HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 153, 24 March 1919, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

:'•' THE ARAPUNI SCHEME.'

1,, The Minister of Public Works (Sir William Fraser) stated in Auckland liist vweek tjiat'preliminary work at Arapuni, .'on"<th'e'''Waikato ; River, for the power /Station that is to eiipply tho Auckland district, had.been.commenced. The Wellington station at Mangahao, he said, Ijiad not received) any advantage in re'epect tojthe commencement of the work ('as against the Arapuni scheme. '■'y Sir William Fraeer .said that a few 'jays after his visit to lljangahoo he ■ spent two days,on the Waikato River, y in' company with the chief electrical enAgineer, Mr. E.. Parry. The proposed site v of the dam at "Arapuni was inspected, 'and also the Wailri Goldmininc; Com'jpany'B plant at Horaliora, which it was .{suggested should be acquired as a. subsidiary fioheme until the larger source ;«f. power'at Arapuni was developed. In srespect to the Horahora works, the conipent of the Government has been obtained, and negotiations were now proceedwith the Waihi Company. •/ An engineer had been stationed o '|irapuni, mid.the work of .sinking the ejixploration 9hafte for ■ testing the strata Mpon'the site of the proposed dam had :.]oeen"w>mTrienced'.'' Tho fact that the jpublio Works Department was advertiaiJDg for navvies and tunnellens for work At Arapuiii'WM an inflication that there ]rwas a sincere intention to proceed with ilthe preliminary work without delay. ■ Y The Minister snid -there was no au- ' gjhority from Parliament to do more than i the preliminary work at Aramimi and ] JMangahoe, f or IT hich. had been ! -provided. ' .