AT ARAPUNI

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1932, Page 5

AT ARAPUNI

THE LEAK LOCATED POSITION STILL SERIOUS. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) V WELLINGTON, August 4. It is reported in Wellington ihqtethe lfeak at Arapuni';has been located anil that the leakage is steadily decreasing, the How being about halt the volume of the’ day before ; V - The hole > will be blanketed. It is hoped'To have it completely shrouded by the irioriiing. Consideration r is being givpn to v the construction of a coffer dSm round the spot to enable repair# *|io be; effected.' It, is; not anticipated that- the station will have to be closed. e

s' STEAM PLANT KEPT READY; 1 , 1 . : i AUCKLAND, August’’ 4. - The latest development at ' 'Arapuni was the discovery this morning of the partial collapse of a portion of the lining on’the. East bank of the ileiadrace. A considerable number of concrete slabs are affected, and, through > the fractures there is. a small quite* * tity of water percolating, » It is dear that this snging of the surface is not the original cause'of i the leak, which has been nuimling the - engineers, for it had not occurred ’ when the diver made his oxnunnatibn i of the lining on Tuesday. On the contrary, it' is a secondary fault, brought about last • night,- and. .'it '‘is > presumed it was caused by the. ■ that is percolating through a weakness or fissure a little further up the • headrace, and finding its way under the cut off wall and undermining : a portion of lining before . being, collected by the system, and .guided through tliei man-made tunnels , to the gorge. -S ; .; Although this development adds other problem to be dealt with, the engineers areVhopeful that the r leak in, the .tiles, can be permanently • sealed stopping the* "generation Of power, « The engineers explained ' this evening that the water in-; the • headrace , will have to he still further JoWered in order to effect f repairs . * and , this may mean that n reduced J head 'of water will be passing through the penstocks to tlie turbines. This, it is expected will not greatly hinder the generation of power. . c . “It is* rather a coincidence that we . Were only oh water /power three koftths wh on A rnpiiui wa s closed down in ; 1930; and it is bnly three, months since generation of hydrp-electricitv was resumed,”’ said Mr J; HoldswortJ), Chairman ; of ‘ the Auckland Power Board. “It is extremely disappointing, seeing that' our whole system has been laid out for running oh water power. Thp increased coat of running the station under these conditions is some* what in the vicinity of £5Q,000 a yea** extra, hut fortunately under tlie terms of our agreement' the Government will have to beay'.thtS cost, that it it will not mean any inroads on the revenue of ,the Board.” “We anticipate no trouble \in regard to cool supplies,” said Mr Holdswbrtb, “ and as we use, on full load up to 4000 tons a week, it will mean extra activity in the mines, and of course extra, freight for .tho-Jlailway* Department. The freights alotie will bo on the basis of £IOO,OOO a year paid by the Board.” ' j .