PIERCING THE ALPS.

Manawatu Standard, Issue XLI, 17 December 1908, Page 5

PIERCING THE ALPS.

PROGRESS OF ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

(Pee Pbess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Dcccmber 15. To a 'representative of the Christchurch Truth Mr Murdoch McLean, who arrived in this city last night from. Otira, gave some particulars regarding" the progress of tho work on the Arthur s Pass tunnel. At the Otira end the tunnel was driven about 20 chains, and the average weekly rate of progress is about 60 feet. Tho kind of ground encountered is much as was expected, being moderately hard slate, which consequently does not require timbering. ■ As the matter is at present before the Arbitration Court, Mr McLean said that ho could not go into the subject of the complaints of the men, but he could state that they were gradually improving in regard to their knowledge of the work, and it. was hoped that in the near future much greater progress would be made with the piercing of .the Alps tha.n has been the case hitherto. He expected that the electric plant at the Otira end would be ready to start about the end of the year. There were about 15 chains of the closing-in of the pipes (which are all manufactured and are on the ground or in course of transport) to be done in connection with the Holt's Creek hydro-electric* power scheme. When this has been completed a start will be made to widen out the tunnel, and to line it, in short, to complete each portion of the tunnel as the work proceeded. In connection with the lining of thd'rjtunnel, for which concrete blocks are to be used in certain portions, the contractors have got the stone-crush-er, the mixing machine, ths bins, and tho block ground under way. and all should be ready' in' a week o? two for the starting of operations. ■ Mr Gavin, who has been appointed en-ginepr-in-charge of thewofk, is expected to arrive from the United States shortly, and will take charge on or- about January 15. It will be remembered that Mr Gavin was an engineer under the Public Works Department, and was in charge of the works (including the tunnels) on the Midland lines between Patterson's Creek and Broken River. Since then he has had South African and American experience, the latest work which he has been connected with being on the Great Western Pacific railway. At the Beale3 r end of the tunnel-a good deal of excavation has been done at the entrance to "The Hole in the Hill." Solid rock having been met with, the foundations of the abutments of the permanent railways bridge, leading to the mouth of the. tunnel (for which Messrs John McLean and Sons, Ltd., are also the contractors) have been excavated. Tho power-house in connection with the Devil's Punch Bowl hydro-oloctric power, scheme, the compresser sheds, and the necessary machinery are all completed and installed. Work is still •" proceeding on the water-race from the' Devil's Punch Bowl, and the pipes are . expected to bo finished within month. The Pelton wheel, generator and : motors -ha ve been ,erected, and- the electric cable between the compresser house and tho motor house is being installed. By the end of January it is expected that the plant at the Bealey end will be read} - for work, and it is anticipated that, when operations commence, as much progress will be made at the Bealey end as at the Otira end.-

Mr McLean had a word of praise for the manner in which the Despatch Foundry Company, Greymouth, had done its work in connection with the manufacture . pipes. He stated that jthe foundry was one of the best which he had had to do with, and the company had more than carried out its undertakings. Despite the fact that it had had to import the material, the pipes for ' the Short's Creek installation had been supplied a month earlier than contract time, whilst' those for the Punch Bowl installation would be completed inside a month.