ARAPUNI'S NEW PROBLEM

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1930, Page 8

ARAPUNI'S NEW PROBLEM

FRACTURE IN CHANNEL FAULT ABOUT 20 CHAINS LONG, ALL EXPERTS ON THE SCENE, By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A serious problem has arisen at the Arapuni hydro-electric works owing to a fracture along the eastern bank of the overflow channel below the spillway extending from approximately the position of the original falls back to the structure “containing the penstock intakes. The fault is' 'about 20 chains long and increases from a hair’s breadth to about two inches in the concrete works. . - ■ ' The gates in the diversion tunnel were opened this afternoon and it is ex- * pected that by. 6 o’clock in the morning the water will be sufficiently reduced to prevent overflowing at the spillway weir. The present intention Is .to maintain the water at this .level to enable the generating machinery to continue to operate pending an examination of tho fracture. All the Government experts are now . on the scene, and the Minister of Public Works, (the Hon. W. B. Taverner) leaves Auckland to-night.