SLUICE GATES CLOSED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19123, 18 September 1936, Page 7

SLUICE GATES CLOSED

WORK AT WAITAKI DAM DIFFICULT CONDITIONS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. In the public works statement presented to the House of Representatives this week, the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, referred to certain, work regardingi the closing of three temporary sluice gates through the Waitaki dani. The Minister indicated that this work could only be carried out during low water conditions, and that he expected the last gate would be closed shortly. Interviewed last evening, Mr. Semple said that the last of these sluices was closed on Wednesday. There was still a certain amount of work to be done with concrete and grouting, but the critical work had now been completed and the water which had been passing through the open portion of these temporary sluices was now completely blocked. Tim Minister said that the past winter bad not been very suitable for \york, as the river had been much in flood for that period of the year and this had made the task much more difficult. In paying tribute to the staff and the men who itad been associated with the work, the Minister said they had carried out the work under very wet and trying conditions in a way which showed very keen interest in the many problems with which they were faced.