THE OTTRA TUNNEL.
Sib,—ln your issuo of : the 19th inst. you cruoted the following information regarding l 5T°? ress of this tunnel, as supplied to the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce by the Minister of Public Works:—"The tunnel has been fully excavated from tlie Otira end for. two miles 16 chains, and from the Bcaley end 52 chains at the end of last year. The bottom • heading had been advanced 43 chains during the previous 12 months. The tunnel was bored from the Otira end two miles 38 chains, and from tho Bealey end 64 chains. The probable uroCTess during- the year is estimated at 40 chains. ' Summarised, this means that the advance headings' amounted .to three miles 22 chains, and of this distance the completed tunnel amounted to two miles 68 chains. As thejength of the tunnel when completed will be five miles 25 cjiains 12 feet, the work may be said to be about half dore. The contract for this tunnel was let in 1937 for £599,794. and was abandoned by tho contractors alter a few years, the work being then taken over and continued by tho Public Works Department. Tho slow progress of this tunnel as compared with similar works carried: out recently in other parts of the world is somewhat remarkable. I give the following examples:— Hivuensfcem tunnel (double track), between Tecknau and Olten, on the Basel-Olten line Switzerland. Length five miles 94 yards' Work commenced February 1, 1912, tunnel pierced 10.40 a.m. July 10, 1914,- or a little over 2if years, and 18 months ahead of contract time. The gallery or advance heading advanced 16 yards in one day, being a record. (See Engineer, July 24, 1914 n 102). ' p '
Muneter Grenchenberg tunnel, 5g miles Commenced November 6, 1911. Pierced October 27. 1914, nearly three years. Twice delayed by strikes and by mobilisation of Swiss army. Hand-boring machines used mostly 'by Italian workmen. (See Engineer November 20, 1914.) Tunnel engineering in New Zealand seems to be in a decadent stage.—l am, etc., ■ •*■_ A Taxpayeh.
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 16339, 23 March 1915, Page 6
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338THE OTTRA TUNNEL. Otago Daily Times, Issue 16339, 23 March 1915, Page 6
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