OTIRA TUNNEL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17702, 31 January 1918, Page 5

OTIRA TUNNEL.

VISIT OF INSPECTION,

(From Our Correspondent.]

OTIRA, January 30.

The delegation of Canterbury and West Coast representatives which inspected tho Bealey end of the Otira tunnel on Tuesday was this morning conducted over the Otira end by Mr Alexander Dinnie, engineer in charge.

After, a ride through about threo miles of completed tunnelling on the electric tramway the party, clad in gumboots, isou’-westers and and armed with aoetyleno torches, tramped a further 65 chains through tho uncompleted portion of tho tunnel to tlie working face. The going was rough, the floor of tho tunnel being covered inches deep in a rapidly flowing torrent of water, while water dripped through the roof in steady streams in all save a few dry places. The tunnel drains out water at the steady rate of seven cubic feet per second. The uncompleted portion is mostly cut tlirough only on the bottom heading of the tunnel, and the taller members of the party had to crouch almost double in places to avoid knocking their heads agaanst the roof timbers. Shortly after tho party entered the tunnel threo charges of gelignite were fired oh the face, the explosions being heard as soft, muffled thuds. When tho party arrived at the working face somo half-hour later the atmosphere was still faintly tinged with tho acrid fumes of the explosive, but the air was otherwise sweet and clean. With the exception of its groater length and tho fact that it is selfdrained, the section of. tunnel at the Otira end is practically a replica of that seen the previous day at Arthur’s Pass, and needs no further description. It was interesting to note, however, on tho journey back to the tunnel mouth that no daylight was visible at the tunnel end until the visitors were within about a mile of the opening, which was then visible as a tiny speck of light, easily to be confused with one of the electric lights whVcH illuminate the wholo length of the completed of the tunnel. At the tunnel mouth the party were shown over tho concrete works where the lining blocks are made, the carponters’ shop, where truoks are repaired, the. forge, where drills are sharpened, and other incidental parts of the great undertaking. On the motion of Sir P. Davidson the party accorded a hearty vote of'thanks to Mr Dinnie for his kindness. Tin’s afternoon the party divided itself into two, some of the Canterbury delegates visiting Hokitika while others motored to Greymouth.