ARAPUNI SEEPAGE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 266, 5 August 1932, Page 12

ARAPUNI SEEPAGE

Secondary Fault Discovered LATEST DEVELOPMENT Headrace Lining Affected ' CONCRETE SLABS CRACKED Undermining Effects of Leak By Telegraph.—Press Association. ' Auckland, August 4. The latest development at Arapuni was the discovery this morning of the partial collapse of portion of the lining on the east bank of the headrace. A considerable number of concrete slabs are affected, and though the fractures are small, a quantity of water is percolating. It is clear that this sagging of the / surface is not the original cause of the leak which has been puzzling the engineers, for it had not Occurred when the diver made his examination of the lining on Tuesday. On the contrary, it is a secondary fault, brought about last night, it is presumed,-by the water that is percolating through the weakness -or fissure a little further up the headrace finding its way under the cutwall and undermining portion of the lining before being collected by the drainage system and guided through the man-made tunnels to the gorge. Although this development adds another problem to be dealt with, the engineers are hopeful that the leak in the tiles can be permanently sealed without stopping the generation of power. .. The engineers explained this evening that the water in the headrace will have to be still further lowered in order to effect repairs, and this may mean that a reduced head of water will be passing through the penstocks to the turbines. This, it is expected, will not greatly hinder the generation of power. ■ The Auckland Power Board s steam plant at King’s Wharf had steam up and was in running order late this afternoon in response to a call received in the morning from the Public Works District Electrical Engineer at Hamilton. ’ However, word was received this evening that nothing would -■be done until morning and that the plant should be kept under light steam meanwhile. AEROPLANE JOURNEY Works Engineer-in-Chief QUESTION -OF REPAIRS In view of a report that the source of the seepage had practically been traced, the Engineer-in-Chief to the Public Works Department, Mr. F. W. Furkert, and the Chief Electrical Engineer, Mr. F. T. M. Kissel, left Wellington for Arapuni by aeroplane, shortly after noon yesterday. ' It was reported in Wellington last evening that the leak had been located, and that the leakage was steadily decreasing, the flow in the evening being about one-half the volume of the day before. The hole was to be blanketed, and it was hoped to have it completely shrouded by this morning. Consideration is being given to the construction of a coffer dam round the spot where the mater is escaping to enable repairs to be effected. It is not anticipated that the station will have to be closed down.