Wanganella To Be Delivered Soon

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30196, 30 July 1963, Page 14

Wanganella To Be Delivered Soon

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, July 29. The delivery of the trans-Tasinan liner, Wanganella, in New Zealand for its new role as an accommodation vessel for the Manapouri hydro-electric project will lake place at the end of next month.

Mr G. S. Gilder, chairman of Albert G. Sims. Ltd., the company which sold the ship to the Manapouri contractors, said today a deposit on the sale had been made with the brokers and the balance would be paid on delivery of the Wanganella in New Zealand. The sale of the Watiganella brings to an end the Sims company’s shipping interests.

In Invercargill. Mr Neville Long, the project manager for the Government’s technical consultants, the Bechtel Corporation, said the initial work force for the first stage of the Manapouri project, the £9 million tailrace contract. would sail into Deep Cove, in Doubtful Sound, in the Wanganella. which was due to arrive on September 1 from Wellington, carrying machinery and gear. “Most of the initial work force will be New Zealanders because it was the intention o' the contractors, the Utah Construction Company, W Williamson Construction, Ltd., and Burnett’s Motors, to employ New Zealanders." Mr Long said. “However, negotiations with the unions have not yet been completed, and the size of the initial work force will be decided by the contractors,” he said. The men in the initial work force would build other installations at Deep Cove. These included bulk cement storage silos, an aircraft hangar, an airstrip, a wharf, warehouse, a bagged cement shed, an equipment shop, a powder magazine and a compression and power house. A changing house for men engaged on the construction would also be erected. “The wharf, which is to be 150 feet long and to be able to berth and load ships up to 550 ft in length, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Most of the buildings are to be completed by October,” Mr Long said. “Three cement silos will be built, each capable of holding 750 tons, but this size could be changed. "Machinery, gear and supplies for the contract will be taken in by ships for the most part.” he said. There had been no decision yet on the type of aircraft to be used by the contractors. At present a land plane of a type which could

land and take off within 1000 feet was being investigated. A 1000-ft runway would be built in Deep Cove. Mr Long said he would go to Deep Cove next week for an inspection. Mr R. K. Harris, the project manager for the contractors. would arrive in Invercargill at the end of this week from Melbourne. and the contractors would establish an office in Invercargill very soon. He did not know if any official ceremony was planned to mark the actual start of the contract. When work began on the tunnel, it would proceed 24 hours a day, six days a week.