REMOTE SCENE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 8

REMOTE SCENE

WORK IN PROGRESS PIERCING GREAT HILL SLOW ADVANCE OF DRILLS 200 MEN IN LARGE CAMP [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] INVKRCARGILL, Monday More than 200 men are established at the permanent Public Works camp in the Homer Valley, where the avalanche occurred. Until construction of the road progressed to the mountains, the valley was practically isolated and visited only by trampers and mountaineers on the route to Milford over the Grave-Talbot Pass. The Homer Saddle is 6.3 miles from the junction of the new road with the main road to Invercargill at Te Anau. The tunnel is to pierce the saddle at a height of 3000 ft. and will emerge near the headquarters of the Cleddau Valley, not quite eight miles from the Milford Hostel. The Major Operation

The tunnelling of the saddle is regarded as the major operation of the whole construction, although no extraordinary engineering difficulties were anticipated on the slow journey through the solid hill. The tunnel will be threequarters of a mile in length, 25ft. in width, and 17ft. high. A grade of one in 10 has to be followed in drilling, so that the outlet at the Cleddau end will be 400 ft. lower than the mouth of the tunnel. This grade continues for the first six miles toward the Milford Hostel.

80,000 Tons of Spoil

A granite-like mass forms the greater part of the Homer, and the drills have to break through a total distance of .'36ooft of rock that is much harder than the rock struck in the driving of the Otira tunnel. An indication of the work ahead, which it is hoped will be finished on schedule at the end of next year, is conveyed by the fact that approximately 80,000 tons of spoil will have to be removed from the tunnel. First Serious Accident Before the hard rock was struck recently, the loose rock of scree had to be excavated and the hole lined with concrete as a protection against falls of rock. Avalanches were considered in the establishment of the camp iji the Homer Valley. Last winter much difficulty was experienced in maintaining communication over the new road to the tunnel. With the object of protecting the road from the effects of avalanches and heavy rock falls the through the centre of the valley was chosen. The accident which occurred to-day is the first of any consequence since work on the road was started.