WAITAKI HYDRO WORKS

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 August 1934, Page 9

WAITAKI HYDRO WORKS

DAM NEARLY COMPLETED. [PEE pbess association.] OAMARU, August 9. In view of the early completion of the Waitaki dam, about sixty business men of Oamaru, representatives of the Oamaru Borough Council, Oamaru Harbour Board, Waitaki Electric Power Board, Waitaki Hospital Board, Oamaru Chamber of Commerce, and Oamaru Rotary Club, paid a visit to the Waitaki Hydro Electric Works this afternoon, at the invitation of R. H. Packwood (engineer in charge). The work on the dam has progressed this winter to such a stage that it is only a matter of three or foui’ weeks before the huge structure is completed. Two small gaps in the crest of the wall remain, and arrangements have been made to complete these next week. Of eleven temporary sluiceways in the dam, four have been scaled with concrete, and two are in process of being sealed, leaving five remaining, of which three more will bo sealed during the next couple of weeks. The remaining two will then be sealed. While two permanent sluiceways cope with he present flow of the river, Mr. Packwood indicated that, in the event of a flood, the remaining five gates could be lowered in the sluiceways in a hurry, when the dame would function in the generation of electricity, and sealing of the remaining sluiceways could be carried out next August, when the river returns to its present low level. The organisation of the work is being synchronised to enable the completion of the dam and the removal of the machinery from the upstream side of the dam. At the same time, an opportunity was taken to express deep appreciation of Mr. Packwood’s assistance and courtesy to the local bodies during his six years’ stay in North Otago. The Mayor of Oamaru (Air. Al. F. Cooney) paid a tribute to the engineering genius of Mr. Packwood, and his organising ability over the staff and workmen in bringing this huge undertaking to a successful conclusion. They were deeply indebted to Air. Packwood and Mrs. Packwood for their unfailing courtesy and hospitality. Air. Packwood had given devoted service to his department, and on behalf of the citizens, he congratulated him heartily on the success attending his efforts.

Other speakers also paid high tributes to Mr. Packwood’s engineering ability, and a hope was expressed that, on tho accompishment of one of the greatest engineering undertakings in the history of the Public Works Department, he would be raised to the highest place in the department. Mayor Cooney, on behalf of the citizens, presented him with a present for Mrs. Packwood, in appreciation of her hospitality and of the great assistance she had given her husband. In reply, Mr. Packwood thanked the members and officers of the local bodies for their help and courtesy to him, and for their tangible appreciation of Mrs. Packwood’s hospitality. He acknowledged the co-operation of the staff, and specially mentioned the work of Messrs. Bignell (overseer), Geddes (power house construction) and White (mechanical). The designer of the scheme, Mr. F. T. M. K lSS °*’ Chief Electrical Engineer, would be proud of the successful carrying out of the work. He was pleased to note the Harbour Board’s progressive ipro posal to deepen the water of Oamaru port, and hoped the district with electricity and limestone, and a peeper port, would become industrial in the manufacture of nitrates.