Little Progress Made At Araponi

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 262, 26 January 1928, Page 11

Little Progress Made At Araponi

POWER BOARD’S VISIT POWER HOUSE WORK DELAYED (Special to THE .SUN.) ARAPUNI, To-day. Determined to see for themselves the progress of the work at Arepuni so as to be able to form their own opinions as to the prospects of securing power within a reasonable time, members of the Auckland Power Board are visiting the works to-day. The reception accord the visitors was in striking contrast to the welcome extended on the previous visit, two years ago. At first no one appeEired to know whose duty it was to escort the party over the works, but a departmental officer eventually took the visitors in hand, and Mr. T. Rae - bone, assistant engineer, showed the members the chief features of the big struggle with Nature. There was a widespread feeling or disappointment at the lack of effort on the Government’s part since signing up two months ago to take over the construction of the power-house. “They have not done a tap," said one man conversant with the •operations. The Government’s explanation of this, however, is that the services of the boring expert were not available till this month. In the meantime the work is being held up. A start was made yesterday and the intention is to bore a number of wells and fill them with concrete to provide foundations for the Power House. The backing up of water is becoming less and less of a factor in this operation, as still water is easy to handle compared with the raging torrent which faced the initial efforts. NO ANXIETY Naturally all differences between the Government and Armstrong-Whii - worth are not yet ended, and opinions vary a great deal upon the actual anu possible achievements. A great deal of clearing-up work is still being done by the contractors, whose representative.-: are busy with the Government officers computing costs and effecting a final settlement. Outwardly all appears well at the works and it is stated that the diversion tunnel is functioning well, :: slight leakage giving no cause whatev r for anxiety. The intention is ultimately to plug the tunnel with a concrete block instead of placing a perpetual burden on the gates—so confident are the engineers that the spillway will successfully carry the volume of water passing passing through. As soon as the work on the Power House is properly started shifts will be worked in order to expedite completion.