OTIRA TUNNEL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17985, 31 January 1924, Page 8

OTIRA TUNNEL.

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT TO TAKE OVER CONTROL. (SPECIAL TO "THE PEfcSS.") GEEYMOTTTH, January 30. The report that the Railway Department will take over the Otira tunnel next week is confirmed. It was intended at first that the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Railways, should visit Otira on the occasion, but it is now stated that the transfer of control will involve nothing of a ceremonial nature, but will be merely formal. INSPECTING ENGINEERS TO REPORT. (PBESS ■ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, January 30.

The inspecting engineers of the. Public • Works Department and the Railway Department leave Wellington on' February 4th for Otira for the purpose of making a thorough inspection of the' tunnel, this being the usual course before any construction work is taken over by the Railway Department from the Public Works Department. The reports of the technical officers will be telegraphed to the Minister on February 7th, and if they are satisfactory and everything is in order, the Minister hopes theii to be able to give an indication when the whole distance from east to west will be charged as one section.

The Minister of Public Works and Railways states that both goods and passenger traffic is coming forward very well indeed. The handling of traffic is working very satisfactorily, and the Department is now in a position to handle all traffic that offers.