TAWA FLAT DEVIATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 March 1928, Page 9

TAWA FLAT DEVIATION.

TENDERS FOR TUNNEL REJECTED

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO DO THE WORK-

(BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO “THE STAR.”) WELLINGTON, March 17. The Government has decided to reject all tenders lor the construction ol tunnels on the Tawa Elat deviation, which will give a railway outlet from Wellington to the West Coast on almost a level line. One tunnel is three-quarters of a mile and the second two and three-quarter mi las long, anil they have been designed to take a double track of railway.

In announcing this decision, the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. K. S. Williams, stated that his department. will carry out the work. “The reason for declining the tenders,” said the Minister, “is because the prices are much in excess of the department’s estimate, and the Government is confident the work can he carried out at a price a. good deal below the lowest tender. The Government has done a considerable amount of tunnelling work, and has a good many men at present engaged in this class of work. It is expected to make an earlv start on these tunnels.”