ORONGORONGO TUNNEL

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1922, Page 10

ORONGORONGO TUNNEL

PROGRESS OF THE WORK.

A report regarding the progress bein" made by Mr. R. Semple and party in constructing the Orongorongo water tunneL was submitted to the City Council last'night by the City Engineer. . ! At tho end of last week, reported the Engineer, ..the tunnel at the Wainui end had been driven 1771 ft, and,, at the'l Orongorongo end had been driven 244 ft a total length of 2015 ft. The-weir which will form the intake to the pipe-line from the Orongorongo to the tunnel, and which i? also to supply power for the turbine at the Orongorongo end, is be- i ing constructed, the foundation now being in. The trusses of the bridge over the Orongorongo stream-have been put. together at Wainui, and have been conveyed up the Orongorongo River to the site. This bridge is for , carrying the pipe over the Orongorongo River to the mouth of the tunnel and to give the\ necessary access to the iveir at the in-j take.' ' ' '"''■•'- ■ ■ . ■ '-•■.' ■'' Consequent upon wet weather and I bad conditions, the road up! the Orongo- ' rongo has been difficult to keep in satis- j factory condition. ■ Nearly the whole of the material required on the Orongorongo side has, however, been carted- to the site. The three married men's huts at Wainui sanctioned by the council are in course of erection. In addition to the members of the party working in the tunnel, there are-, eleven engaged on wages by the Corpora- i tion. These include the following:— ; Turbine attendants, •' 3; storeman, 1,; handyman, 1; mechanic, 1; labourer, 1; ! drivers, 3; cook,. 1. ■■■„. ! The last 120 ft driven from the Wainui end has been through good ground not necessitating timbering. The same remarks apply to the condition of the faco of the drive at the Orongorongo end.