ANOTHER ARAPUNI?

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20576, 13 August 1938, Page 9

ANOTHER ARAPUNI?

POWER SCHEMES WAIKATO RIVER SURVEYS

SITE NEAR CAMBRIDGE NO IMMEDIATE DEVELOPMENT ! Surveyors of the Public Works De- 1 partment, who have been conducting investigations oil the Waikato River ! over tiie past three or four years seeking likely sites for the establishment of future hydro-electrical schemes on the river, have returned to Maungatautari, to a point a few’ miles upstream from Cambridge, which is known as the Crow’s Nest. When this area was first surveyed there was considerable speculation regarding the possibility of another big power scheme being established on the Waikato 'River. At that time Public Works Department oilicials in Wellington were reticent in commenting on the survey. The return of survey parties to Maungatautari after the remainder of the river had been surveyed, suggested that the Crow’s Nest site might have been found tiie most suitable for future electric development on the Waikato. Although not definitely stated lo be so by officials of the Public Works Department, the assumption is somewhat supported by the intimation to-day by Mr A. C. Caldwell, acting-District Electrical Engineer, in Hamilton, that the Maungatuutari site was interesting, for found there was a fine quality of sedimentary rock of a composition not equalled in any other portion of the river. The rock was considerably more - valuable for power scheme construction than the volcanic rock on which Arapuni was constructed and which is found at any other possible site. Suitability For Dam Furthermore, at the Crow's Nest, \nere the Waikato River narrows considerably to pass through the rock .urination, the bed and banks of the .ver are solid rock and would be admirably suitable lor tiie construction of a dam. Another major consideration is the fact that Public Works officers have found, according to Mr Caldwell, that the Maungatautari rock would be excellent for the making of concrete, an important consideration n the selection of a hydro-electrical power station site. When the Arapuni scheme was commenced it was lound necessary to transport suitable concrete-making metal eight miles from a quarry to the power-station site. The return of survey parties to Maungatautari is more significant than was the original survey of the area some three years ago for then the investigations were made in the course uf normal work of the Public Works Department in considering suitable sites for any future power stations. Previous to the Maungatautari survey, w’ork had already been done on the Taupo section of the river. Quarry Enterprise The surveyors at that time left the Taupo area for Maungatautari instead of coming down steam gradually because preparations were being made for the establishment, under private enterprise, of a quarry at the Crow's Nest, where the metal, being of a hard blue substance, was found to be some of the most suitable for road construction located in the Waikato district. The Public Works Department took the necessary precautions to ensure that the site was not ruined should power developments be decided upon. .since then many thousands of Lons of rock have been removed lT'»m the quarry, but in such a way that Hig site appears to have been improved. Mr Caldwell said to-day that the quarry proprietors had been restricted in the area from which metal could be taken. The department, at tiie same time, endeavoured to secure options on certain lands near the site and adjoining the river. Mr Caldwell said it was not possible to give any definite information regarding any probable outcome of the surveys made on the Waikato River and from the survey report® the most suitable site, should one be required, would be decided by departmental heads in Wellington. Certainly no hydro-electrical power construction on the Waikato River was imminent. Arapuni Will Be Enlarged At the present time, continued Mr Caldwell, tiie Arapuni hydro-electric plant was fitted with six units, which was three-quarters of its capacity. The more immediate demands for power would be met by the installation of two more units, although no date had been fixed for the commencement of the work. That construction would be undertaken before any other possible scheme was commenced on the Waikato River. That the selection of another power station site on the river was not urgent was indicated by the fact that the surveyors had not been engaged on tiie work continually but as opportunity offered. The investigations on the river had not been merely to seek future power station sites alone, bu> also to determine the best sites for quarries which may be required by the Public Works Department in the future.