ARAPUNI RUMOURS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20597, 23 June 1930, Page 10

ARAPUNI RUMOURS.

POWER-lIOUSE FOUNDATION. MR. SEMPLE'S ASSURANCE. NO MOVEMENT OCCURS. ALL OFFICIALS STILL MUZZLED. [by telegraph.—special reporter.] ARAPUNI, Sunday. It is difficult these days to find out what Arapuni really is. Is it a geological problem or an engineering problem 1 Is it a subject for the gossip monger or a proposition for one of the exact sciences? Is it a political question or a means of unionistic jerrymandering? Or, finally, is it a national service or an enterprise that is being damned for ulterior motives ? Frankly, the representative of the Herald, which from the outset of the scheme has consistently endeavoured to give full information about tho job, does not know. Tho first and greatest obstruction to a news service is tho fiat of the Minister of Public Works that ho alone must be the medium of information. In view of this the staff cannot even deny a rumour, no mattor how false. The staff is not able to comment upon a rumour which issued in Auckland last week from certain members of tho Auckland Power Board and rapidly travelled far and wide, that a movement, varying from 4in. to one quarter of an inch according to tho personal equation, had occurred in tho foundations of the powerhouse. An engineer was to-day asked about the matter. He replied that ho regretted that he was not at liberty to deny it. What really did he mean? Labour Members' Visit. Already one had hoard from a man in Putaruru, who had been told by a man who had no connection with the job, that there was a flaw in tho power-house foundations. This had been followed by a personal inspection of the power-house, access having been gained by means that need not bo made public. No signs whatever of a fracture could be found. Yet when questioned, the officials could only say that they had no authority to speak. Then came what might bo classed as anti-climax. Three Labour members of Parliament, Messrs. R. Semple, R. McKeen and W. Lee Martin, had spent the day in going over tho works. They had full Ministerial authority, so much so that a worker referred to Mr. Semple as the Minister's "off sider." The Herald representative, as a last resource, asked Mr. Martin if the power-houso foundations had been fractured. He said he had seen no sign of it. Tho Herald representative then asked Mr. Semple the samo question. He replied definitely that nothing of the sort had occurred. Sources of Humour. Thanks, therefore, to Mr. Semple, and as tho result of personal inspection and of inquiries carried to several unofficial quarters, the Herald is in a position to state definitely that there is no move ment in the power-house Jfoundations. It yet remains to bo said, however, thai surveyors for tho last two weens have been checking traverse lines from the east side of the gorge to points west of the headrace. Boforo tho Ministerial ban on news had been applied it was known that some evidence had been obtained in support of the theory that the earth movement had been eastward. Possibly from this, tho rumour-mongers may havo built up tho story that the power-houso foundations had "gono east." If such is the case, then the whole ridge embracing tho penstocks has "gono east" also, because there has been no distortion of the steel tubes. One, therefore, inclines to tho opinion that the Auckland Power Board members, like most of the lay authorities upon Arapuni, have circulated this rumour without reliable information. VISIT BY SCIENTISTS. REPRESENTATIVE PARTY. MAKING INSPECTION TO-DAY. [BY TELEGRAPH, —SPECIAL REPORTER.] ARAPUNI, Sunday. There was some evidence to-day that the Government was beginning to see the end of its inquiry regarding Arapuni. One learns from unofficial sources that tomorrow (Monday) a strong force of scientists will arrive, including Dr. E. Marsden, secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr. P. Marshall, formerly geologist at Otago University, Professor J. A. Bartrum, professor of geology at Auckland University College, and Dr. J. Henderson, of the geological survey. It must be understood of course that all information is entirely unofficial. The only man who spoke to the Herald representative with a sign of official voice during tho week-end was Mr. Semple. At tho moment Arapuni seems to regard him as the Government and why not? .He came and saw and 10, within 24 hours, tho tunnellers were getting their picks and shovels in readiness to start work. TROUBLE AVERTED. OVERLOAD AT HAMILTON. WARNING TO CONSUMERS. [BY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] HAMILTON, Sunday. " Serious trouble in connection with the Hamilton Borough Council's power supply was narrowly averted on Friday evening, when tho street lights were turned on. It was found that the. consumption of current in Hamilton was 300 k.v.a. in excess of tho town's allocation, and in view of this heavy overload tho Public Works Department threatened to cut off tho power. A violent storm was raging at the time and the council's stn-ff feared a blow-out which would have thrown tho whole of tho Hamilton service out of action. Fortunately tho council was able to cut off somo of the plants using power, and after some delay the street lights were turned on. The council has issued another notice calling on consumers, if they want the convenience of the street lights, to exercise the greatest economy in the use of cunent and to cease to use radiators and, otlior non-essential conveniences. POSITION AT HUNTLY. STAND-BY PLANT WANTED. [BY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT. I HAMILTON. Sunday. The Huntly Town Board is convening a meoting for Saturday next for the purpose of discussing a proposal to urge upon the Government the advisability of constructing an electricity stand-by plant at Huntly.