TROUBLE AT HORAHORA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19857, 30 January 1928, Page 10

TROUBLE AT HORAHORA.

HUGE DEPOSITS OF PUMICE. TURBINES AGAIN STOPPED. DEBRIS REMOVED YESTERDAY. [ur TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.'] HAMILTON, Sunday. The pumice deposits dislodged by the formation of the new watercourse at Arapuni have caused far more trouble at the Horahora electric-power works than was anticipated and have necessitated the closing down of the works on three occasions this month. From present indications it appears that tho works will have to close every Sunday for an indefinite period. Somo of tho difficulties confronting those in charge of the works could bo gauged to-day. The headrace gates were closed at 8.30 a.m., and when tha bulk of the water had drained off a hugs layer of pumice sand over sft. 6in. deep and containing thousands of cubic yards remained on the bottom of the race. The turbine chambers also held a large quantity and one turbine was almost wholly embedded in silt. Large boulders of pumice and bulky pieces of timber were wedged in the screens, forming an effective barrier for much of the water. One view was sufficient to show the casual observer why tho works have not been running satisfactorily this month. About 40 men worked at high pressure in removing the debris in the vicinity of tho turbines. Among the hardest workers were Mr. T. MacLennan, the district electrical engineer, and Mr. J. Swamey, the works superintendent. Mr. MacLennan was up to his knees in water in ono of the turbine chambers this afternoon. Tho screens were thoroughly cleaned and replaced aud a good deal of sand at the bottom of the headrace was swept through the works by the overflow from the lowered headrace gates. The headrace was filled again at 4 p.m. and the wheels of the turbines resumed revolving at a speed sufficient to meet this evening's requirements of the district. When the gates were lifted the heavy rush of water removed the silt deposits left in the headrace. The pumice is still coming down from Arapuni in large quantities, and the difficulty at Horahora is likely to recur for some time. The pumping station which supplies Hamilton with water from the Waikato River was kept working throughout the day with power from the King's Wharf station, Auckland.