OTIRA TUNNEL OPENED

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 31, 6 August 1923, Page 3

OTIRA TUNNEL OPENED

THE CEREMONY ON THE DIVIDE

The ceremony of officially opening the electrified section of the South Island Midland Railway—B miles in length, including the 5£ miles Otira tunnel—was performed at Otira on Saturday afternoon, when the Minister of Public Works drove the electric train through the ceremonial ribbons. On returning to Christchurch the event waß celebrated in the evening with a banquet.

Prior to the ceremony at Otira, the West Ooast train, in coming through the tunnel on the up-grade, was delayed for some minutes through a mishap to the overhead power-wires gear. For the same reason, the return journey to Christchurch started late, making the banquet late, but this lateness did not mar the enjoyment. Mr. Coates, Minister of Public Works, remarked that the mishap was due only to bad luck.

The South Island Midland Eailway system, in its northward continuation, now ends at Inangahua Junction, from which point the railway will branch down the Buller to Westport and up the Buller to Murchison and Glenhope, thus linking with Nelson. Both these Buller continuations were the subject of advocacy in the ceremonial speeches, by Messrs. H. E. Holland, M.P., R. M'Kenzie, and others.

The returning special train was late in leaving Otira for Christchurch on Saturday. There was some argument whether both electrical locomotives should pull the ten carriages, or whether it would be advisable for one to pull and the other to push. The train was over an hour behind schedule time; but this did not appear to worry the old West Coaster. Some of the passengers were wondering if they would ba late—even too late—for the Progress League banquet in Christchurch. ."You aint got any call to growl," said the West Coaster. "You ain't waited much more than an hour for the train to go through the tunnel. I've bin waiting fifteen years."

He lit his pipe with deliberation. "Rightly speaking," ho went on, "I've bin' waiting a sight more than fifteen years. Young Tom Seddon, he said today he remembered talk about the tunnel and the train when he was a bit of a boy in Kumara; but I mind the talk long before that. Fifteen years aint so long to wait. But it don't do for people nowadays. Sixteen minutes they took to come through with the electric engines to-day; and termorrer somebody'll be saying it's too slow. That's always the way. Want to do everything quick. Mr. Cassidy's coaches was good enough for us. It's taken a long time to "better them, and it's cost a pot of money. What was it that young man said in the speeches of a million and a half?"

There were many West Coasters on Saturday who lit their pipes and began their talk with: "I remember." WESTERN- REMINISCENCES.

It was a day of reminiscences, of talk about the coach days, which will soon be the old coach days; and talk about previous ceremonies connected with the tunnel and the railway. There have been several ceremonies marking stages in the work, and there were people present at the last one on Saturday who could remember the first, when the first sod of the extended line was turned at Springfield 32 years ago. These people had followed the successive ceremonies with more than passing interest. Gala days they were, though usually wet; but much more than gala days. They were milestones on the, road at the end of which West Coasters and Canterbury pilgrims had ever in view a fair vision of renewed progress. Now that vision is to become a substantial reality.

The Northern visitors may have had an idea of the meaning of the final ceremony to the West Coasters; but to most of them the things seen were of more importance. The journey in the special train from Ghristchurch was indeed full of interest. Even the run over the ■plains gave glimpses of the mountains beyond with snow right down to the foothills. Then there was the wonderful scenic trip on the edge of tho gorge through which runs the Waimakarire. Tunnels and viaducts (at hair-raising heights) were speedily traversed: but they took many years to construct. And even now the workmen are on the line, removing the. traces of those slips and avalanches which have coma down—Nature's reminders that man is not yet in complete mastery. The fame of this section of lino has been somewhat dimmed by comparison with other works and sections. It would be far renowned for scenic wealth, the steep canyon, with its little fringe of bush and the mountains in the distance; but the forest wealth of Otira has won greater fame. It would be known far and wide for its conquest of engineering problems; but the great tunnel is a more recent and spectacular achievement.

Anticipation of what would be seen at the tunnel and beyond was the chief interest for the Northern visitors. What would it be like to' travel five miles underground—and what would there be on the other side? The weather was much discussed. Many recalled how it rained when Sir Joseph Ward fired the first shot inaugurating the work fifteen years ago. From the importance attached to this little matter of the weather, one would have been led to believe that it seldom rained at Otira. But all the visitors were nevertheless ready for rain and snow. They were not prepared to carry the courtesy of dissembling about the weather so far as to leave great-coats and overshoes behind. There was snow at Arthur's Pass and for some miles on that side; but it only heightened the beauty of the 6cene and set off the dark green of the beeches. Otira had no snow and only a little rain. IMPRESSIONS THROUGH TUNNEL. In passing through the tunnel most of the passengers closed the windows from force of habit. They had come through the Lyttelton and many other tunnels the same morning. Then someone remembered that electric locomotives do not burn coal. After that windows were

opened and heads' were thrust out to see what could be seen. The bright headlight of the locomotive revealed the details of tunnel construction so far as they could be discerned in the completed structure. But what was much more interesting—far away in the distance there was a faint pinpoint of light, the exit at Otira. On reasonably clear days this may bo seen the minute after entering the tunnel, and at any time it is possible from the middle of the tunnel to see the pin-points of, light at either end. So one need never feel hopelessly imprisoned. Any passengers who had misgivings, however, had them removed at Otinij when they were able to see the precautions taken for their safety. The signals aro worked by electricity, and there is a large scale chart which shows by .points of light when anything has gone wrong and where it has gone wrong. The progress of- the train can be traced throughout, and then there is efficient breakdown locomotive, much after the pattern of a war tank, which can be dispatched to the rescue. It contrasted strangely with the little works locomotive still on tho line at Arthur's Pass—a' diminutive, dirty little engine, but possessing a long record of usefulness.

The time at Otira was well occupied with inspection of the well-equipped power-house and other features of interest—not to mention speeches. Mr. Furkert was time-keeper for the speechmakers, and created somo amusement by handing a written notice to quit to any speaker who showed a disposition to work overtime.

The departure was timed for 3.10 p.m., but there was' delay, duo chiefly to one of those small mishaps which are always liable to occur in the testing period of a big work. At. last, however, .the train got away.. and cut the two ribbons held by Messrs. Fell and Stenhouse, who have worked in the tunnel during the whole eighteen years, and Fitzgerald and O'Malley, two notables of Otira.

Ihe celebration was continued when the party returned to Christchurch at a banquet given by the Canterbury Progress League. The train was late, and the banquet was late in starting; but it was highly successful when it did begin. But the union of East and ■West which was celebrated has also been long delayed.