AT ORONGORONGO
THE BIG WATER SCHEME.
BORING COMMENCED FROM EAST.
The city water supply contract at Wainui-o-mata and Orongorongo is still proceeding satisfactorily, and considerable progress has been made within the last two months. Up till last week the miners working at the western end of the tunnel through the big range dividing the Orongorongo and Wainui valleys had penetrated about 1050 feet into the solid rock, and the work is proceeding by night and day shifts. The country being pierced is still of the hard rocky nature met with soon after the face of the hill had been entered, and the drills are making slow but sure progress. The turbine erected near the Morton dam for creating power to drive the drills is now in action.
Boring operations have been commenced at the eastern side of the range, and preparations are being made for the establishment of a permanent camp for the tunnellers. The small tunnel of about five chains which is to carry the line of pipes from the dam on the Orongorongo River to the point at which the main will enter the hill has now been practically completed.
Some progress has also been made in laying the 21-inch permanent pipes which it is proposed to utilise in connection with the generation of power to drive the drills pending the erection of a turbine. The turbine has arrived, and will be installed in due course.
The road alongside the Orongorongo stream has suffered through the recent heavy rains, and repair work is being put in hand, which will be completed in about a week’s time.
