Level Of Arahura Dredge Pond Has Fallen This Week

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1949, Page 4

Level Of Arahura Dredge Pond Has Fallen This Week

The level of the water in the pond of the Arahura gold dredge has receded three or four feet, since the capsize and sinking of the dredge last Saturday afternoon and. this has raised hopes that the seepage into the pond will not prove an insurmountable obstacle when the pumping out of . the pond commences. . The work of setting up the pump and pipes has been pushed on as rapidly as conditions will permit and will continue throughout the weekend. It is hoped to have the pump in operation on Sunday or Monday and to lower the water level in the pond by 15 to 20 feet next week, to permit of an attempt being made to recover the body of the accident victim, Frederick Tuhuru, of Arahura.

Modern Equipment

The most modern pump available has been obtained for- the worlj and it has been mounted on a barge in the dredge pond. The pump, with a 12-inch capacity and a lift of 90 feet, will be driven by a 100 horsepower electric motor. “It should shift a tremendous quantity of .water, but I am not making any estimates until we see it in operation, which will be as soon as possible,” _ said the dredgemaster, Mr G. H. Neilson, today. Although the water in the pond has fallen considerably this week, it is pointed out that weather conditions have been very dry and the real test will not come until later. Normally, the pond is 16 feet above the. level of the Arahura river, some distance away and the seepage factor will increase in importance as the pond level falls. Sank In 60ft Of Water

Measurements taken on Tuesday, when the representative of Lloyds underwriters, Mr J. S. Robertson, of Greymouth, was present, showed that there was 93 feet of water in the pond at the deepest part. The dredge, however, is on the shallow side and sank in 60 feet. It is believed that the machine is resting on the bottom, and as the pontoons are 14 feet . deep, a reduction in the water level of 15 or 20 feet may make it possible to recover the body and to carry out an inspection of the damage which is now hidden from view. No decision as to the future of the dredge can be made until further information is obtainable as to the extent of the underwater damage.