MANAPOURI PROJECT

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30188, 20 July 1963, Page 10

MANAPOURI PROJECT

Mr R. K. Harris In Control

Mr R. K. Harris has assumed full control of the £9.4 million Manapouri tailrace tunnel project for the Utah-Williamson-Burnett joint venture. Mr Harris resigned his former position as general manager of Utah Construction and Engineering Pty., Ltd., to take over the project. It comprises a 614-mile tunnel, 30ft in diameter and con-crete-lined, and an open cut of 250,000 c. yards: 3600 ft of rockfil] embankment (a million yards);- a 14-mile road from the lake to Deep Cove, involving 500,000 yards of excavation; a 150 ft wharf to take ships of 13,500 tons; and a seaplane base. Mr Harris arrived from the United States in 1956 to take

up his appointment as general manager cf Utah Construction and Engineering. Ltd., and has become widelyknown in the construction industry in Australia. In more than 30 years in construction work he has undertaken jobs in various parts of the world He has been superintendent of the Manchuria railway in China and project manager of 3 number of United States naval base and airfield projects, including the world's first jet propulsion test building at San Bernardino, and the Magdalena railway through virgin jungle and swamp country in Colombia. South America As managing engineer he built the Los Angeles four-level freeway, and the Hollywood. Long

ißeach. and harbour freeways ! m Los Angeles Mr Harns commenced his career after graduating B Sc. Sil engineer, as service r for General Motors 1a He has also spent sea as a marine en-