TO GO ABROAD

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 28, 27 October 1934, Page 8

TO GO ABROAD

Hydro-Electrical Engineer

The engineer in charge of the construction of the Waitaki hydro-electric works, Mr. R. H. Packwood, is to leave next month on a visit to Sardinia, Morocco, and Sweden, to inspect big engineering works in progress in those countries. The Government hopes that Mr. Packwood’s experiences overseas will be of value to the Dominion when he returns and applies them to construction works here. The Italian Government is building a large hydro-elec-tric plant in Sardinia, under conditions which are somewhat similar to those existing at Arapunl, Morocco has a great irrigation dam and canals under construction, and Sweden, one of the homes of big-scale hydro-electric schemes, • has several jobs on hand which should prove intensely interesting to a New Zealand engineer. In announcing the approach of Mr. Packwood’s tour, the Minister of liublic Works. Hon. J. Bitchener, mentioned the valuable work Mr. Packwood had done at Waitaki, where he had to contend with a dangerous and unruly river. Mr. Bitchener said be did not flunk that anyone, haying seen the construction work at Kurow, would have a word to say against the Government for sending Mr. Packwood abroad. It was obvious that, a man of his ability would benefit from overseas experience, and that this benefit would be passed on to the country.