ARTHUR'S PASS.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 513, 26 March 1908, Page 4

ARTHUR'S PASS.

THE TUNNEL CONTRACT. INTERVIEW WITH MR MURDOCH M'LBAN. The London correspondent of the Post had <an interesting talk with Mr Murdoch M'Lean, the contractor for tho Arthur's Pass tunnel through the Southern Alps on February 13. "Since my arrival in England on tho 22nd October last," said Mr M'Lean, "I have necessarily spent a good deal of time looking about me and feeling my way and making enquiries with regard to the machinery and plant that I needed for driving tho big tunnel. I need not tell you ■anything about the general object and plan and nature of the tunnel itself, for all that has already been fully described and explained in the New Zealand papers. You know that the object is to get the New Zealand Midland Wailway through tho Southern Alps so as to connect the East and West Coasts of the South Island— Cliristohurch and Westland— by direct rail. What you wiill want to know is what I have been doing in furtherance of this object, since I came to this side of the world." "Certainly; but anything you choose to tell me will be of interest." "Very well, then, as soon as possible after my arrival in England 1 went to the Continent to see all the largest tunneSs under construction and to gain any information that might be available as to the latest and most improved methods of baring. Thus, 1 visited the great Lavetzburg tunnel which is being bored through the Swiss Alps below Berne. This is eight miles long, nearly three miles longer than the one I am going to make through the Arthur Pass. I spent some little time there and saw a great deal that was of much interest and valluo to me. Eepecially I found that great progress was being made with the air-drill which was worked by means of compressors driven by electri« motors." . . "Whence did they obtain their driving power?" "From the great power station ot the Swiss Government at Gampel,' replied Mr M'Lean. "It is not fair— about 12 miles— horn Brigue— or m the German spelling 'Bneg.' In my work, of course, I can get abundant electric power with tlio aid of the numerous streams and waterfalls that are to bo found among the New Zealand mountains near at hand. Well, next I inspected another long tu-nndl at Goppelstein , near tho moutn of the Simplon tunnel, on the main shortened line through from France to Italy. Then I visited various other tunnels and works successively in Northern Italy and in Austria, "n---cluding the Tavern tunnel in the latter country, which is six miles long. 1 found that in this one the contractor had just completed the 'heading. He had worked with a plant erected by a Winterthur firm. It included hydrauilic Brandt da-ills. Tlie engineers treated me with the greatest kindness and courtesy, and afforded me every possible opportunity of seeing the drills at work and everything edse that could be of any use or inter"Noxt," continued Mr M'Lean, "I returned to London and visited various works, proceeding then to view tho water-supply works in South Wales and in the Derwent Valley. After carefully studying all the different methods in actual operation, 1 came to the conclusion that the air percussion drill was the best one for my work— that is to say, for boring the hard slaty rock through which most of the Arthur's Pass tunnel will have to penetrate. Having convinced myself that this was best, I lost no time in" acting upon that conviction. I immediately let a contract with the lngorsoll Hand Company of New I oik for the supply of the machinery ot this class which I required, and these contractors were so expeditious in carrying out their contract that all this machinery has not only been already delivered to me, but is actually -nojv on its way to New Zealand, where it should arrive before the end of next month." "Sharp work that ! But the Americans do understand how to push their trade. They know what a splendid advertisement promptness and punctuality in delivery givo them I" "They certainly do, said Mr M'Loan. "But lam getting the" other machinery in England. Messrs J. B. Hall and Co., of Oklham, Lancashire, are supplying me with the dynamos •and motors for driving my driJJs. 1 am in negotiation with other English firms for the supply of the Pelton wheels, cranes, locomotives, wheels, rails, etc., which 1 shalpl require. The-Pelton wheel" is, as 1 daresay you know, worked by tho projection ot a powerful jet of water against the numerous small buckets which stxid its periphery; it is the most convenient modo of utilising water-power." "You have decided, I think you said, to employ the air drill in preference to tho hydraulic one?" "Yes. On the whole, I consider it the best. The sole practical drawback is the constant fine dust it produces in piercing the rock, but 1 nml that that can be effectively got over by means of a water-spray.' "How long do you expect tho wotk to occupy ¥ ' ' "Ah that is more than 1 should like to predict," said Mr M'Laren, laughing. "So many difficulties may arise unexpectedly in this sort of work and in such a big contract. But at present I do not see a prospect ot anything more formidable than 1 have made due allowance for, and at any rate I fully contemplate that I shall bo ablo to complete the tunnel within my contract time— fivo years.'