NEW MANGAMAHOE DAM

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1929, Page 11

NEW MANGAMAHOE DAM

REQUEST FOR FASTER SPEED IMPORTANCE OF EARLY FINISH. DANGER IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. Arising out of a question by Cr. P. E. Stainton at a meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council last night as to whether the work of constructing the new Mangamahoe dam was progressing as quickly as the engineer expected, the engineer (Mr. C. Clarke) replied that ho had to admit it had not gone ahead quite as quickly as he hoped and expected. He did not know whether the contractors intended to speed up the work towards tho end, but he thought the deviation tunnel might have been finished earlier, and a commencement made with tho south-west embankment. Cr. Stainton remarked that though the contract time did not expire until March 31, 1931, it was hoped that the dam would be ready for use in the 1930-31 summer. The local representative of the contracting firm had expressed the same hope at the official turning of the first sod. It was a matter of the greatest importance to the borough, and he hoped that some arrangement could be made with the contractors to speed up the work.

The remarks made by Cr. Stainton were endorsed by Crs. F. Anioore and R. J. Pentecost.

The opinion was expressed that a little difficulty was being experienced in maintaining an efficient staff on the job, owing to certain conditions that prevailed. ’

The council resolved to ask the electric light and tramways committee, with the addition of Cr. J. Brown, to approach tho contractors with a. view to having the work speeded up if possible.