tunneling would go on for another six months, several months longer than earlier expected. Mr Macky said the site earlier proposed for the power-house, 600 ft downstream from the existing Maratai dam, and on the right bank of the Waikato, was likely to be replaced by a site the same distance downstream, but on the opposite bank. However, various alternatives were being Investigated to find the most economical site. Wherever the final site was, a huge excavation job would be required, he said. , The rock strata in the area had been found to be satisfactory, but it was variable, he said. At Aratiatia, a Ministry of Works team had encountered rock problems, Mr Macky said. "It is a case of finding where the rock is and wbere it isn’t.” he added. Have vev read fadey*> flaadaai Matladar aa paqa IL T