SAFETY OF ARAPUNI

Evening Star, Issue 20309, 18 October 1929, Page 3

SAFETY OF ARAPUNI

CABINET AUTHORISES INVESTIGATION ALARMIST REPORTS DISCOUNTED [Fisou Our Pakuauektaki Repoeiee.] WELLINGTON, October 17. .The safety of Arapuni dam was again discussed in the House of Representatives to-day as the result of a question by Mr Clinkard (Rotorua), which the Minister of Works answered. Mr Ransom replied that provision for safeguarding tho position has been made, and the work is well advanced on tho penstock tunnels to reduce the quantity' of water passing over the spillway. Cabinet, ho added, has authorised; the obtaining of outside engineering advice. Mr Clinkard. commenting on this answer, declared that the position was one which justified anxiety. Ho likened it to a man giving his children a tin of blasting powder and some matches with which to play. " Tho hon. gentleman still believes it is not safe?” asked Mr Coates (Loader of the Opposition). “ Yes,” said Mr Clinkard. Mr Coates retorted : “ There it begins and cuds.” It had been suggested that it was a mistake that outside engineers had not been called in. As a matter of fact they had been secured to examine the whole scheme before a yard of excavation had been nndertatken. They were men in whom he country would place the utmost confidence. Nobody could doubt tho capacity of Mr Marchhanks (engineer to the Wellington Harbour Hoard), Mr W. Ferguson, and a leading Tasmanian engineer. They carried out a minute examination. Mr O’Brien: Did they examine the foundations? Mr Coates : Yes. Mr O’Brien: They ought to get another job. Mr Coates; That is a matter on which the hon. gentleman knows nothing, and on which ho has most to say, Mr O’Brien: The engineers admit that they had no foundation.

Mr Contes; “Nothing of the sort.'’ lie added that, as a result of investigations the proposed arch dam was changed to the gravity type, and it,was ahvavs felt it might be necessary to spend £IOO,OOO to £200,000 on the spillway. _ ... Air Howard; Aou still think it is sound? “Of course/'* replied Mr Coates, who declared that he could not understand the doubts, excepting that a certain alarmist engineer in New Zealand circulated reports just before the General Election. , Mr Parry: 1 think it is all right._

Mr Coates; lam sure it is. Mr O’Hrien said there _ was a leak amounting to OOgal. a minute, which could bo stopped now, but because ot certain criticism which bad been levelled against the Public "Works Department iio attempt was being made to stop the leak. Tie had made certain investigations into the matter, anti had found that when the spillway was being dug no attempt was made to get down to foundation. The country was coming back at the rate of Sft per year, and at the last Hood the rate at which it was coming back was 13ft per year. MINISTER .GIVES THE FACTS.

Tho Minister of Public Works (MiRansom) said there seemed to bo some misconception in the minds of the public regarding Arapuni. It had been said that the dam tvas nnfaccd, and that the people of the Waikato were liable to he Hooded out. That story had died out, and now it was said that tho spillway was tho trouble. Notwithstanding that the erosion at the spillway was a serious matter, it was not serious in the sanso that the foundations of the spillwav might ho affected il the erosion reached the foot. Jt was possible that, by means of a by-pass tunnel at the dam, the water might be diverted so that the foundations of the spillway could be concreted. It was not desirable to do that, because tho two units of supply to Auckland would ho thrown out of action immediately. That would incur a loss of revenue amounting to £.")OU a year. It was necessary to divert the water from the spillway. nmMliat could lie done at any moment. _ Extra penstock (nnnels were being driven at the power house, so that tho water of the Waikato could bo passed, and four of them would he in operation by February. In addition, numbers 7 and S were being driven for Iho purpose of conveying the water from the spillway. It was expected that by the end of l‘elima ry the six penstock tunnels would lie carrying tbe water into tho old '•nurse of the Waikato River, and that the spillway would be dry. Concrete •■ould then be put_ in. It was not desired to de-water tho lake unless it was deemed necessary, concluded Mr Ransorn. _ lb had been suggested that the opinion ot an outside engineer should be obtained to ascertain whether the practice of the department's engineers had been satisfactory; and the Minister s;ud_ he ibomdit it desirable that an opinion should he obtained, although he was confident that the departmental engineers’ work had been mute, correct. The department's engineers wore in perfect agreement on the matter. If seemed lu be only a question whether the revenue now being derived liom Arapuni should he sacrificed, so as to appease some people s siiscentihihtios. oi whether tho work now m hand to deal with the trouble should bo earned on.