MILFORD TUNNEL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18757, 13 July 1935, Page 3

MILFORD TUNNEL

PRELIMINARY WORK G A TITER TNG M A CHIN Ell Y Although a start on the actual piercing of the tunnel through the Homer Saddle on the Te Anau-Milford Bound road will not lie made until the spring, the first sod was turned last Saturday, Mr. D. J. Wesney, of Invercargill, who is at present visiting Wellington, told a Post reporter. The machinery required tit (he tunnel was being gathered together ready for Ihe start. Mr. Wesney added. The decision to pierce the Saddle was exceedingly popular in Southland, Mr. Wesney said, as it was generally considered that the road to Milford Sound would lie a great national asset. It passed through magnificent scenery, and would become famous as a motor drive when the road was completed. The part of the road already constructed had been popular with holidaymakers during recent summers, and the scenes along the route provided a happy hunting-ground for artists and amateur photographers. The work commenced last Saturday wtis part of the preliminary work required to enable the rock-cutters to get to work. The soil on the side of the saddle would he cleared away, and by the time the machinery was assembled a deep cut would have been made into the hillside to the hard rock through which the tunnel was to he driven. Mr.. Wesney said lie believed the drilling of (lie rook would commence about the beginning of October.