SAVED FROM DESTRUCTION

Evening Star, Issue 25425, 5 March 1945, Page 7

SAVED FROM DESTRUCTION

FLOOD THREATENS NEW POWER HOUSE WORKMEN'S EFFORTS PRAISED (P.A.) OHRISTCHURCH, March 3. Working in the dark against flood waters whipped along by a 65-mile-an-hour soutnerly gale, nine workmen saved the High bank power station from destruction. The Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) revealed this this morning. The Minister said that the great efforts of these men had saved the country tens of thousands of pounds. Their work was deserving of the highest praise, and he would see that it was given tangible recognition. The men leferred to were Messrs James Doig (overseer); C. J. Rivett, W. C. E. Loper, A. R. Nash, A. T,. Long, S. E. Hamilton, A. F. Kihvorth, L. W. Corrigan, and A. C. Aitken. The overseer was awakened by the noise of waters at 3 a.m.,. and- lie hurriedly called his men together, and in the darkness and pouring rain they began the heavy task olf building a stopbank to prevent the flood waters pouring down the pipe line to the powerhouse. There was no doubt that this emergency work saved the pipe line and powerhouse, with its practically irreplaceable machinery. It was" planned to open the powerhouse this month, but the necefsary cleaning up will delay, that ceremony for a time.