MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 147, 16 March 1908, Page 8

MIDLAND RAILWAY.

» ." • ■ ' ... PROGRESS OF WORKS AT OTIRA 1 (raoit ouit srEciAL correspond ext.) Christoiiurch, March 14 •The Otira corro'spondeut of ' the church "Press" writes:—Mr. Neil M'Lwn . arrived in Otira. last Friday; and immediately proceeded to ,inspect;--tho various'■ works■ in their' several. stages of ■ advancement,..and after a stay of three days'in,the. gorge proceadocl. overland .to,Cliristcliurch on. Monday morning;' : Tho whole business is being pushed on with more vigtiiir 'than' :ever, ami in anticipation, of..the wcather to come teams are how,.-, engaged '• conveying "timber over Arthur's Pass to tho Bealey Hat, 1 .therb to be brought" into .requisition for :tho'.o'r,i'ction' of the- iit'ty huts .for. the. accommodation of tile toilers<on. this side of the Alps.' 1 ' This'engineers':' residences, and. offices, etc.,' aroVgding up rapidly,' nearly; '-.the whole, of the material, being now on tho ground. " -The Holt's ■ Crecik pipe hne still .occupies the attention. of a big gang of men,.. but remark-' ably'good progress is" being' made tailing everything into consideration,: tile ,two bridges and. tho two. tunnels being, tic'- main' work. Tho tunnel face bears much the. same appearance.. In spite of the fact,that a large quantity of material ,is being 'nioved , weekly, it will tako .somo timq' excavating' for "the, appreach as: the country in that particular spot is loose,, arid in conscqueiico.',the.,hillside-has to'be battened, up a- considerable distance Nothing _ definite has been settled as to'iyhen tho official opening shall take' placed but 1 it will doubtless bo somo time in April; and will quito possibly depend., on '.tile Prime Minister's ability to attend! The • local bodies have the matter in haiid 'and function proposes_ to bo worthy, of tho. occasion for which.it is. being arranged.; Tho cooperative workers are bus V"with thoir portion of the . railway works, in- tho gorge - and as.tho big cutting approaching,the RoUeston bridge has-now a iino of rails right through its entire length, tho, contractors' material is transported. with far greater expedition than; formerly. Tho .groin .'which protects this , cutting from the fury, of- tho RoUeston is, being attended to, -anti.materially strciiEthoped- by .tho addition of. huge', boulders, and tho bolt.uig : together of tho'S6 already ih posii°"i" i i i a -- embankment rises slowly day by, day; .It is a Wtrk that cannot be rushed, and tho. flood ..waters of the Otira have at the samo time to be held in check.