A GREAT UNDERTAKING. WORK AT ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 44, 21 February 1908, Page 4

A GREAT UNDERTAKING. WORK AT ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

[jsr TELEGBAFU. — PKES.3 ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, 20th February. The energies of the contractors for the Otira tunnel seem at piesent to be cpncentrated upon tho water supplies at either end of tho big drive. These supplies aro very necessary and essential adjuncts to the successful termination of th© undertaking. The Holts Creek supply in tho Rolleston Gorge will require some careful manipulation bofoio it reaches tho power-house. There will be some miles of piping along a track cut out of tho mountain-side and two bridges, ono 120ffc long, in six spans of 20it and j one of 60ft in on 6 span, and 35ft above ! the ravine bed. Bridges of this class in any other place but the mountain gorges of the Alps would be matters of detail, but when confronted by nothing but perpendicular walls of rock, with masses of boulders strewn beneath, the work assumei, a different aspect. On the Bealey sida, where. Mr. Leslie Reynolds, C.E., and his men have been surveying for the past week, the Punch Bowl supply is the main object occupying their attention. The work of surveying this stream is attended with much risk to life. It is indeed a most hazardous task, the men for hours at a. time being suspended on lopes over tho cliff sides. It is understood that if this stream is finally decided upon as a source of supply io will be necessary to drive a tunnel fifteen chains in length to bring tho water through. No- other work beyond this has, so far, been put in hand on the Canterbury side of the range by the contractors. On the Otira side of the Alps a different order of things obtains, and mon are being put on every day at various works The approach to the tunnel is being pushed ahead, and every day gives indications that the solid' country should soon be met with. The gjound is hardening, and shows less inclination to slip. The Rolleston bridge is fully decked, and the timber for the engineers' residence, blacksmiths' shops, offices, etc., is nowbeing transported. The- fa'rst instalment of horses — live in number — arrived tho other evening, and it is understood another twenty-two are to follow. The Roads Department is at present erecting a horso bridge over the Otira River. This, bridge will bs a doublepile construction, 6ft wide and 375 ft long, ia fifteen spans. Pile-driving will bo commenced in a day or two. When completed, tho bridge should prove a boon to p^daslrians and cyclists, for the Otira is a rough sticam nine months out of twelve.