WAITAKI HYDRO

Grey River Argus, 5 October 1934, Page 7

WAITAKI HYDRO

EXCURSION TO THE WORKS. (Per Press Association.) OAMARU, October 4. Splendid weather conditions to-day favoured nearly two thousand excursionists from Oamaru and all parts of North Otago, to the Waitaki hydro works, to celebrate the completion of the Waitaki dam. The heavy flood of two days ago had receded until about three feet of water was flowing over the spillway, the washing away of the sandbags at the Canterbury end by the flood permitting a flow over practically the whole length of the crest, and presenting an enthralling sight to the visitors. The action of the disrupters in breaking up the swiftly flowing water just below the crest level, and the emulsifying of the water with air from the air vents, breaking up the current into cascades of spray, glistening in the sunshine, made a picture that can only be compared with world-famous falls; so that it is but natural that, at the outset, the Waitaki Falls have been commonly called the Niagara of the Southern Hemisphere. Spoil on the downstream side of the dam has rapidly disappeared to give the appearance of a river a quarter of a mile wide as the current returns to the riverbed. The water has been turned on to two small turbines, comprising the auxiliary plant, the machines running merrily to supply the domestic needs of the station. Water was also turned on through a large penstock yesterday for the first large unit initial test, which was continued to-day, proving in every way satisfactory. The interest shown by Oamaru and North Otago residents in the completion of the dam was well rewarded by beautiful views of the falls and of the lake stretching five miles back into the hills from the dam.