DEVELOPMENTS AT ARAPUNI

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 221, 5 September 1929, Page 5

DEVELOPMENTS AT ARAPUNI

DISCUSSION BY THAMES POWER BOARD. DEPARTMENT CRITICISED. [Per Press Association.) Ta Aroha, Sept. 5. Recent developments at Arapuni were discussed at a meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board. The chairman, Mr. Strange, stated that it had been estimated that eight years would elapse before the falls could creep back to the spillway endangering the works at the head of the penstock tunnels, and no safety measures beyond steel lining of a portion of the diversion tunnel, to give greater security should it be necessary to empty tho dam, were adopted. Had a start been made with driving additional penstock tunnels when the danger from the rapid erosion at the falls first became apparent, and had water to the full capacity been sent through the tunnels the department would not be faced with such serious'difficulties. It could be reasonably assumed that the departmental heads in Welling ton were apprised of the danger by the engineer in charge of the works and were responsible for the failure to take adequate safety measures. Mr. Strange said that the present indications were that the dam would have to be emptied and they would have to revert to the conditions before Arapuni was linked up until the falls were concreted.

On the motion of Mr. H. M. Corbett it was decided to write to the department asking that the board be informed of the reason for failure to take the only course of action which could have ensured safety and inquiring who was responsible for the inaction.