OTIRA TUNNEL TRAFFIC.

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 4, 5 July 1922, Page 5

OTIRA TUNNEL TRAFFIC.

OTIRA TUNNEE TRAFFIC.;, ■■] v Reports having been circulated aS'-tflj., the loss in the Wiltshire of machinery!'' for the Otira Tunnel, Mr. T. E. V.l SecU. don (Westland) yesterday asked the Minister of Public Works if he would" make a statement showing:—(l) What/ machinery for the tunnel was lost in.-. the wreck of the Wiltshire; (2) whafi^ delay in the completion of tho tunnel, would be caused thereby; (3) how soon produce and passengers' luggage 0T0.u1d;,., ba railed through.

The Minister of Public Worfa (thet Hon. J. G. Coates) said that one of the, main turbo generators was expected to> arrive in July, and the other, if all xrentj} well at the works, about a month later.; The locomotives had been held up byjthe lock-out, but the first should beihere in October, and the balance in., November. The erection of the boilers; was well in hand, bat a great quantity, of accessories went down in the Wilt 4 shire, and would, require to be replaced^ If the supply of this material was expe*, dited; it woald perhaps be possible tot) have one boiler under steam in Novem--/ ber. Then two or three months woold| he occupied in trials. Ha Minister saioV that he could not hold out hopes of> traffic being carried before February, or,*; more probably March. He hoped, how-is ever, to allow produce and pigs to be,* conveyed through the tunnel irom Otira,;: to Arthur's Pass after the middle of? September, but not more than threes hours ,a week, could <be spared for -thi«4' traffic.; : ■ ;