WAITAKI DAM

Southland Times, Issue 22998, 18 September 1936, Page 8

WAITAKI DAM

Last Sluice Gate Closed

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, September 17. The last of the three temporary sluice gates through the Waitaki Dam was closed yesterday, according to an announcement made to-day by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple). The Minister paid a tribute to the men who carried out the work of closing the gates under trying conditions.

“In the public works statement which was presented in the House of Representatives this week, I made reference to certain work in the closing of these gates,” said Mr Semple, “and I stated that the last gate was expected to be closed shortly. It is satisfactory to be able to announce that it was closed yesterday. There is still a certain amount of work to be done in the way of concreting and grouting, but the critical work has been completed and the water, which has been passing through the open portion of those temporary sluices, is now completely blocked.”

The Minister said that the past winter had not been very suitable for the work, as the river had been a good deal in flood during that time, making the task more difficult. Consequently, the staff and the other men engaged had had to carry out their work under wet and trying conditions, but they deserved credit for the manner in which they had faced the problems encountered.