OTAKI RIVER DRAGLINE

Chronicle (Levin), 15 October 1946, Page 4

OTAKI RIVER DRAGLINE

First Test Yesterday MR. SEMPLE ATTENDS Accompanied by officers of the Public Works Department, the Minister of Works, Mr. Semple, yesterday morning watched, the first test of the Otaki River dragline. Imported from Canada at a, cost of £35,000, it has been gradually assembled on the banks of the Otairi River near the railway bridge, and will soon be ready to begin its ^vvorlt of deepening the river. This, it is hoped, „will prevent further encroachment on valuable farm and market garden land in the vicinity of the river. The test was an unofficial one and for that reason he was not preparfed to make a statement, said Mr. Semple, when asked to comment on the machine's performance during the test. A full scale public demonstration would take place shortly, at which a detailed account of the machine's capabilities would be given. He could not at this stage say definitely when work on the Otaki River would begin. Considerable public interest has been attached to the projeet as much valuable land is being invaded yearly by the river, and is presenting an ever-growing problem to farmers in the loeality. The erection of the control tower and dragline has incited much comment as this equipmeht, apart from two similar machines recently imported by the New Zealand Government, is unique in the Southern Hemisphere. Apart from the official party, only a few nearby residents and an occasional passing motorist were witnesses of the machine's debut yesterday, when, after a few preliminary sweeps over the river, the giant mechanical scoop deposited its first load of shingle on the river bank.