THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14610, 18 February 1908, Page 7

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

WORK AT MOUNT ARTHUR. [From Our Correspondent.] OTIRA, February 17. The ivork of harnessing the Devil's Punchbowl to provide power for the Mount Arthur tunnel works is expected to be a very difficult and expensive undertaking. Mr Leslie Reynolds and his staff have been engaged during the past few days in surveying a track for the pipes required in the harnessing scheme, and find the country exceedingly, difficult and dangerous to work in. It" will be necessary to drive a tunnel fifteen chains in length, through one of the spurs in order to bring the water to the proposed power station, and this alone will make the scheme a very costly one. Mr Reynolds expects, that it will take another fortnight to complete the survey, _ after which the work of laying the pipes will be commenced immediately the material arrives. The work at the Otira end of the tunnel is making considerable progress. The track to Holt's Creek Falls, a wellgraded one of about one in nine, is rapidly approaching completion. Carpenters aro now engaged in erecting Mr M'Loan's residence and offices. The work at the tunnel mouth is proceeding satisfactorily, and a large amount of very loose stuff is being encountered in the face cutting. The solid rook is not yet in sight, and it is not expected that it will be mot for some distance yet. Altogether close on one hundred men are now employed on the works, and fresh hands are arriving daily.