“QUITE HOPEFUL”

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 246, 16 September 1929, Page 4

“QUITE HOPEFUL”

ARAPUNI PROSPECTS. Matters relating to Arapuni were discussed at Wellington last week with tho Minister of Public works, Hon. E. A. Ransom, and Mr F. W. 1 urkert y 'Mr W. J. Holdsworth. chairman or the Auckland Power Board. The Press were not admitted but later the following was given out by the Minister: . „ “Tho department’s feeling concerning Arapuni is quite hopeful, because, it is considered that there is quite a fair chance that it will be pos siblo to carry out the required concrete work on the watenall without the n cessity of entirely dewatering “The trial run made with the diversion gates did not create undue vibration, and it is hoped it will still be possible to regulate the water, keeping it at such a height .as will enable the power station to be operated and tne protective work to bo carried out simultaneously. , “Even should it still be necessary to empty the lake the work of penstocks Nos.' 7 and 8 should be completed in time to enable -the flow of the river, which in the autumn is generally low, to be controlled through the penstocks, five of which will then be in operation, without the necessity of passing water through the diversion tunnel, so tnat the generation of power will be resumed well before the date up to which the Auckland Power Board s steam station, together with other Government plants, can carry the load.