NOVEL WATER PIPE LINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4816, 13 March 1918, Page 5

NOVEL WATER PIPE LINE.

0 AMARU’S VENTURESOME UNDERTAKING. \n Oamaru correspondent says. Tlmrc has just been completed here an undertaking that is unique so talas'- New Zealand is concerned. In.s ’= the construction of a large wood pipe for the conveyance of water in connection with the borough electricity scheme. ~ Wood pipes lor water supply purposes have for many "mil's been in use m America and Australia, and have ranged from a few inches up to several feet m meter, and to a limited extent tliey have been employed in the Dominion, hut the pipes so used have been small, and 1 supplied in lengths m the same way as iron pipes.. In the case under notice the pipe is 36m internal diameter,. and is one continuous pipe throughout its whole length of 1635 ft, and has hoop built m the trench prepared for its reception.. It is the first of its type in New Zcahpd and its -adoption was practically forced upon the Borough Council' owing to the impossibility ot procuring iron _ pipes of +he dimensions required in connection with the hydro-electric undertaking. The pipe is intended to supply water to two Pel ton wheels at a pressuie of 1051 bs to tile square inch, and developing 650 horse power continuously. It is what is termed a continuous stave wood pipe, with steel clamping bands. In its construction 2628 staves of Oregon timber, dressed to- a thickness of 1 5-Bin, or a total of 35 941 superficial feet, have been employed, together with 11,280 steel 1 bands weighing Slbs each and.l2, 000 I iron shoes. The.pipe is not laid in a ! direct line, for there are several bends the sharpest of these having a radius of- 185 feet, where the pipe enters the power-house. There is also a compound bent— that is round and down —with a radius of 200 feet 1 one wav and 300 feot the other. As 1 can he readily conceived, the work of construction has been attended ' with a great deal of interest. A test to determine the efficiency ot the pipe lias yet to he made.