HARNESSING A RIVER.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 142, 22 July 1926, Page 8

HARNESSING A RIVER.

WAIKATO IN BONDS. HI First Move * r The first move in the work of diverting the Waikato river was made on Saturday last, when the flow of water was partially turned to the new diversion tunnel, which lies well below the level of the river as it was up till the time of the explosion. Owing to the treacherous nature of the strata of the country where the dam is being built, the work of blasting away this spoil at the intake and outlet ends of the tunnel caused no little concern amongst those primarily responsible for the success of the job. Though Saturday’s explosion was not intended to completely dry up that portion of the river bed where the dam wall is to be built, by turning the whole of the river, it was a stage in the work far enough advanced, and so successful in its issue, as to proclaim another triumph for the skill of British engineers. During the course of the next few weeks a bigger blast will be set off, when a couple of tons of high explosive will be fired to completely deafly the entrance jto the diversion tunnel, and thus allow the bulk of the waters of the Waikato to drop into this chan-j| nel and leave the old bed in a condition for work on the . immense dam __ wall to be started. To facilitate the complete diversion of the river, work has been proceeding for some time on the construction of a gabion dam just below the intake end. When this is completed, the final blast will be made, and the real work of harnessing the Waikato so that the untamed waters which have foamed and flashed for thousands of years may provide light and energy for millions of people, will be begun. , Despite the necessary secrecy in regard to last Saturday’s operations, several hundred visitors assembled on the high hills to view the explosion. To the returned soldiers there was a touch of old times about the scene, for sandbags are made use of to a fairly large extent at Arapuni, while on a vantage point on the west cliff, overlooking both ends of the tunnel, was a sangbag “ bivy ” from which the “ brass hats ” of the job watched proceedings. Though no official communication has been issued it can be safely said that “ progress has again been made on the western front.”