DISPLAY AT WAIRAKEI

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 12 March 1952, Page 1

DISPLAY AT WAIRAKEI

Considerable interest was kindled when the news got around that the big 1,500 foot steam bore at Wairakei was to be re-opened on Friday morning last. The hundred odd spectators who had gathered in expectation of a sensational display were, however, disappointed. A block in the bore about 93 feet down was strong enough to resist the pressure from below. It was not till the afternoon that it was sufficiently loosened to enable the bore to clear itself by its own energy. Those who witnessed the display were amply rewarded. An interesting incident of the blow-off was the effect of the steampressure, mixed with pumice thrown up from the bore, on steel plates fixed over the mouth to act as a deflector. This acted as a sand-blast powerful enough to cut through the plates which were one inch and 9-16 of an inch respectively, making a hole the diameter of the bore. The vicinity of the bore bears testi mony to this somewhat uncanny business of tapping the bowels of the earth. Everywhere around the vegitation and ground has been splashed with light-grey, almost white liquid mud. There are reports of passing cars also being splashed. Mr J. H. Hunter of the British engineering firm of Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners, designers of the Atiamuri Hydro-elecric . scheme, and members of the Public Works Engineering staff, were among those present.