Cement To Stop Oil Flow

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32359, 27 July 1970, Page 1

Cement To Stop Oil Flow

* (N.Z. Press Association/ WHAKATANE, July 26. An aerial bombardment of more than 150001 b of cement was 'completed yesterday to stop the flow of 1000 gallons of crude oil into: the Rangitaiki River and] out to sea about 12 miles] from Whakatane. Oil quantities, reported at varying amounts from 1000 to ' 3000 gallons, flowed from the ' Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company at Edgecumbe through a I tributary of the main river.

Reports early last week indicated a leak in the company’s internal drainage system. Farmers subsequently ] reported the presence of oil. 1 The company’s general i manager, Mr R. A. Dennis, i confirmed that the oil had leaked and believed children ]: had turned on a valve in a i I pipeline from the fuel storage j' tank. The leak was also reported by an officer of the internal t Affairs Department who said > that the oil was endangering > the wildlife fowl in the canal, - said Mr Dennis. i “We were not fully aware of the position until Tuesday

night last week, and we, immediately placed dams across the stream to stop ihe oil entering the Rangitaiki River.

“Since then we have been burning the oil off the water with flame throwers and sinking patches of oil with the aerial dropping of cement. “Three gangs of men have been continually engaged on the work, and by yesterday we had it more or less under control,” said Mr Dennis. Patches of the oil were still present in the canal today with burnt hay drifting in the stream which extends for three to four miles before reaching the Rangitaiki River.

i- The Fletcher topdressing s aircraft flown by My R. 1 Howell, of Taneatua, from -. James Aviation, Ltd, made

several flights to spread the cement. He said the cement was dropped in 1001 b bags and each flight had taken 10 bags containing 1001 b. The Conservator of Wildlife at Rotorua (Mr P. J. Burstall) said today that the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company had done a great job with the measures taken to prevent the spread. “We were very lucky that the prompt steps probably prevented any great losses of 'birds or fish," he said.