WORK AT ARAPUNI STOPPED

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4469, 24 June 1930, Page 3

WORK AT ARAPUNI STOPPED

POWER. HOUSE FOUNDATION CRITICISED. Ilamillon, Last Night, Arapuni to-day presents a scene of desolation. All the 250 men employed there were suspended lasi Friday.

Subsequent to an inspection of the works, Mr. R. Semple, ALP., stated: “It is amazing, to say the least of it, that alleged competent engineers should erect a power house and inatal machinery and then sink a shaft to explore the foundations. The shaft: is now down 25 feet and the bottom is filled with water/’

It. pierces ground which', according to Mr. Sepmle, is nothing more than pumice. This, he said, supported the assertion of Armstrong Whitworth’s that there was no other foundation than soft pumice. The present foundations of the power house consisted of concrete slab resting on this pumiceous underlayer. It was a (loafing foundation. While, doubtless, said Mr. Semple, this heavy block concrete, which he understood was 15 feet thick, would with the tremendous over-weight have a tendency to sink vertically, the slightest till would throw the machinery out of alignment and difficulties would arise.

Although vibration had existed in No. 1 turbine for many weeks before the crack in the spillway was discovered, no apparent cause could he assigned for it, Levels had been taken and apparently the machine was perfectly true. The trouble had been most puzzling and worrying lo the engineers on the job who in no way could account. for it.

To Mr. Semple’s mind this trouble was undoubtedly in the foundations. In fact, the whole of the troubles appeared to him to be due to the scheme being- ill-conceived in I lie first place and then to trying to construct works through a shivering mass of volcanic- ash. The vibration of machinery had set up earth movements the • extent of which was yet unknown. No one could tell where the tronblc was going- to end. If as a result. of the present exploration it was found that the foundations were wrong*, lie did not think anything could be done to put, them right. The only thing under sycA circumstances would, he thought, btt to shift the power house to another site.

When Armstrong’s were excavating- the foundation for the power house they struck an underground stream which seemed beyond their cower to stem except perhaps at prohibitive cost. They, of course, were only contractors and had taken if for grantod that everything was right for them to proceed, and that the New Zealand Public Modus Department, had done all the necessary exploration work. They refused to proceed with ih work, however, unless Ihe Government look the responsibility for the job.

Eventually they relinquished the contract altogether and the Public Works engineers stepped in and said: "MVIe will show them what avc can do!” But the Public Works Department had behind it the resources of the country. Expense was not counted. They poured inlo the hole through which the water rushed and flooded die excavation no less, he was told, than Infill tons of liquid concrete. This blocked the hole up, but it did not dry up the water which was still underneath and doubtless would find another outlet iu time. The published statement from Wellington that Mr. Semple and Mr. M,eKeen represent the New Zealand Workers' Union is not eorrce|, said Mr. Semple. They. went, there to gather first-hand information so that they would he able to know whet) .Parliament met, how to vote upon any proposed expenditure oJ. further sums of money on the Arapuni scheme. While there they inspected the tunnels and had given a frank and honest opinion on what they saw.

SCIENTISTS TO MAKE INSPECTION. ■Wellington, Last Night. Hr. Marsden, Dr. Henderson and Professor Martruin have gone to Arapiini to make a further inspection and survey.