THE KAWARAU DAM

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3752, 9 February 1928, Page 3

THE KAWARAU DAM

MAY NOT BE CLOSED,

Dunedin, February 7,

A Wellington message says that the Public Works Department offers no objection to the Kawarau Dam being closed, to take advantage of the abnormally dry season, but it requires the former safeguards to be renewed. The most important is the insurance cover of £40,000 against the possibility of damage due to the operation of the dam. This security is said to have been allowed to lapse after the closing of the dam had demonstrated that there was no apparent risk of damage. However, if the dam is to be again closed adequate security must bo provided. . This announcement comes as a surprise to the Kawarau Company, which has not received even formal acknowledgement of the receipt of its first request from the Minister of Public Works. It is understood that when the directors made their request for permission to close the dam gates the solution of the required provision for an indemnity against damage from -the held-baek waters of Lake Wakatipu had not been discussed. Unless a number of companies give definite promise to work the Kftwarau the directors will probably decide that the provision of insurance rather costly, the thing would not be worth while.