HOMER TUNNEL

Grey River Argus, 15 January 1940, Page 2

HOMER TUNNEL

PIERCING NEXT MONTH Hon. R. Semple’s West Coast Visit [Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, January 14. By the middle of next month, the bottom leading of the Homer. Tunnel will be completed, and the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R; Semple, intends to be present to fire the last shot. This will complete the piercing of the preliminary smaller tunnel. The tunnel will be expanded to its full size, and will probably be open for traffic in about four months, according to Hon. R. Semple. Thus, a work, begun by the last Government, and carried on by the present Government in the face of many difficulties, including avalanches and the striking of big springs of water during construction, would be completed. Discussing the work, to-day, Mr. Semple said that when he took over the work as Minister, under the present Government, the piercing of the- tunnel was proceeding at the rate of only 18 ■ feet weekly. Recently, it'had been proceeding at the rate of sixty feet weekly. “Yet, at that time,” he said, “the hauling distance did not present the work that it does to-day, and they had not encountered'the water which has been a big difficulty in the recent work. • The reason why we have been able to improve- the rate of progress is that we have got betr ter methods, and. better equipment, and have seen to it that the right man goes on the right job.” Mr. Semple will leave this week on his visit to the-West Coast-■ to ■ inspect the progress on the new road from Weheka to Jackson’s Bay.