ARAPUNI SENSATION

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10730, 30 October 1928, Page 5

ARAPUNI SENSATION

SURPRISING REVELATION. ALLEGED THREATENING DOCUMENT. WRITER WANTS REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT GRANTED. MINISTER MAKES LETTER PUBLIC. iPrean Association.! HAMILTON, Oct. 29. In connection with the sensational statement made bv Mr R. W. Holmes, former engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department, • regarding^’the alleged''insecurity of" the Arapuni dam the Hd\. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, ‘■o-da-y made a surprising .revelation in an interview with the Waikato Times. The Minister said he had received a letter from Mr J. D. Holmes, son of Mr R. W, Holmes, -threatening the publication of this Arapuni document unless a certain request in relation to a gravel business at Otorohanga was granted tty the Government.

After reviewing the alleged grievance of the gravel concern, Mr J. D. Holmes wrote: —

“We have always supported the Reform Party and have no wish to do anything to damage that party, particularly bef ore the coming elections, but the facts about Arapuni will have to come out sooner or later. Enclosed is a‘ statement about • Arapuni made by Mr R. W. Holmes. We are reluctantly compelled to state that unless we receive a telegram or other notificotion by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 24, 1928, from the Government that our requests will be acceded to, then this statement will be made public, and also all correspondence in regard to the matter.” Mr. Young replied by telegram that the matter was one entirely between Mr Holmes and the Premier. ■ "‘Mr Young informed the interviewer. that he had iittended to take no part in the matter, but in view of the local alarm likely to arise from the publication of Mr R. W. Holmes’ statement he felt constrained to publish the letter received. THE, ALARMIST STATEMENT. LANtastic” and absurd. ENGINKER-IN-CHI EE’S (OPINION (Press' Association-) AUCKLAND, Oct. 29. The alarmist statement by Mr R. W. Holmes, formerly ' Engineer-in-(Jhief of the Public Works Department, that the existence of Arapuni dam constitutes' a grave danger ol calamity in the Waikato Valley through the structure collapsing, elicited' a statement by Mr F. W. Furkeft, Engineer-in-'Chief of the Public Works Department, who says there is absolutely no foundation in fact' for -Mr Holmesi allegations. Events have proved that the original investigations by the engineers appointed for the purpose gave an absolutely true index of the material <m the site of the works: has boon disclosed that indicates, any Necessity for alarm. Mr Holmes’ 1 statements, he adds, can only he characterised as fantastic., apd absurd.