PROTECTIVE WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 27 February 1935, Page 5

PROTECTIVE WORK

DAWSON FALLS POWERHOUSE. WALL MAY BE ERECTED. Though the recent flood ravages at the powerhouse at' Dawson Falls were less than expected, protection against further floods is being undertaken and a concrete wall will probably be erec.cd some distance above, the falls. Though finality in the plans has not yet been reached, work will almost certainly be done shortly at a cost of £3O. The flood damages are likely to be £5 or a little more. • ‘ The South Committee of the Egmont National ' Park Board considered the question at a meeting at the Dawson Falls mountain house yesterday. It was mentioned that the co-operation of Mr. T. R. Overton, engirieei- to - the South Taranaki Power Board, had been secured for the work. Mr. Overton has a scheme for the erection of a concrete wall some distance above the powerhouse to relieve the weight of water and prevent the boulders that did the damage in the recent flood from reaching the powerhouse wall. A suggestion that an outcrop of rocks a short distance upstream ' should be blasted out was also made and will pfobably be carried into effect. Reporting on the hydro-electric installation, Mr. L. O. Hooker (secretary) said that early in January some trouble with thjp generator was experienced. Mr. Overton immediately took the matter in hand and had the repairs effected and wrote concerning the keeping or the heater burning under the generator. On Friday morning last, through an abnormal rise in the river at about 6 a.m., some structural damage was done to the building and river, sand and silt were deposited in the station to a depth of 18 inches. Mr. Pettett and his son, of the South Taranaki Power Board’s station staff, and Mr. Overton, with an electrician, visited the powerhouse for inspection. Mr. Murphy and his' son started to remove the deposit from the powerstation and immediately Mr. Pettett arrived he prepared the list of material for restoring the damage to the building. Material was obtained from Eltham. By midday on Saturday the structural damage was repaired and by 6 p.m. on Friday night the electrician had the lights on. In the discussion on the question Mr. W. G. Walkley, chairman, said a wall

erected at a cost of £3O would be a useful addition. To do the work arrangements could be made for an overdraft. ■ ' ' • Mr. A. G. Larcom: Money, is cheap these , days, and I think it would be advisable to do the work. ( , “If we. do nothing we will go back, said. Mr. F. Mourie. “It is . essential to go on with the work.” The question of a retaining wall was difficult, said Mr. Tait. It would need to be a very strong structure owing to the boulders. Mr. L. O. Hooker: Mr. Overton has suggested that ,he would put down three railway irons and two across, as a foundation for:a thoroughly solid structure. “A little outcrop of rock on the side opposite the powerhouse acts as a kind of groyne and shoots the water right on to the house,” said the chairman. “With small blasting charges a quarryman could easily get rid of that without doing any damage. The rocks below the powerhouse are dangerous in collecting shingle, and they could be got rid of in the same way.” “In building a protective wall,” said Mr. H. Murray, “would it not be a good idea to concrete the back wall another two feet up, making it absolutely watertight?” The trouble in the recent flood, said Mr. Hooker, was . the huge boulders which crashed into the concrete wall and. smashed part of it. Some protection was needed higher up. Those present were Messrs. W. G. Walkley (chairman), F. Mourie, Tait, A. G. Larcom, H. Murray and F. Gamblin.