ORIGIN OF LEAKAGE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 292, 4 August 1932, Page 5

ORIGIN OF LEAKAGE

(Press. Assn.-

MR. FURKERT'S STATEMENT

-By Telegraph — Copyright).

AUCKLAND, Wednesday To aseerfcain the origin of the leakage which has occurred in the headrace of the Arapuni hydro-electric work divers are now at work and a special shaft has been sunk on an assumed line of infiltration. An outline of the position to date was given this morning by Mr. F. W. Furkert, Engineer-in-Chief to the Public Works Department, who returned to Wellington yesterday after visiting the works. Although he does not regard the seepage as serious, he stated that if the quantity of water percolating through materially increased it might have a serious eff.ect on the works. The water running away was fairly considerable, but the actual leakage according to the latest reports was found this morning to be smaller than last night. "We have a fair idea as to where the trouble lies,"' continued Mr. Furkert. "We have had a water d'iviner on the job in addition to divers. From indications we have received they have enabled us to sink a shaft on the upper side of the cutcff wall on the assumed line of infiltration. When we have tappsd the origin of the leakage it will be plugged. Although the task is a difficult one, the actual plugging, once the fault is located, can be done without dewatering the headracie. "The outloolc is quite satisfactory," concluded Mr. Furkert. "The drainage system has worked almost perfeetly and has exceeded expectations." The attention of Mr. Furkert was drawn to a rumour that a second turbine at the power house had given cause for concern on account of development of vibration. Mr. Furkert said he had heard nothing of any such happening.