ARAPUNI TO CLOSE DOWN

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1930, Page 13

ARAPUNI TO CLOSE DOWN

BIC LAKE MUST BE EMPTIED INVESTIGATION BY DIVER. PROPOSALS' FOR POWER SUPPLY. By- Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Juno I'o. Any remaining fear of a disastrous flood in the Waikato owing to the trouble at Arapuni has now been allayed, the water in the headrace being steadily lowered and in two days the race will be empty. The stoppage of electric works places' the province in the position it occupied before Arapuni was switched in and all the standby plants will be worked to the fullest capacity to supply the demand of the nine power districts concerned. The breakdown has emphasised the necessity for linking Arapuni with Waikaremoana which work, though started, may take two years. CRACK IN WEIR FOUNDATIONS. NO REMEDY YET IN SIGHT. Hamilton, Last Night. It has been decided to completely empty the great lake formed by the erection of the Arapuni dam, and as a result it is anticipated the powerhouse will close down to-morrow afternoon. The water will then be below the entrance to the penstocks and the turbines will then cease functioning.. The emptying of the great dam, in the opinion of Mr. F. W. Furkert, chief Government engineer, will take 14 days to accomplish. As a result of the investigations by a diver yesterday it is reported that the crack between the spillway and the entrance to the penstocks extends two feet, at a tangent, into the foundations of the weir. The creek tapers from two inches to a point. It has been packed with sacking and nothing untoward has happened since the crack first appeared. No remedial measures can be suggested until full investigations have been made. Strict economy in the use of electric power will require to be exercised by the power supply authorities 'in consequence of the closing down of Arapuni. In a statement issued this evening, Mr. T. McLennan, district electrical engineer, Hamilton, said that a reduction of 15 per cent, would be made on Wednesday or Thursday in the amount of current available. The different substations of the Public Works Departments would inform the Power Boards as soon as the time at which -the reduction was required to bo made was known. He added that unless the load was reduced to the amount of the power available, tho department would bo compelled, to reduce it cither by lowering the voltage or by cutting off power.

EXPLANATION TO CABINET.

NO EARLY CHANGE EXPECTED. Wellington, Last Night. The Minister of Public Works (the Hon. W- B. Taverner) returned to Wellington to-day from a short visit to Arapuni, where he made a thorough inspection in company with departmental experts. He reported upon the occurrence of the faults to the Cabinet in the afternoon, the whole position being fully explained. The Public Works Department engineers and the Government geologists are remaining at Arapuni in order to carryout an exhaustive examination of the country surrounding the works as soon as the water level in the headrace channel falls sufficiently. Until this takes place nothing definite can be done and no developments are expected for a few days unless there are further earth movements.