THE TUNNEL.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17247, 10 September 1921, Page 9

THE TUNNEL.

QUESTION OF NAME. j PLEA POR "ARTHUR'S PASS." "We cannot do anything in Canterbury unless the Progress League helps," the Mayor remarked, sonrijocularly, when suggesting, at tho municipal staff's function to Mr A. Dudley Dobson, that the newspapers, in their goodwill, should re-christen the tunnel connecting east and W 'st coasts and name it tho '"Arthur's Pass," instead of tho "Otira" tunnel. In Addition to the goodwill of the newspapers, Dr. Thacker added that the goodwill of the president of the League was also necessary. "To-night wo honour the man who gave the name to Arthur's Pass* for all time," Dr. 1 hacker said, "and for the life of me, if the railway station k calkd "Arthur's Pubs, , I wnnot understand why the tunnel should not he similarly named. The pass under which the tunnel is pierced is Arthur s Pass, and the tunnel should 1)8 'Arthur's Pass Tunnel.' (Apptause.) When we hav« great I don t mind asking right out itt front of Mr Dobson that I consider him one of our greatest men—{applause)-—wo shoula Honour and respect their names. ( And I don't think a greatet distinction could he conferred on Mi* Dobson thnn to perpetuate his name in connexion wifli the tunnel. The Christchurch newspapers dubbed ■ the tunnel the •Otira' tunnel; I pay it should bo called the Arthur's Pass tunnel, and the whole of Now Zealand should give honour to tho man who gave his name to it." (Applause.) Dr. Thacker added that the fame of Arthur s Pass would bo carried,to South Africa hy the Springboks 5 th.y had considered that the scenery of the Pass was amongst tho finest they had seen on their tour. , At a later stage a motion, proposed by Dr Thacker—"That henceforth thfc tunnel shall he known ns Arthur's Pans Tunnel"—wita earned hy acclamation.

N ' PROGRESS OF THE WORK. A DEPARTMENTAL REPORT. (special to "the press.") GHEYMOUTH, September 9. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., has received a report on the Otira tunnel from the Public Works engineer. The excavation and lining of the tunnel, the report states, will be completed in a month's time, and men will then be employed clearing up the tunnel, ballasting, and plate-laying. Electric motors are to be used for plate-laying and ballasting, and the excavation of the ballast will be carried out by means of steam shovels. A large crushing t plant will be installed for crushing balj fast. Sixty-five cottages are to be ' built— twenty-five at Arthur's Pass and forty at Otira—arid tenders are to be called for their erection. The site for the power-house has been excavated, and a start will be made with its erection immediately. The water supply, entailing the provision of a large reservoir, is in hand In regard to the electrical equipment, reports from London show that the work, which was delayed by the coal strike, was resumed in July, and, generally sneaking, is proceeding satisfactorily. The manufacture of two main steam turbines, each of 1600 k.w. capacity, is proceeding satisfactorily. The generators for the lighting Bets are ready for test, as also are the first of the motors for the main line. The loco switch-gear is well advanced, and the power-house crane should be delivered very soon. The first shipment of materials, to the value of £25,000. has readied the site, while the second shipment is now on the coast. The materials delivered comprise large quantities of copper cable and fittings for carrying out the work in the tunnel, The contractor is now engaged in installing this material.