SAFETY OF ARAPUNI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20089, 29 October 1928, Page 10

SAFETY OF ARAPUNI.

STATEMENT REFUTED.

" FANTASTIC AND ABSURD."

MR. FURKERT'S CONTRADICTION ALL PRECAUTIONS TAKEN. [IIY TEI.EGUAI'Il —SI'KCIAL CORRESPONDENT] TANEATUA, Sunday. An alarmist statement as to the safety of the Arapuni dam is being circulated through certain newspapers in the name of Mr. T?. W. TTolmcs. formerly chief engineer of the Public Works Department. Tho general argument is that through instability of the country, the existence of cracks in the formation, the possibility of soft strata existing beneath the dam and the danger of earthquakes disturbing tho site, the existence of tho dam creates a giavo danger of a calamity occurring in the Waikato Valley through the structure collapsing. The statement concludes as follows:

"The Government has gambled with tho lives of the people of tho low-lying country below the dam and with tho best part of £2,000,000 of the people's money in as hazardous a venture as betting on a horse race. As far as I can see the only thing to do is to empty the reservoir and abandon tho dam in order that the low-lying country may be freed from the menace from failure of the works."

Referring to tlio matter to-day, Mr. F W. Furkort, cngineer-in-chicf of Public Works, who is travelling with tho Auckland commerce train, said there was absolutely no foundation in fact for the allegations made by Mr. Holmes. "The statements made.by Mr. Holmes are 'evidently based on his recollections of years ago," Mr. Furkort said. " They indicate that he has forgotten the facts. The Government did not gamble with the lives of the people; it took every precaution. The events since have proved that the original investigations by the engineers appointed for the purpose gave an absolutely true index of the material on the site of the works. Nothing has been disclosed that indicates any necessity for alarm. The statements can only bo characterised as fantastic and absurd."