ARAPUNI NEGOTIATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18026, 27 February 1922, Page 6

ARAPUNI NEGOTIATIONS.

AGREEMENT NOT COMPLETE. CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. The negotiations between the Minister for Public Works and the Mayor of Auckland, in regard to the Arapuni hydroelectric scheme, have not yet been concluded, The Minister has returned to Wellington, and at his request, Mr. Gunson will leave for Wellington this evening to consider the position further. He will be accompanied by the city electrical engineer, Mr. A. Wyllie, and the city solicitor, Mr. J. Stanton. The committee of the City Council, which adjourned on Thursday evening in committee, will meet at noon to-day, in order that the Mayor may place certain matters relating to the negotiations before it. On Saturday evening, the Minister stated that as soon as the proposed agreement with the City Council had been ratified by the Power Board, the Arapuni scheme would be undertaken without further delay. All the preliminary work would be put in hand immediately, and the department would proceed without loss of time with the preparation of the specifications for the works. Asked if it would be necessary to construct a light railway or a concrete road from tho main line to the site, Mr. Coates said that if the work was let by contract, the contractors would have to do that.