RIMUTAKA TUNNEL

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25554, 23 July 1948, Page 9

RIMUTAKA TUNNEL

PREPARATORY WORK (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 22. In a statement outlining the progress made with the Rimutaka railway tunnel scheme, the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) said that though some phases of the scheme were held up pending thel delivery of essential equipment, such as big compressors and generators from Great Britain, the project as a whole was being steadily advanced. The route from Walrarapa to Hutt Valley, part of which had been recently revised, had now been finally fixed. Decision had first been reached on the location of the Wairarapa portal. It lay in a gully leading from Pigeon Bush. The area round the exit was now in an advanced state of preparation for piercing. Arrangements had been made with the Defence Department to house the workmen in Featherston camp, as the flat sites nearer the tunnel were liable to winds' strong enough to blow a train off the line. The portal On the Wellington side had now been fixed at the northern end of Mangaria Valley, As finally determined, the length of the tunnel would be five miles 36 chains, the longest in New Zealand, about 400 yards more than the Otira tunnel. By the time a decision on the western portal was reached the winter was setting in but, in spite of a bog up to their knees in places, men were put on at once to provide access and camp sites. Prefabricated buildings were stacked ready,for the carpenters, and surveys and preparatory work were proceeding. Mr Semple said that a close study was being made of the most modern methods to be employed in driving the tunnel. As a result of tunnelling research a list of necessary equipment had been made, and tenders had al-

ready been placed both in New Zealand and England, with a minimum amount from dollar countries. When all the equipment was on hand, tunnelling would start on the new technique. Instead of working the face from a small pilot head, an attempt would be made to drive on the full face at once.