MANGAHAO HYDRO NOTES.

Shannon News, 13 February 1923, Page 2

MANGAHAO HYDRO NOTES.

WEATHER HANDICAPS. COMINGS AND GOINGS. (From Our Qwn Correspondent.) «Mr R. McDonald, late of the Otira staff, has been transierred here, and has taken up duties as overseer of me Aiapeu uam. Mrs McDonald anu tne minify, will join him as soon as tne cottage is built here. >

Foreman M. Murray has received notice oi ms transter to tne Toka Toka tunnel, North. Auckland, whitiier he proceeds in a couple ol weeks’ tune, up till a few months ago Mr Murray was on the Otira Staff.

Mr E. L. Wain, who has had charge of the Y.M.C.A. recreation hut, is be-, ing transferred to the Y.M.C.A. secretaryship at Wairoa, ri.B., and moves on irom here, at the end of the month. The climatic conditions nere continue very wet, and last week witnessed the’ third frost since the New rear. Thursday recorded a veritable downpour with a thunderstorm thrown in. As a result, of the -lightning affecting the power plant at Mangdrei, till the local plant was rendered idle, with the consequent flood-' ing ol both tunnels. Tjhe workmen in the No. 1 liad a more narrow escape than hitherto, tflid emerged from tlie tunnel breast deep in water. In view of the few days , delay in getting the plant going again, about 40 men went out on leave. "Juice” from the auxiliary plant readier?> here on Friday evening, but was ioq weak to acconi-. piislii inucli in the way of pumping. A start was made to pump the No. 2 tunnel on Saturday, but insufficient power was available to give the pump the required speed. .The pump attendant was obliged to wade waist deep in the icy cold water to start the” mechanism. Full power was restored by Sunday afternoon, and «pumping enabled work to be resumed on Monday. Olsen and party are making good progress with the drive at the top of the hill in search of rock, the tunnel at present being pierced a little over a chain. No rock of much consequence is in sight yet. Another test shaft is being sunk alongside the Arapeti dam excavation on the western side. It is intended to go down about 60 feet from the. surface. The workers are at present about the 20ft level. , The stoppage in power affected the usual programme at the Y.M.C.A. Recreation Hut. In the absence, of electric power an effort tols made to carry on with miners’ lamps, etc., but these were none too satisfactory, especially in the billiard room. Unfortunately two excellent picture programmes had * to be returned to the suppliers in Wellington unscreened through lack of power. The quietude of the past few days reminded one the stillness which prevailed after the disaster or last year. . . The Canip School recommenced on Tuesday last. The local.’ schoolmaster (Mr Talbott) spent a very pleasant holiday in America dui*ing the vacation. ! Mr Grayndler (general secretary, N.Z.W.U., Wellington) visited both camps on Sunday and held meetings in connection with union interests. The Postmaster-General has consented to again go.into the question of our local unsatisfactory mail service. Our present difficulty is the uncertain timei of closing the out-going mails. A suitable mail motor service could be avranged quite easily and cheaply, hut ’the Postal Department are evidently adopting .a “canny” attitude in regard to’ our requirement^.