Arapuni Lake May Not be Emptied

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 766, 12 September 1929, Page 1

Arapuni Lake May Not be Emptied

MINISTER’S HOPES

REMEDIAL MEASURES (THE STJH’S Parlia7ne7itary Reporter) PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Wed. The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, today informed a reporter that the department’s feeling concerning Arapuni was quite hopeful, because, in effect, it was considered that there was auite a fair chance that it would be possible to carry out the required concrete work on the waterfall without the necessity of entirely dewatering the lake. The trial run made with the diversion gates last "week-end did not create any undue vibration, and it is hoped that it will still be possible to regulate the water, keeping it at such a height as will enable the power station to be operated and the protective work to be carried out Even should it still be found necessary to empty the lake work on penstocks Nos. 7 and 8 should be completed in time to enable the flow of the river, which in the autumn is generally low, to be controlled through the penstocks, five of which would then be in operation, -without the necessity for passing water through the diversion tunnel, so that the generation of power could be resumed well before the date up to which the Auckland Power Board’s steam station, together with other i Government plants, can carry the load.