WORK AT ARAPUNI

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17144, 28 December 1929, Page 14

WORK AT ARAPUNI

MORE TUNNELS PIERCED AUXILIARY PLANT ORDERED Good progress is being made with llio work at Arapuni. Two of the penstock tunnels under construction south of the present power-house have been pierced and workmen are engaged in widening the tunnels in preparation for the steel lining. A contract has been let for the lining of tjiese tunnels and the work of assembling the parts is in hand. A third tunnel will be pierced early in January. The third unit in the power-house is now in position, and the drying-out process, preparatory to linking the turbine up with the main scheme will be commenced next month. Authority lias been received for the construction of an auxiliary power-house between the present plant and the additional power-house aceonimodation to bo erected later. The auxiliary plant will bo used for supplying power for local purposes at the works and will be independent of the main scheme. It. will consist of two small turbines and generators operated with water power supplied from a 2ft 6in conduit running in the same direction as the main penstocks. A start will l>e made with the construction of the auxiliary plant early in the new year. In order to test the machinery operating the gates in the diversion tunnel at the dam, the gates will bo partially opened before Christmas and the new year.