A GREAT WORK.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 93, 13 January 1908, Page 5

A GREAT WORK.

' . ' ARTHUR'S 'PASS TUNNEL. . STATEMENT BY THE CONTRACTOR. Cill'istciiuroll, January 10. Mr., Neil M'Lcan, one of the contractors for the Arthur's Pass tunnel on the Midland Railway, was in Christehurch to-day, passing through on his way to Otira/ Speaking to a representative of the "Press" regarding the progress of the work, Mr. M'Lcan stated that ho had just received a cablo message from his brother, Mr. Murdoch. M'Lcan, that, he had purchased an In-gersqll-Rand. air drill, which would bo used in tho boring:,! operations at the tunnel. While in Switzerland. Mr. 31. M'Lcan made a visit to the Loetschbcrg tunnel (eight, and a-half miles) which is being'constructed between Brigue and Berne, and in which the, air drill is being used with satisfactory results. Tho contractors, were driving the drills with electric motors, the power being generated by .water and supplied free., Mr. M'Lean estimates that'2ooo h.p. will be required at each end of tho tunnel to drive tho drills. At the Bealey end the Punchbowl Falls will be harnessed, and it is estimated that 750 h.p. will be generated. At the Otira end one of the streams will bo utilised, and 500 h.p. will be available. In' both cases the power will bo generated, at the sourco of supply, and conveyed by wires to the tunnel workings. In regard to tho ventilation of the workwhere the headings aro advanced sufficiently to necessitate a plant being put in, the system of exhaust will bo adopted in preference to air being forced in from tho tunnel's mouth. The exhaust system is Roncrnlly favoured on the Continent, as it draws out tho foul air, and fresh air rushes in, nature abhorring a vacuum. It has been found that to force in fresh air only removes the foul atmosphere from the. face, and that the work cannot- be properly ventilated ,in the deeper rccesses of the headings. At tho Otira end, Mr. M'Lcan says about 50 huts havo been erected and carpenters are now building the workshop, while labourers are doing bush clearing at the tunnel mouth. Ho cxpccts to start with tho cuttings next week. So far nothing has been doiio at the Bealey end, and probably a start will not be made until Mr. Murdoch M'Lcan returns. Mr. M'Lean is finding no difficulty in getting all tho labour ho requires at present. Ho receives numerous applications for work. "Of course I don't know what it will he liko later on," he said, "but I think that with a good long job offering at 10s. a day and no Inst time tliero should be plenty of applications."