News Items

Taupo Times, Volume 11, Issue 79, 22 July 1953, Page 7

News Items

Heavy Water Scheme. — The acting Prime Minister, Mr Holyoake, referring last week to a Press report from Taupo that the Wairakei heavy water piroject would not be developed in conjunction with the Ge-othermal Power scheme, stafed that negotiations were still eontinuing between the United Kingdom and New Zealand Governments. The isuggestion that the scheme wrould not be developed was premature as f'ar as he knew. Earlier ireports from Wellington stated that the problem to be faced in connection with the scheme, to which the New Zealand Government had agreed in principle, was that the use of heavy water would be susperseded in about 10 years by other methods. It had thciofoie to be determined whether production at Wairakei oi heavy water, which was urgently needed, could be undertaken at a cost lower than present costs, bearing in rnind that the plant would be written off in about ten yeaa-s. In addition to this financial angle there were other aspects to be considered in relation to defence. ★ Social Security & Pensions.— Mr G. H. Frater, Registrar of Social Secuirity, of Rotorua, will be visiting Taupo on Wednesday next, July 29th., and will be available for interview at the Court House, between 10.30 a.m. and 12 noon on that day, by any local people who may wish to discuss matters relating to Social Security benefits or War Pensions. "k Lake Level. — The level of the Lake, which had reached 1177.05 feet on the gauge earlietr last week, had fallen by Satuirday afternoon last to approximately 1176.8, two-tenths of a foot below the maximum control level. ★ Taupo Hospital. — The Waikato Hospital Board's decision to use the new casualty wing at the Taupo Hospital for accommodation for additional maternity cases and nurses accommodation has been noted by the Director-General of Health, Dr John Cairney, accoirding to advice received by the Hospital Board last week. ★ Cold Weather.— Up to last week the minimum temperature recorcled this month at the State Hydro-electric Department's station below the Dam was 30 de - gr.ees, on July 1st. For the week ended Friday 17th., however, the re~ cord showed four days with minimum temperatures lower than 30 degrees, one day with a minimum of 30 degrees, and only two days with minimum temperatures above 30 degrees. These readings refer to temperatures taken in the screen. Ground readings showed frosts from the 12th. to 17th. inclusive, the heaviest being one of 12.9 degrees of frost on Thursday 16th. The maximum temperature for the week was 52.2 degrees, the lowest daily maximum so far this month.