ARAPUNI DAM

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1928, Page 6

ARAPUNI DAM

PREMIER’S REFERENCE

HIS BACKING OF STATE OFFICIALS.

Telegraph—Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Oct. 29,

In a speech here to-night, Mr Coates referred to the Arapuni allegations of Mr R. J. Holmes, formerly Chief Engineer of Public Works, concerning the safety of the dam. Mr Coates said: The tactics of same of those opposed to the Government were not altogether fair. He referred to these allegations because some people might believe they had some foundation, in fact. It was perfectly clear somebody with a grouch against the Government and the Public Works Department thou,glit that by launching a canard lie could frighten the people in the Waikato and make them think that the Arapuni Dam would be tumbling about their ears in the morning. He read telegrams from Mr F. W. Furkert (En-gineer-in-Chief of Public Works), Mr James Marchbanks (Engineer to Wellington Harbour Board), Dr Henderson (Director of Geological Survey) and Mr Marshall, to' show there was

no ground for the allegations. Dr Henderson in his message said: “Mr Holmes is not very definite l as to what is to cause the collapse at Arapuni. While he was Engineer-in-Chief lie suggested the Waikato had cut- a goi-ge along an earthquake fracture. There is no- geological evidence to support this supposition. The tunnel beneath tlx-e river, -before it was diverted, positively proved there were no earthquake rents at the dam site. The earthquake risk at Arapuni was no greater than in the other parts of New Zealand outside the Rotorua-Taupe zone. The dam is of the gravity arch type, heavy enough to resist water pressure without support from its sides. It can collapse only after extensive undermining. The foundation rock is strong and insoluble. Bores into it bottomed in similar rock. Ido not believe that extensive undermining can take place. I inspected the foundations while the dam Was being built, and I have the same opinion that the site is suitable as I expressed when I signed the report of -the Commission with Messrs Morton, Marchbanks and Furkert. ■ ;i - ;7

The message from Furkert, March' banks and Dr Marshall were also to the effect that the dam foundations were absolutely secure.

HON. D. STEAVART’S APPEAL

DUNEDIN, Oct. 29

The Arapuni Dam sensation was made the subject of a reference by Mr AV. Downie Stewart at a meeting of electors in the Kaikorai Presbyterian Church Hall this evening. He asked the electors' to suspend judgment on the allegations ma,de by Mr Holmes with regard to the dam. Mr Stewart said he knew for a fact that there were wheels within wheels. It was a strange thing that Mr Holmes had kept the matter dark so long a. period, and had elected to make his sensational allegations at the present moment. The real cause of the whole business was that there was a quarrel between the Holmes family ‘and the Government. Some time ago a quarry site had been opened up by the Holmes family who had 'formed ■ a company to work it' shortly afterwards. However, the railway tariff had been revised, and as a result the company had'suffered severely. Mr Holmes had approached Mr Stewart with regard to the matter. He had been told that his was not the only company that had been affected by the change in the tariff. Since then lie (Mr Stewart) had received letters threatening all sorts of disclosures ff the Holmes’ grievance was not remedied. It had been found that the writer- was Mr Holmes’ son. He was suffering from a severe illness. It was not known; however j to what extent Mr. Holmes was in league with his son in the matter. A short time ago he (Mr Stewart) had received a letter from Mr Holmes stating that if tlie long standing grievance was not remedied, he would publish a sensational article with respect to the Arapuni Dam. Letters had also been received making the most broadcast accusations against the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department (Mr F. AV. Furkert). Mr Furkert’s reputation was sufficiently well known to the electors. He (Mr Stewart) had no hesitation in asking them to suspend judgment until the full facts of the matter were investigated.