THE ARAPUNI SCARE.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 268, 24 December 1928, Page 5

THE ARAPUNI SCARE.

1 ALLEGATIONS AND RUMOURS, jjf Scotched by Engineer-in-charge. jjfp * '•* -' . % C-. AUTHORITATIVE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT. r-fi •- :■ As the result of an interview with the Public Works engineer-in-Charge at Arapuni the Putaruru Press is now in a position to publish an •authoritative denial to the allegations which have been made that ho proper tests were made of the strata beneath the dam foundations at Arapuni. • The facts given below clearly show that full tests were made and the relative crushing strengths carefully compared and analysed before the ■work was commenced.

For political and other purposes a long, sensational doci/ment dealing with Arapuni - was circulated among ivariops newspapers, including the. Putaruru Press, just prior to the elections. This purported to show that the huge dam at Arapuni was unsafe owing to the instability of its foundations. A weak attempt was made to compare this" dam with that Bear Los Angeles which hurst some •. 'months ago’ with great loss- of life. ; anyone knowing the facts the two <dams are in no way comparable—in " fact they are utterly. dissimilar. Political" Chicanery. " ' Since the elections aii. Set ; 6f polifical chicanery has by an ex-member of the-SlbVdrhment, who has somewhat cheekily asked the present party in power to hold an inquiry into the safety of Arapuni, -iCwhich work was authorised and com-;-.:/>'?menced by his own party. Such actions unfortunately cause credence to ’' Tbe given to rumours which have no foundation in fact, and with a view to setting at rest the minds of any who may have fears as to the safety of the Arapuni dam the Putaruru Press flow publishes authoritative information in regard to the strength of the under the huge dam wall, and which, according to the statements tyhich have been circulated, had never ifieeh properly tested. To. a Press representative Mr. T. C. V. Rabone, engineer-in-charge at .Arapuni, with a tinge of amusement caused by a reference to the absurd allegations, gave the following particulars, which should dispel once and for all the belief which has been created .in the minds of some that the • ’.Strata beneath the dam wall has not jbeen. properly tested.

Tested to 140 Feet. In regard to the strata it is pointed but that this has been thoroughly tested and bores were made which penetrated through pumiceous breccia all the way. These borings were taken to a depth of 140 feet. Seventy as Against Eight. I The breccia penetrated has a crushing strength of from 70 to 90 tons per square foot, while the greatest pressure exerted by the dam when the lake is full is only eight tons to the square foot. The total weight of ti e dam wall is 155,000 tons and the thickness at its base is 171.5 feet of solid concrete. The cutoff walls, which are five'feet thick, penetrate into the cliffs for a distance of 110 feet on the eastern side and 50 feet on the western side. Depth of Foundations. The foundations of this huge mass of concrete, which is hvp't on the arch system, the arch facing up stream, reach to a depth of 30 feet below the river bed. Complete borings, plans of which were shown to a Press representative, were made to a further depth of 110 feet below the lowest part of the foundations, or to a total depth of 140 feet below the river bed. Authoritative Facts. Such are the facts of the case. They are simple enough to he understood by anyone and authoritative enough to utterly repudiate the idle rumours which have been set on foot for various purposes, which purposes are not primarily connected with fears for anyone’s safety but are mainly for gaining some advantage peculiar to the originators of the rumours.