Road, Rail and Power Works Reflect the Skill of Engineers

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21647, 13 November 1933, Page 45 (Supplement)

Road, Rail and Power Works Reflect the Skill of Engineers

M.ICY in New Zoalaml has boon that most oi' the developmental works calling for the expenditure of vast sums ■of money should bo undertaken by the State or by tlio municipalities, although there are many instances where public utilities have boon created ■\ v prnato organisations enjoying ji franchise irom the controlling authority. To the majority of New Zealandors, the State Jjas been the fairy godmother who has provided or contributed largely to the amenities 0 f civilisation in the provision of roads, railways, tele_'.ra phs and electric power. For many

years, Auckland was a Cinderella so far as the expenditure of State funds was concerned. In more recent times, the godmother has waved her wand over the province and if the tally of State works is not so great as in other provinces, nevertheless Auckland can now point to gome notable undertakings under the head of " public works."

Of all the achievements, the harnessing of the turbulent waters of the Waikato River at Arapuni stands supreme as being the most spectacular. This great undertaking, which took five years and over £2,300,000 to complete, lias many claims upon the imagination as an engineering feat. The most formidable artificial dam in the country, the huge concrete structure across the Arajnnii Gorge, presents an aweinspiring sight, and one cannot but be impressed with its magnitude and strength. Once the surging torrent of the Dominion's largest and longest river roared in the depths of the gorge, but now all is still and seemingly lifeless, and it is only within the walls of the power-house, wedged in a deep cut in the cliff, that one hears the even hum of the turbines, the only sound indicative of the old restlessness, as the energy of nature is transformed into the energy of the machine. It is now many years since Arapuni Gorge was first considered as a likely site for a dam by the Waihi Gold Mining Company which was looking for a source of water-power to operate its mine machinery. Ultimately, the company developed the Horahora scheme. The year 1914 saw the commencement of the exploration of the Arapuni site by the Government, but in those days few realised that a bold dream for liarness-

wg tho mighty waters of the Waikato was hoiimentertained, as tho searchlight ol" publicity was not turned on the preliminary investigations. t 1,10 war - vears aiul iL not until July, l.»— 1, thiit an expert commission's rccommendation in favour of tlie Arapuni scheme was adopted by the Government. Operations were commenced in 192t and the diversion of the river accomplished nearly two years later. Upon the completion of the dam the waters were diverted over tho spillway, and in May, 192!), the first unit was in operation. Arapuni power was iirst used in Auckland City in the following

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month and since then tlio works have been (lie principal source of power for the North Island. The might of Arapuni may he realised when ono considers that the station's total capacity is 60,000 kilowatts, or a little less than the combined output of the other two largo North Island State power stations, Wnilcnremoana and Mangahao. There is adequate energy from Arapuni to meet all the needs of the Auckland I*i ■ovince. Railways liave played an important part in the growth of the province, the crowning achievement over many years being the erection of

Auckland's palatial station, which lias no equal iu the: Dominion and compares more than favourably with stations iu Australian centres. Indeed, few cities of Auckland's size can boast of a finer station. It has been built to serve not only the present, but future generations, there being ample provision for future development. Thero is nothing drab about the main station building, the architects making a bold use of colour in the decorative schemes The contract price for the station proper was £.''>2o,ooo, the stonework alone, including Coromandel granite and Whangarei marble, absorbing £45,000. The cost of the station, yards and Westfield deviation, all co-ordinated into one scheme, was in the vicinity of £1,250,000.

Auckland's first railway ran to Onehungn, then a port of greater importance than it is today, the lino being completed in 1873. It was not until as recently as 1908, however, that Auckland and Wellington were directly linked by rail, although the building of a main trunk railway had been advocated as far back as 1870. In constructing the line a remarkable engineering feat was accomplished. In the run of .'io miles from the Taumarunui flat to National Park the train climbs 21(J0ft., the steepest part being the pange which rises immediately behind Hau* limn station. To surmount this an ingenious spiral, rising 435 ft. in four and three-quarter miles, was designed. The formation of this spiral still ranks as an outstanding achievement in engineering.

No less marked-has been the progress which has occurred in road-building, there being throughout the Auckland Province to-day a network of fine surfaced roads unsurpassed anywhere in New Zealand. Many of the thoroughfares having been laid down in concrete, motorists are enabled to travel under ideal conditions. Reclamation and drainage works have also been carried out on a large scale and much valuable land has been gained. It is interesting to recall that practically the entire foreshore in Auckland harbour has been reclaimed, the sea at one time extending as far as Shorthand Street. Extensive areas in Freeman's Bay, including Victoria Park, are reclaimed land, while in South Auckland low-lying country and swamps have been converted into rich farm lands, notable examples of recent activities being provided by the operations on the Hauraki Plains and in the Taupiri district.