TO REPORT ON ARAPUNI

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1930, Page 13

TO REPORT ON ARAPUNI

SWEDISH ENGINEER SECURED

MOST HIGHLY QUALIFIED EXPERT.

DUE IN NEW ZEALAND IN AUGUST. By Tol«pr«ph.—Press Asßoci«Hon. Wellington, Last Night. The Prime Minister told the House of Representatives to-day that the Government had arranged to secure the services of a highly qualified engineering expert to report on the Arapuni hydroelectric works. Inquiries had been made through the High Commissioner in London and through the president of the Institute of Civil Engineers for a suitable man and as a result the Government had decided to appoint Professor P. G. Hornell, of an eminent firm of Swedish civil consulting engineers. The firm had carried out 400 hydroelectric development schemes and reports on approximately 2000 schemes totalling 3,500,000 k.w., with heads of up to 300 feet. It claimed to have had experience in the construction of dams on difficult foundations in Sweden, Finland and Russia of up to 120,000 h.p. The firm was established in 1902 and had over 50 technical experts. Professor Hornell had been a director of the firm for 28 years and had adjudicated for it on all the serious difficulties. He was a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Scientific and Industrial Research and a Swedish Government expert on the League of Nations committee on water power development.

Mr. Forbes added that he had been advised by the High Commissioner that Professor Hornell would be accompanied by an experienced assistant on his visit to New Zealand, and that the best arrangement for his passage to the Dominion would enable him to leave Southampton on July 25, arriving at Wellington about August 25.