THE ARAPUNI DAM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20099, 9 November 1928, Page 14

THE ARAPUNI DAM.

MR. R. W. HOLMES' REPORT

REASON FOR PUBLICATION

[i; v 'i i: i. lc; i! ai• n. own corkksi'ondknt.]

HAMILTON. Thursday

A further statement lias been made by Mr. K. W • Holmes regarding the Arapiini dam. "My opinion of Hie potential danger of the undertaking has lieeti known to many ol the public lor years past, some of wlinni reside in the uvea "threatened with disaster, lie says. "On September 28 last some information came lo hand which confirmed my previously formed opinion of the country, which 1 had stated in an otlicial report. This recent information placed the safety of the works in such a perilous plight that I requested my son to immediately inform Mr. Downie Stewart of the position, which was done within half an hour and confirmed next day in writing. This relieved me of all responsibility by placing it upon the shoulders of the (lovei nmeiit. Then, as no action was taken toward an investigation of the condition of the dam, I determined to publish the letter which 1 wrote. 'I he time and manner of its publication has nothing to do with the question of the safetv of the dam."

Afiet traversing several points raised iu hi.- original statement, Mr. Ilolmes .says No undertaking of the vastness of Ar.ipuin dam. and containing so much potential danger, should be constructed on a river above an area, of country so extensive, or that contains such a largo population, as the Lower Waikato. In concl'ision. I wish to mention that no amount of statements by engineers and others are of any avail unless supported bv absolute proof. Such proof is not in existence at the present time."

Mr. Holmes suggests that his determination to publish his alarmist report was clue to the receipt of information on September 28. This is presumably the information " from one of the junior engineers that were employed bv the contractors for the darn construction," to which ho refers in the second paragraph of his original statement. That statement was published on October 26. On October 20, his son, Mr. J. I). Holmes, had written to the Hon. J. A. Voting, enclosing a statement about Arapuni by Mr. It. W. Holmes, ami stating that 1111 less certain demands on the Governincuts were conceded bv 10 a.m. on October 24. thiit statement would be made public.