OTIRA TUNNEL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18572, 26 November 1920, Page 5

OTIRA TUNNEL.

DELAY BY SHORTAGE OF CEMENT.

INVESTIGATION 'ON THE SPOT.

Tho prosperity of the West Coast, the facilitating of the supply of coal, timber and other goods to Canterbury and _ elsewhere, the expenditure by New Zealand of thousands of pounds —the,to and many other things are bound up in tho completion of tho Otira Tunnel. Workers are available, and, in fact, there is nothing to hinder the early completion of the lining of the tunnel —oxcept the shortage of cement. It is just that, which is holding up tho work, and which carries in its train a wlnole series of undesirable consequencesThe trouble is not going unnoticed. On. Tuesday Mr P. R- Clinlie, organiser of the Canterbury Progress League, visited tho tunnel works for the express purpose of investigating the position in regard to cement, supplies. He travelled g|jfc through the tunnel to tho Otira end f and back again, and was at tlie tunnel works until yesterday. He is of opinion that the delay which is taking place is absolutely scandalous. The importation of cement for the work is suggested. Mr J. D. Lynch, Mayor of Greymouth, with Mrs Lynch and Mr J. A. Redpath, of Christchurch, also a representative of the “ Lyttelton Times,” went through the tunnel from the Otira end yesterday. . , ~ “Afer a full investigation of the fiosition regarding the supply of cement or work in the Otira Tunnel,” said Mr Olimie. speaking to a representative of the “Lyttelton Times” at Arthur’s P,nss, I find that it is considerably worse than I expected tit to he before IJeft Christchurch. The lack of norjual supplies is retarding the work of lining the tunnel to a very marked and . serious extent. . . “ It is estimated that approximately fifty tons of cement are required each week to keep the three shifts at each end .of the tunned fully engaged on lining. The work of lining must follow closely behind the making of the top headings, otherwise there would be a considerable length of nnlined tunnel liable to cavo in, unless strongly timbered. . This timbering would cause extra work and consequent delay, or course- “ During the last seven months cement supplies have averaged only 20 tons a week, or 60 per cent below nortrial requirements. This has resulted at times in men having to be placed on other work, such ns cleaning up, which ought to have been left over until completion of the lining, when it could have been done much more expeditiouslv and at considerably less cost to the Department. Owing to the cement shortage, the engineers in charge have been faced with the tivo of reducing the number of shifts and paying off a number of men, or employing tho men on what work can be found for them. So, far they have adopted the latter course, but unless some improvement is forthcoming they may possibly be compelled to adopt the former alternative. _• “On a conservative basis, it is estimated that an additional half-chain a Week for the last seven weeks would have been completed bad* _ sufficient cement been on hand, but as it is there is now a dead loss —and this directly attributable to shortage of cement. There is still another thirty-three chains of lining to bo completed which under normal conditions would take eight months. If the shortage of cement continues as it has during the last seven months, it will require twenty months * to make tho tunnel ready for electnficaV Lon, it is calculated —a delay of twelve months, which might lie avoided if cement supplies were to hand. It is estimated that the total wages account at the tunnel works, for staff, tunnel workers and outside men, amounts to £I3OO per week, so it will be seen that v the cost to the country of delay is very considerable indeed, to say nothing of - tho interest, which is amounting to well over £I.OOO a week. “ One would have thought that. a national undertaking such as the Otira tunnel would have taken priority over any other job in the country as regards supplies. I consider it absolutely scandalous that an important national undertaking, costing tho country such a big sum of money, should he delayed in this manner. “ It is my intention to go immediately into tho question of cement supply not only for the Otira Tunnel, but for Canterbury generally. Already many complaints have been received from builders and other people concerning the serious shortage. I desire to express Xiy appreciation to Messrs J. B. Cowing and W. A. Jeff, engineers in Charge of the Arthur’s Pass and the Otira ends of the tunnel respectively, for kind assistance during my investigations. The figures quoted above have stood the tost of examination by them.” Cement should be imported' for the work, Said Mr Lynch and Mr Olimie. It would probably cost about £1 a ton anoi'e than the local article, Mr Lynch estimated, hut he said that would be a mere bagatelle, considering tho importance and the urgency of the work. Sir Lynch suggested that a temporary passenger service through the tunnel should be run by the Public TV orks De- » partment just as soon as it is possible to take carriages through it, and before the whole of t'he work is completed. He attributes the shortage of cement to the lack of sufficient supplies of ooal. Both lie and Mr Climie were emphatic regarding the importance and the desirability of importing cement to enable the work of lining the tunnel to be pushed ahead as quickly as possible. The journey through the tunnel is a most interesting experience at the present time although an uncomfortable one. From the Otira end to two or, three miles into the tunnel a ride may ho had in a truck behind an electric “ loco.” 'As water drips freely from the roof in many places, and literally flows underfoot for part of the way, it as necessary to be well garbed in oil- - skins, sou’-wester and gum-boots, and equipped with an acetylene lamp with ■ which to see the way in the darker places. For about three-quarters of a idle it is necessary to travel afootThere it is very rough going, as one has !to walk over sleepers or rough ground, and for a good part of the way m Water several inches deep, sometimes crouching to avoid collision with upper , headings structure- The work of excavation is. done in two sections—the upper and the lower part of the tunnel. Tho lower headings were completed some time ago, and the event is well remembered. The upper headings con- . cern the roof of tho tunnel, and the m work of excavating ' them proceeds above a timbered staging under which one has to walk. Only twenty-four chains now separate the upper headings. After these upper headings were passed Mr Lynch’s party was conveyed iby another “ loco ” to the mouth at 'Arthur’s Pass. Increased wages have been asked for by the “ loco ” men. They have been receiving 16s a day of six hours, plus travelling time, which it is stated brings it up tq about 19s a day. They have been offered 17s 6d a day, and guards on the trucks have been offered l7s a day. This rise would place the 11 loco ” men, who are unc.ertificated, on a par with certificated engineers employed at the works, it is stated, hut the offer has not been accepted. It was pointed out that certificated engineers m charg© of stationary plant at tho works have to work eight hours a day. The prices of blue gum poles, which are extensively used for timbering m | the tunnel, have inreased. Formerly IQs and 20s was paid for them. Now poles 2ft long, and from 15ins to 12ms an diameter at -the small end, cost 255; 18ft long poles, 12ins to Bins in diameter ut the small end, cost 15s. ■ § : An undesirable risk is ran. in regard *

to the oement used in tho tunnel. It has lately been necessary to obtain it from whatever source .is available and pne small consignment which, was used was unbrandocl. It was pointed out to the reporter that it would be much more desirable to have a wellknown source of supply. As it is, any cement that can be obtained has to be used, with consequent risk in regard to the durability of the work done with it.