OTIRA NOTES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13348, 13 February 1909, Page 11

OTIRA NOTES.

(SPKCIAL TO "THE I'BESS.") OTIRA, February 12. Work at the tunnel, -which has hitherto been proceeding quietly at the rate of about sixty feet per week, ieceived a strong impetus through tho starting of tho electric compressors, supplied -with current from the Holt's Crot-fc Power Station, which took placo at 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The ateam plant had for somo time proved unequal to tho task of maintaining Ihe neoaseary pressure at the end of- the long delivery pipe, and one result or the innovation 13 that the effectiveness of tho drill has been much increased, la addition, an extra drill has huen started up, making three at pre&eni, and a fourth will bo added next week. Tho rato of cutting, under the new conditions, is expected to attain 80 or 00 feet i>er week. Unfortunately the removal of the spoil from the workings cannot bo accelerated, owing to tho confined ppaco in which it is dono, so that this operation will always be a serious retarding force. The power-diouse, which has been undergoing n month's trial and tunino;ui> prior to supplying the compressors, is ivorking smoothly. Despite tho lownes* of tho creek tho supply of water is sufficient.

At the "Bealcy End" the bridge ha« been comj>!eted acrcjs tho river, anj tho task of «\xp«sin<T tho "frico" of hard unbroken rook is teincj rapidly carried on. All is ready at the Punchbowl For tht» installation of the pipo-lino, which ivill enablo tho mnchinery already in position to begin work Tho ■β-rst of four petrol locomotives has been erected, and has undergone it.i trial run nlonft tho track from tho tvnnal mouth to the embankment uear tho Otira Jtmction. It is not at x>r*£<»nt intended- to take theso into- tli-> tunnel itself; but they will be erupl>yc<\ in hauling trucks of epoil to tho tip-heads, and in conveyinß materials from tiho stores to tho works. Fresh rails aro now being laid down for thejr ut:» The ventilation of the -working face U very considerably improved, owing to tlio greater amount of air exhauster! b.y tlio new service. This fact is mucn aj>preciatod by the men, *'ho formerly found the fumee of gelignite loft after a shot, at times very tinpJeasant. Our Otira weather h?-s been qmt-o forgetting itself during the last fortnight, which has been almost entirely free from rain. Advantage of this has been. tak«n by ! Mr McLean to have the men's huts roofed with iron, and lining and flooring aro proceeding as quickly ac

possible. New huts are also beinjr construct c«l to provide for a fresh inflix of workmen The Church of England nan- possesses a mission hall, in which to hold , its sorviees. A fir.st-claes organ lias be»>i purchased, and seats to aecommodit-e about eighty ■worshippers have b?en placed in position. A lay-resulmr been appointed to fill Mr !M\iles's -place during the alternate fortnights when he is atßrokon Hirer, so that in futnro there will be a service eveTy Sunday. A welcome addition, to the social life oF tho township is the Musical nnd Dramatic Society, which has just been formed Ite opening ceremony took tho form of a most enjoyable "At Tlonie" in tho Mission Hall, when the £x>ci**tv"s newly-acquired' piano was nsoi in publio for "the first time. Mr lirslie R-eynolds has just completed a visit of" about a w«»k on biidiness largely connected with the Powsrhouso