MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14611, 19 February 1908, Page 8

MIDLAND RAILWAY.

THE ARTHUR’S PASS TUNNEL. [From Onn Correspondent.] •> GREYMOUTH, February 18. j At the Otira works the bridle traclq to the intake at Holt’s Creek wateri supply is now open for foot traffic, and/ men are engaged packing up material; of various kinds, such as coal, portable forges, drills, etc. Thirty men are engaged in this particular portion of; the contract. The tunnel mouth haa its contingent of workers excavating and using the spoil for filling in be- 1 tween the hillside and the RollestoiV bridge, which is now, by the way, completely decked from end to end. The timber for the offices and engineer’s residence, to be erected near the en-j trance of the tunnel, is being transported by means of a steel wire ropo stretched from the bridge to the site of j the buildings. It is anticipated that' when the works are in full swing no, fewer than 250 to 300 men will be em-j ployed on both sides of the range. j The machinery ordered by Mm M’Lean at Home for pushing the tun-! nel through is expected to be on tha ground about the end of March or the middle of April. [Per Press Association.] j GREYMOUTH, February 18. ] A large and representative meeting! of delegates from the Coast mot this afternoon and decided to celebrate the starting of the Otira tunnel by a fitting ceremony at Otira. . The Premier and the Minister of Marine have announced their intention of being present, 1 also about forty representative men front/ Christchurch. The date will be fixed so as to suit the Premier, but a hope, is expressed that it will not be later than the middle of March.