WAITAKI DAM

Inangahua Times, 10 August 1934, Page 2

WAITAKI DAM

- EARLY COMPLETION. ENGINEER EULOGISED. *.f (Per Press Assn.) OAMARU. Last Night. In view of the early completion of the Waitaki dam, about 60 business men of Oamaru. representative of the Oamaru Borough Council, Waitaki County Council, Oamaru Harbour Board, Waitaki Electric Power Board. Waitaki Hospital Board, Oamaru Chamber of Commerce, and Oamaru Rotary Club, paid a visit to tbe Waitald hydro electric works this afternoon at the invitation of Mr R. H. Packwood (engineer-in-charge). The work on the dam has progressed this winter to such a stage that it will be only a matter of three or four weeks before tbe huge structure is completed!. Two small gaps .in the crest of the wall remain and arrangements have been made to complete this next week. Of the 11 temporary sluiceways in the dam, 4 have been sealed with concrete and 2 are in the process of being sealed, leaving 5 remaining, of which 3 more will be sealed during the next couple of weeks. The remaining 2 will then he sealed. While 2 permanent sluiceways cope with the present flow of the river, Mr Packwood indicated) that in the event of a flood, the remaining five gates could be lowered in the' sluiceways in a hurry, when the dam would function in the generation of electricity and the sealing of remaining sluiceways could be carried out next August, ' when the river returns to its present ? low level. ; The organisation of the work is bef ing synchronised to enable the com--5 pletion of the dlam and the removal of ’ from the upstream side of ~ the dam. t At the same time opportunity was s taken to express deep appreciation of • Mr Packwood’s assistance and dtflir-. e tesy to the local bodies during his six years’ stay in North Otago. Tbe Mayor of Oamaru (Mr M. T. Cooney) paid a tribute to tbe engineering gen-

is of Mr Packwood and his organislg ability over the staff and workers, l bringing this huge undertaking to successful conclusion. They were eeply indebted to Mr Packwood and Its Packwood for their unfailing ouxtesy and hospitality. Mr Packroodj had given devoted service to his epartment and on behalf of the citiens he congratulated him heartily on he success attending his efforts. Other speakers also paid high tri* rntes to Mr Packwood’s engineering thility and the hope was expressed hat on the accomplishment of one of he greatest engineering undertakings n the history of the Public Works Department, he would be raised to the lighest place in the department. Mr Cooney, on behalf of the citi:ens, presented him with a present for Mrs Packwood in appreciation oT her lospitality and great assistance she lad given her husband. In reply,. Mr Packwood thanked the nembers and) officers of the local bodies for their help and courtesy to turn and for the tangible appreciation jf Mrs Packwood’s hospitality. He acknowledged • the co-operation of his staff and specially mentioned the work >f Messrs Bignell (overseer), Geddes (power house constructor), White (mechanical designer of the scheme) and{ E*. T. M. Kissel (chief electrical engineer) . He would he proud of the successful carrying out of the work. He was pleased to note the Harbour Board’s progressive proposal to deepen the water of the Oamaru port and hoped a service with electricity and limestone an<3f a deeper port would become instrumental in the manufacture nitrates.