Overview
Thurs. June. 16
My 10th visit to Mangahao. Up early + walked down to Arapaepae Road where I met Mr. Lancaster in his car accompanied by Messrs E.W.J. Smith, Greatback, +
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H.B. France. Very cold morning with easterly wind springing up + thin clouds over sky. On reaching the site of the permanent powerhouse we found a large party of navvies levelling off a spur between the road + the stm. [stream] for its foundations. Left car at Mangatangi Ford at 8.25 + proceeded up road + then up track on the spur. ¼ pl[ate] photo (1) of party ascended spur [sic]. Reached tram saddle at 9.30. On reaching Arapeti Valley we first visited the eastern end of tunnel No. 2 which is now in 12 chns [chains] + took a ½ pl. photo (2) of its entrance +c [etc.] – then ¼ pl. photo (3) of an electric locomotive + train of trucks at the “smithy” which building has been added to + converted into a small temporary powerhouse. Proceeded along tramline down to site of Tokomaru Dam + then up Tokomaru Valley to western end of Tunnel No. 2. This tunnel is now in 1½ chns + power drills have been installed, the compressed air pipe-line connecting with the new temporary powerhouse in Arapeti Valley. Reached this tunnel entrance at 10.10 + went in to the working face – this tunnel is timbered all the way (to within 3 yds [yards] of working face)
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Boiled the kettle + had a snack. ½ pl. photo (4) of entrance of tunnel. Our party then divided Messrs Greatback + France going back to Main Camp + then along the service road to Mangahao while Mr. Lancaster, Mr. Smith + I proceeded up Tokomaru, passed the two falls + gained the tramline leading to the sawmill. The Tokomaru flows in a narrow V-shaped trench with numerous falls along its course. Proceeded past sawmill via road to service road + rejoined Messrs France + Greatback. ½ pl. photo (5) of Mangahao Valley + party on top of jig tramway from end of service road. Descended zig-zag + reached No. 1 Gorge at 12.15. Lunched on top of high-level terrace – met Messrs Cooper + Johnson + the former took us along to the new large cookhouse, showed us where a new bridge is to span the Mangahao to bring a supply of shingle from further up-stm [upstream] to the dam at No. 1 Gorge for concreting +c. A new tramline has now been laid down on the steep slope above the high-level terrace to replace the other tramline leading to the new cookhouse. ¼ pl. photo (6) of jig tramline showing truck with load of pipes descending + empty truck ascending. ½ pl. (7) of high-level terrace camp + our party with Mr. Cooper
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from the new tramline leading to the big cookhouse. Mr. Johnson informed me that the test shaft on the edge of No. 1 Gorge had quite established the fact that the rock-mass is a solid rib + not a detached mass – top of shaft 52 ft. above normal river level – shaft was sunk 69 ft. + a bore put down in its bottom another 6 ft = 75 ft. of 23 ft. below N.R.L. [normal river level] with solid rock all the way so they are satisfied that it is not a detached mass. Near the bottom, a thin seam of red rock was passed through – the strata dip away from the gorge, i.e. east. The eastern end of No. 1 Tunnel is now in 4½ chns + the going is now easier, the first hard layer or layers having been passed. Left No. 1 Gorge about 1.30 + passed through Main Camp at 2.25 Tram saddle 2.38 + reached car at 3.30. Here we had another snack + I took ¼ pl. (8) of party + car. Left for home 3.46 + Mr. Lancaster drove me to Woodside front gate (4.35 pm). Very cold easterly wind all day but we only felt it on the top of Te Paki Ridge + while in car. A successful trip + all seemed very pleased with the outing + much interested in the Mangahao
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works. Found my haystack decapitated by the wind but re-built it + got cover on again. Wild night with rain.