OTIRA TUNNEL

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 138, 11 June 1920, Page 7

OTIRA TUNNEL

SERIOUS FALL OF EARTH,

B

CHRISTCHURCH, 10th June.

The Otira correspondent of the Press telegraphed this evening stating that about 12 o'clock last night the cracking of timber gave the miners in the Otira tunnel warning that a large fall of rock was going to take place, and to escape to a place of safety quickly. Shortly afterwards the timber gave way, and •there was the biggest fall of earth that has ever taken place" in the Otira tunnel. The fall is about four miles-in from the Otira end, and it is estimated that it will take three or four weeks for the miners to clear it. This is most regrettable, as great headway was being made ■under the contract system. It is calculated by the Public Works 'Department authorities that the work of completing the Otira tunnel at the present rate of progress will take until about 10th June, 1921. Thereafter it. ■will be necessary to lay and ballast the track through the tunnel, and to build the station and sidings. The tenders for the electrification of the tunnel section of the line (the tunnel itself is 5g miles ■in length) are to close at the end of the month. Representatives are in New ■Zealand from America and England for the purpose of submitting tenders for the big work. As the successful contracting .firm is being allowed 18 months to do ■the work, it is assumed that, barring accidents or unpreveiitable delays, the railway line ponnecting Canterbury with itho West Coast should be in operation early in 1922