ROTTEN FOUNDATION

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1930, Page 2

ROTTEN FOUNDATION

WHAT CONTRACTORS GAVE UP

HAMILTON, June 23

Arapuni to-day presents a scene of desolation. All of the 2-10 men employed there were suspended last Friday.

Subsequent to bis inspection of the works, Mr R. Semple, M.P.. stated:— “It is amazing, to say the least of it, that, alleged competent- engineers should erect a power house and instai machinery, and then sink a. shaft to explore the foundations. The shaft is now down 25 leet, and the bottom is filled with Avater.”

* It pierces ground which, according to Mr Semple, is nothing more than pumice, this, he said, supported the assertion of Armstrong-WhitAvorth.s, and there was no other foundation than a soft pumice. The present foundations of the power house consisted of a concrete slab resting on this pumieeous underlayer. It was a floating foundation. “While, doubtless,’’ said Mr Semple, this heavy block of concrete which is understood to be 15 feet thick, would, with the tremendous over weight, have a tendency to sink \-ertieally, the slightest tilt would throAV the machinery out of alignment and difficulties would arise. Although vibration had existed in number one turbine for many weeks before the crack in the spillway was discovered, no apparent cause could 'be assigned for it, Levels had been taken, and apparently the machine was perfectly true, The trouble had been most puzzling and worrying to the engineers on the job. who, in no way could account for it. To Mr Semple's mind thig trouble was undoubtedly in the foundations, In fact the whole of the troubles appeared to him to be due to the scheme being ill-conceived in the first place, and then to trying to construct works through a shivering mass of volcanic ash. The vibration of the machinery had set up earth movements, the extent of which Avas yet unknown.. No'one could tell where the trouble was going to end. If, as the result of the present exploration, it was found that the foundations were wrong, he did not think anj thing could be done to put them right. The only thing, under such circumstances, would be, lie thought, to shift the power house to another site. When Armstrongs were excavating the foundations for the poiver house, they struck an undeground stream, which seemed beyond their power to stem, except, perhaps, at prohibitive cost. They, of! course, were only contractors, and bad taken it for granted that everything was right for them u. proceed, and that the NeAV Zealand Public Works Department had done all the necessary exploration work. They refused to proceed with , the AvorK, however, unless the Government took the responsibility for the job. Eventually they relinquished the contract altogether, and the Public Works Engineers stepped in and said: “Wo will slioav them what Ave can do,” But the Public Works Department had behind it the resources of the country. Expense was not counted. They poured into the hole. through which the water rushed and flooded the excavations no less, he was told, than 1500 tons of liquid concerote. This blocked the hole up, but it did not dry up the Avater, Avhich Avas still underneath, and it doubtless Avould find another outlet in time.

The published statement from Wellington that Mr Semple and Mr McKean represent the New Zealand Workers’ Union was not correct, said Mr Semple. They went there to gather first-hand information, so that they would be able to know when Parliament met how to vote upon any proposed expenditure of further sums of money on the Arapuni scheme. While there they inspected tunnels, and had given a frank and honest opinion of what they saw.

EXPLORATION WORK

MINISTER’S STATEMENT.

WELLINGTON, June 23. The Minister of Public Works, Hon. Mr Taverner, 'issued a statement today regarding the situation at Arapuni. “It will be remembered,” lie said, “that on June 17th, J indicated, in the course of a statement, that one of the important factors which would guide the Government in its decision regarding the future policy at Arapuni would be a geological report, which, 1 said, had been called for. This would be received from Dr Henderson, of the Geological Survey, who proceeded to Arapuni immediately after the recent trouble occurred. 1 have since received advice that Dr Marsden (Permanent Head of the Department of Scientific and Industrial (Research) has left for /Uapuni, where lie will be joined by Dr. Henderson and Professor Bartrum, of Auckland University College. They will undertake a further inspection and survey oi the surrounding country, hi order to facilitate the work, the exploratory tunnel lias been advanced a further stage.” The Minister said that a further statement would he made alter the geological report had been received by the Government, hi the meantime several important matters involved in the Arapuni situation were being considered, and an announcement in regard to future policy would be made at the earliest possible date.