WAITAKI HYDRO WORKS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1930, Page 5

WAITAKI HYDRO WORKS

REPLY TO CRITICS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

OAMARU, October 29. A representative of the “Oamnru Mail” visittU Waitaki hydro works yesterday and was offered a full opportunity of seeing a most thorough test of tho rock carried out. The rock placed under test was of poorer quality than that recently condemned. It stoc/d a test such as no part of the dam foundation will be submitted to. Samples of alleged pug taken proved to be greywncke rock such as is found in most big works in the Dominion.

R, H. Pack wood, engineer in charge interviewed, said the remarks cf Herbert Hall disclosed amazing ignorance of engineering and geology. Over twenty statements were incorrect in degrees, ranging from mere misconceptions to utter absurdities. “His socalled lightning calculations might impress a layman, but lie might as well reserve such metlu/ds for cowshed, doors, or whatever other form of engineering structure lie Is really acquainted with. His geology is on a par with the rest of his remarks. In classify ng certain material as glacial mud he is de" plorablv wide of the mark. Beneath the so called glacial mud is a foundation of the same greywaeke and argillite as Hall noticed in the Canterbury side of the river and his terms were excellent for these foundations everywhere at a reasonable depth. Neither cost nor time is required to deal with such local faults as have been disclosed, nor will they excerid the contingency items allowed for in the estimates.”

Tlie “Mail” representative inspected the deepest foundation. The whole work is 45 feet below the river level. An area of 30 feet squarevhad been (••leaned prior to concreting, revealing a bed of hard dense, rook equal to the best on the Canterbury bank. The foundations as laid hare have disclosed nothing not disclosed by the preliminary borings.