New Power Engineer Had Associations With Wairakei

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 64, 17 August 1965, Page 10

New Power Engineer Had Associations With Wairakei

A man with early associations with the Wairakei power project has been appointed chief power engineer with MoW. He is Mr R. F. D. Ritchie, B.Sc., B.E., A.M.I.C.E., who for the past 20 years has been associated with the construction or design of power project s. Mr Ritchie, a . fellow of the New Zealand Institution of Engineers and a member of its eouncil, succeeds Mr P. R. Askin, who was recently appointed assistant commissioner of works. Mr Ritchie began his departmental career in 1935 as an engineering cadet on construction of the Waitaki power station. Subsequently, he was employed in head office, Wellington, on design of bridges and waterworks and, in Christchurch, on design of the Rangitata irrigation works and power station. During the war he was engaged on the expansion of airfields and other defence works, and in 1945 he became senior engineer on the Lake Tekapo power project. He returned to Waitaki in 1952 as engineer in charge of extensions to that station. In 1955 Mr Ritchie was appointed construction engineer (ge*>thermal) and co-ordinator of planning for the Wairakei project, which it was thpught at that time would include plant to produce heavy water for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. He spent some time in London on liaison duties with the authority and with the engineering consulting firms appointed by the New Zealand Government, thus taking a leading part in the development of a unique undertaking which is still

attracting world-wide interest. With his appointment as chief designing engineer (power) in 1959, he assumed control of the team responsible 'for design of Benmore, Aviemore and several North Island stations, and for the investigation of possible future schemes in many parts of New Zealand. Because of his long association with the Waitaki River, Mr Ritchie is particularly interested in investigations for optimum development of the remaining power in the river. He has been working on plans for its complete harnessing, from Lake Tekapo virtually to the sea.. Mr Ritchie became assistant chief engineer (power)' in 1964, and last May took over in an acting capacity the duties of his present appointment following the promotion of Mr Askin.