WORK AT ARAPUNI.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18392, 28 July 1931, Page 8

WORK AT ARAPUNI.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER. GOOD PROGRESS BEING MADE. MR HOLDSWORTH’S OPINION. AUCKLAND, Tuesday. Hon. W. B. Taverner, Minister of Public Works, said yesterday that provided nothing unforeseen occurs the work of restoring the Arapuni hydro-electric works will be completed in the time originally estimated. Mr Taverner said the work was proceeding expeditiously, and at present there were 600 men employed on 23 separate jobs. Tenders aggregating approximately £50,000 had been accepted for the material required for the important work of lining the headrace. Paving blocks were to be manufactured by the Napier Concrete Company, and a large quantity of bitumen for waterproofing would be supplied by the Neuchatel Asphalt Company A tender had also been accepted‘for steel plates for use in the bituminous mastic. With the supply of these materials work would be pushed on actively. The concreting of the falls was well under way, continued Mr Taverner, and it was not anticipated that any difficulties would now be met with In "this particular section, which was highly important to the success of the scheme. Mr Taverner said the grouting operations had been very extensive, and many thousands of feet of grout holes had been bored and filled with cement under pressure, reinforcement being added with thin steel rods.

“ Most Gratifying.”

Mr W. J. Holdswortli, chairman of the Auckland Electric Power Board, commenting on the Minister’s statement, said the estimated time for the completion of the reconstruction work would expire in June or July of next year. “It is most gratifying,” he added, “ to hear that there is a prospect of the work being finished on time. AH I can say is that I hope that when Arapuni commences to generate again it will give permanent satisfaction. Coal generation does not suit our requirements at all.”