REPAIR WORK AT ARAPUNI

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1930, Page 6

REPAIR WORK AT ARAPUNI

IMMEDIATE COMMENCEMENT

CABINET SANCTION

£120,000 PROVIDED FUR THE YEAR.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. » Welllngton,\Dec. 12» Thb Minister Of Public Works, the Hon. W. B Taverner, announces Cdbinet’s sanction for immediate commencement of repair work at Arapuni oh,the lines suggested bjr Professor Hofnell, with certain modifications suggested by the department's engineers. , , , ,

It has been decided to complete the concreting of the loWer end of tne spillway, popularly known as the falls. A careful estimate has been prepared, but the final details will pot be worked out Until the engineers’ investigations which ire being carried out iri connection with working models have been completed. The financial provision made this year ; for the commencement of the Work will enable' a staff of about. 490 men to be. employed. . , The revised estimate of the work, much of which presents a good deal of difficulty as far as estimating is concerned, is about £500,000, including provision for the'two duplicate gales which it is intended to install in the diversion > tunnel in accordance with Professor HorUell’s recommendation. Professor Hornell stated, that it should be possible to complete the work in nine months, but the department has never subscribed to this statement. It is only right to point out,' however, that .the Work at the falls, which is of. very considerable magnitude, was not included in Professor Hornell’s estimate of the time which would be occupied. . ... , - The amount provided for this financial year is £120,000 and, if this is oyer- , spent at the Same rate for the first three months of the new financial year up to the end of June, the amount that could possibly be made, available is £lBO,OOO. . As. far as the Government is concerned the Minister stated that every .endeavour would be made to push on with the wdfk With due. regard to the e&onoriiic considerations Of the whole position,- apd of course subject to t-hy financial provision tp be made in the