OTIRA TUNNEL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 125, 19 February 1908, Page 7

OTIRA TUNNEL.

ELECTRIC POWER FOR THE BORING. y*. COSTLY SCHEME. (BY TKI.EauAPn—SPECIAL COBBIsroNDENT.) Christchurch, February 18. Tho work of harnessing the Devil's Punchbowl, to provide powor for thp Midland railway tunnel works,'is expected to bo a very diflicult and expensive undertaking. Mr. Leslie Reynolds; and his 'staff havo been engaged during tho past fow daysj says an Otira correspondent, in surveying a track for tho pipes required in the harnessing scheme, and find the country .exceedingly diflicult and daagcrous to work in: It wul be necessary to drive a. tunnel''fifteen chains'in length through onq of'the-spurs in order to brill" the* water to the proposed power station, ana this'alono will inalie the; scheme a very coptly one. '

Tho work at tho Otira end of tho tunnel is making considerable progress.- ; Tho work at tho tunnel mouth is proceeding satisfactorily, and a largo amount of very loose stuff is being encountered in. tho face of the cutting. Tho solid rock is riot yet in sight, and it is not expected that it will bo met for somo distance yet. ■ Closo on ono hundred men aro now employed on tho works, and fresh hands aro arriving daily. . . OFFICIAL CELEBRATION. (BY TKLEGIIAPn—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Creymouth, Fobruary 18. A largo and representative meeting of delegates from tho Coast met this afternoon and decided to celebrate tho starting of tho Otira tunnel by a fitting ceremony at Otira. Tlio Premior and the Minister for' Marino have notified thoir intention of being present, and about forty representative men from Christchurch will attend. Tho date will bo fixed so as to suit tho Premier, but tho hope is expressed that it will not bo later than the middlo of March. It is likely that tho affair will bo a groat success. Tho Hon. R. M'Nab, accompanied by Mr. T.'Seddon, M.P,, arrived from Ghristchurch last evoning.