THE SECOND TUNNEL

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 82, 3 October 1929, Page 10

THE SECOND TUNNEL

METHOD TO BE USED

The commencement of actual tunnelling work by Messrs. Hansford and Mills through the Mount Victoria ridge is still a couple of months off, that time being specified in tho conditions to enable the heavy approach excavations to be carried, out. The tunnel is to be driven through, according to the contract, in eighteen months.

The tunnelling will be under the supervision of Mr. A. F. Downer, who is resigning from the Public Works Department to join the administrative staff of Messrs. Hansford and Mills.

Mr. Downer is a recognised expert in this highly specialised work, and is at present in chargo of tho WellingtonTawa Flat tunnel work. He has recommended the contractors to employ the latest tunnelling plant, and this has already been ordered from tho manufacturers. ' Owing .to the unusual width of the drive, 29 feet, a special method will bo followed, the block-cutting method, which entails far less risk than itlie ordinary open face method, and gives a permanent dry platform of solid earth' for tho concrete men to work with their boxing and filling overhead. When the concrete work is all finished, the block can be removed with greater expedition than it could if worked from a front face. Tho block of earth to be left in the centre of the tunnel will be 14 feet in breadth and about 10 feet' in height, and will be left continuous throughout the tunnel When the tunnel is concreted long lines of trucks can be run alongside the block, and a large number of men can be employed in its removal, whereas if the earth were removed from the faces m the ordinary way only a few men could be employed at a time. This method also provides a safeguard in case of accident. Should a fall of earth occur all that can happen is a fall f rom the roof to the top of the block "I tall might fill in the passages on either side but the chances are that the block would hold tho main fall. There will be a_ steel truckway on each side of the block and the space between the top of the block and.the ceiling o f the tunnel wil afford plenty of t. O0 ° m f o ° the concrete hands to work.

One first offender for drunkenness was convicted and discharged hy mI G Anyon J.P, at the Mount Cook .■Fplica.Court %s rajnißj,.