THE MILFORD HIGHWAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22779, 15 January 1936, Page 10

THE MILFORD HIGHWAY

GOOD PROGRESS MADE

TUNNELLING OPERATIONS STARTED Steady progress is being made with the construction of the Te Anau-Milford main -highway, and it is the intention of the Public Works Department, which is carrying out the work, to increase the gang at the Milford end of the road from 50 to 150 men. An intimation to this effect was made yesterday by Mr T. M. Ball, district public works engineer at Dunedin, who has just returned from a visit of.inspection to the works. Mr Ball was accompanied by the Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer, M.P. for Oamaru, and Mr W. G. Pearce, district public works engineer at Invercargill, the inspection being carried out at the request of the Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple) for the purpose of investigating some grievances among the men at the two camps. Mr Ball said that as a result of the visit the men appeared to be in a much happier frame of mind.

The party left here on Tuesday last, and on Wednesday the work at the Hollyford end of the road was inspected. MiBall said that the tunnelling had already been started, and so far no unforeseen difficulties had been encountered. The tunnel, when completed, would he approximately 4000 feet long, one of the longest road traffic tunnels to be bored under a mountain in the world. The work would probably present many difficulties before it was completed, but it was not expected that these would be anything like insurmountable. The tunnelling operations, he added, had proved a decided attraction to visitors to the district during- the holidays, and a great deal of interest was taken in the work. Mr Ball said that at the present time there were 220 men working on the Hollyford end of the road.

The party then inspected the work at the Milford side, and it was found that everything was proceeding satisfactorily. A number of complaints were voiced by the men working there, but, according to Mr Ball, the men appeared to be quite satisfied when the party left. While the party was at Milford the Marama arrived on her way to Bluff, and the opportunity was taken to return by her. _ Mr Ball said that from the information he had gathered the number of visitors to the Eglinton Valley and Milford during the present holiday selison had been greater than ever before. While he was there it vras impossible to get accommodation, and the members of his party had to sleep at the public works camp.