ARAPUNI

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 149, 13 June 1930, Page 5

ARAPUNI

REMEDIAL MEASURES CANNOT BE HURRIED. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. iPer Press Association.] Auckland, June 13. No change was reported in the situation at Arapuni to-day. The men in the shafts which are being driven for exploratory purposes are said to be working in grave danger. The Hon. W. B. Taverner said today regarding Arapuni that the plant would bo out of operation for a considerable ‘ time, for whatever remedial measures were found necessary could not be hurried, ft was anticipated that at tho present rate of water flow through the diversion tunnel tho water level behind the main dam would be reduced to normal level in twelve days, while dewatering of the head race would have progressed in two or three days sufficiently for inspection purposes. Until a geological inspection was completed it was obviously premature to consider what extent of structural repairs would have to be put in hand. In the light of the geologist's observations the engineers would be able to devise means of counteracting further movement, hut the technical preparations would take time. Until that stage bad been reached reliable estimates of tho work or expenditure necessary could not he made. DEWATERING THE LAKE. INSPECTION PROBABLE ON SUNDAY. Auckland, June 12. To-day one-fourth of the volume oi Arapuni Lake had been discharged, r lie rate of discharge will now be less chan during the last few days, as the turbine penstocks are no longer in use for by-passing purposes. This afternoon, however, one of the new oenstocks was opened, and it will aid the diversion tunnel, which to-day, with the gates raised 6 feet 3 inches, was discharging 10,000 cubic feet a second. This is a slightly higher volume than the tunnel was carrying during the past day or two, but owing to the diminished head the velocity has been reduced, and no more energy is being dissipated in the restricted part of the tunnel than formerly. OVER AN INCH OF RAIN. The rainfall of yesterday and tho previous night was 1 l-3in., which lias raised the inflow to the lake, but the present estimate is that without the aid of the new jrenstock for discharge, 'rhe shallowest point in tho headrace will be bare in about two and a half days. There will then, still remain 12ft. of water at the spillway weir. This will be run off by the penstock down to the 3ft level, when the bottom of the tube will he reached, The remaining water in the fore bay will bo pumped and syphoned down tho penstock, but only in daylight, so that a close examination of the bed may bo carried out. B- Sunday or Monday it is expected that the fore hay will be shallow enough for gumhoot wading. Until then no further information of importance can be expected. Further illustrations of the Arapuni hydro electrical works appear on pages 6 and 8 of this issue.