EASTERN SUBURBS TUNNEL

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 61, 15 March 1929, Page 8

EASTERN SUBURBS TUNNEL

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—To the 20,000 resideni* of the eastern suburbs no better news could hays been received than the decision of the City Council last week regarding the construction of the eastern suburbs tunnel. I have had some experience of contracting, and have maintained all along during the controversy over this work that, by applying modern methods, the tunnel could easily be completed for less than the sum already voted. To Councillor Mitchell resident! of these suburbs owe grateful thanks fop finding a solution of the many difficulties' which have arisen, and the City Council as a whole is also deserving of commendation for bo unanimously agreeing to tht proposals. One point seems to have beea overlooked in estimating the cost —viz., the value of the metal which will be ob* taincd from the tunnel. Anyway, no mention has hitherto been made thereof. The original tunnel cost £16,000. Of this amount the Hataitai Land Syndicate contributed £10,000, and tho value of thm metal obtained was estimated at £5000; thus the actual cost to the ratepayers wai only £1000. Tho proposed tunnel is approximately four times'greater than tho present one; therefore, it is fair to assume that the nieta) obtainable therefrom will be roughly four times greater and tho value at the present price would be between £20,000 and £30,000.-1 am, etc., GO AHEAD. ■