UNDER-ESTIMATED

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 86, 12 April 1927, Page 8

UNDER-ESTIMATED

WORK. AT ARAPUNI

AUCKLAND'S DIFFICULTY

(By Telegraph.) (Special to the "livening Pott.")

AUCKLAND, This Day. A statement that power from Arapuni will hot be available until the end of next year was contained in a letter received by the Auckland Power Board from the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. K. ■' S Williams). As this is nine months liter than the date named in,the contract between the board and the Public Works JJepartinent upon which the board has relied the information was viewed -with. grave concern, as it means the normal development of electric power in the Auekmi dlstrict cannot be met next winter. Ihe statement was embodied'^ in a letter replying to representatives made to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works last February. . Mr._ Williams replies as follows:— . > I-have had the question of progress at the work at Arapuni carefully inveaigatetf and I find that the contractors have evidently considerably under-estimated the difficulties of obtaining a satisfactory coffer dam between the river and the power house foundation excavation and are in consequence very considerably behind on that. section of the work. The difficulties being met are not such, as will in any way prevent tie completion of the station or necessitate any serious modification of plans. They are, ho.rtver, such that the contractor has been delayed while obtaining the necessary plant and material. To _meet the position the Department is urging the contractor to make every effort to push on with this particular' section of the work and has provided him with plant and material to assist. . I regret, however, to inform you that it does not now appear possible that we will be able to supply power from the station to meetyour requirements before the end pf 1928. . . . . .

The Arapuni contract was let by the Public Works Department to the firm of Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth, and Co., in August, 1924, and the .term's provided for completion of the work in three years, and the delivery of power from Ara-. puni, Beven months later, namely, on Jst April, 1928. On receipt of the information at a meeting of the board that the supply could not be given until the end of 1928, the chairman (llr. W. J. Holdsworth) moved that a reply be sent to the Minister expressing regret that the work had been delayed, and asking what provision he proposed to make to supply the board with the extra power that would be needed after the present winter- was over. .