FAITH IN SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20882, 26 May 1931, Page 10

FAITH IN SCHEME.

DEPARTMENTAL ATTITUDE.

THOROUGH REMEDIAL WORK. HOPE TO EXPEDITE REPAIRS. Mutual compliments were paid at the luncheon tendered by the Public Works Department to the members of the Auckland Power Board at Arnpuni yesterday. The Hon. A. J. Murdoch, who presided, said every possible means were being employed to circumvent and control the difficulties. lie congratulated tho board upon tho way it had filled the breach after Arapuni was closed.

Mr. W. J. Iloldsworth, chairman of tho board, outlined the efforts and difficulties of the board, which now had a plant of 41,000 kw. capacity. In view of this there was no necessity to overrush works at Arapuni. lie expressed satisfaction at the scale of tho remedial operations and the efficient manner in which they were being carried out.

Mr. S. J. Harbutt said they were pleased to know that the accident to the plant had been due to no engineering fault. It was a case of Nature intervening in difficult country, which lie compared with the firm rock foundations of the Niagara power scheme. Mr. F. \V. Furkert, engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department, said tho department undoubtedly had a big job on hand and it knew it had the sympathy of the Auckland Power Board members and of the great majority of people. " Of course there aro some who would like to see it fail, because at the outset they said it would go wrong," he said with a smile. " But wo do not caro about them. No man in tho department worries about their opinions."

Mr. Furkert said difficulties wero inevitable and it was not possible for everyone to sec matters in the same light, but they could at least see the other side. The department would try not to overlook anything, but it still hoped to mako speed to enable Arapuni to resume earning revenue. The loss of revenue might amount to as large a sum as the cost of remedial measures. Some critics said that certain jobs were unnecessary and that they were indications of " funk," but Mr. Furkert said the department had had a fright and it behoved those responsible to seo that nothing of a similar nature happened in the future, lie emphasised the fact that Professor Hornell had definitely approved of the full development of the plant to eight units. Doubts had been raised on this question, but the professor had said that if tho scheme was good for four it was good for the whole capacity of tlie river.

THE DIVERSION TUNNEL. PLANS FOR SECOND VALVE. OVERHAUL OF PRESENT GATES. Preparations are being made for the installation of a second valve in the diversion tunnel of the Arapuni scheme. This was recommended by Professor Hornell, who advised that tho tunnel should be retained permanently as a means of controlling the flow of impounded water. The- new valve will consist of ofte gate only; the present ono consists of two. The pilot shaft for the necessary excavation was down some 60ft. when the lunnellers ceased work. Tho sinking was facilitated by tho fact that a bore hole previously made went through to the diversion tunnel, thus providing perfect drainage. When the shaft is carried the whole distance there will be no need to lift any spoil from tho enlarged cavity—it will simply drop into the tunnel and be swept away by tho current. At present repairs are being carried out to the tunnel gates, an operation which demands their partial dismantling. It appears that during the time the lake was being released some very large blocks of rock were carried into tho tunnel when the gates gave ar aperture of about eight feet, and their bumping against the gates produced some distortion of sonic of the membcis which unite the two sheets of steel The efficiency of the gates was not im paired. They have since been closed dozens of times and have completely sealed the tunnel, but it is considered advisable to replace tho affected mem hers.