ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 18

ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

PROGRESS REPORT. CHRISTCHURCH, January 13. Very satisfactory progress is being made , with the Arthur's Pass tunnel. AccoxdI ing to a statement made by Mr Murdoch j Al'Lean to a representative of Truth, at the Otdra end the tunnel is in 24 chains. The hydro-electric power plant is com- • pleted, and will in all probability be in 1 operation soon after Mr M'Leon and Mr ,W. H. Gavin (the recently- appointed | engineer in charge) reach Otira to-morrow. The similar plant at the Bealey end of tbe tunnel should be in operation about the end. of next month. The recently - madie award of the Arbitration Court has j evidently given as much- satisfaction to , the workers as to the contractors, and i the relations between the parties at | present are harmonious. So satisfied are j the majority of the men with the conditions that they continued at work during the holidays instead of knocking off for about a fortnight, as the contractors fully | anticipated would be the caeei Of the 150 men or thereabout engaged on the work only eight or ten knocked off for I the holidays. Mr M'Lean thouigibb he was j justified in stating that the court's award had met with the approval of the men — at least it had removed all outward signs of discontent. To-morrow Mr M'Lean and I Mr Gavin leave for Otira.