ARAPUNI TROUBLE

Waipa Post, Volume 45, Issue 3215, 11 August 1932, Page 4

ARAPUNI TROUBLE

UNDERGROUND CAVITY FOUND. INVESTIGATIONS BEING CONTINUED. ARAPUNL Wednesday. The discovery of an opening under the cut-off wall in the Arapuni head race was the most importanc development to-day. No water was actually found in it, but ..he fact that the bores which are being sunk have revealed a weakness in the rock underneath the wall, through wh.ch water is capable of percolating, is good evidence tnat the search for the underground leak is nearing success. The existence of the cavity was definitely proved by driving compressed air down one of the bores sunk above the cut-off wall.

Nothing is known as to the extent of the opening wh ch has been found, but the probability that it is of very smaii dimensions is indicated by the fact that water driven into one bore made no appearance in the other.

Whatever be the exacc location where the water is seep ng under the cut-off wall, it definitely cannot be at any great depth. The diver again made an underwater descent to caulk any holes left in the wa.ls. It is likely that the dam will be made fuLy watertight by Friday evening. Three pumps will then be put to work to drain the water out. This should take omy four hours or so. By Saturday night, therefore, tbe interior of the dam shou.d be dry permitting a detailed inspection of the damage. AUCKLAND. This Day.

The King's Wharf station, which is now l.nked with Arapuni during the peak period each day, was helping Arapuni early last evening. This aid is given for a bi*ief period daily, and is not called upon because Arapuni and Hora Hora are incapable between them of meeting the peak load of the city and province during the present emergency, but merely to relieve conditions in the headrace while the men are working, as the velocity of the water becomes severe when the Arapuni power station is on full load.