THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13649, 14 February 1913, Page 4

THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

WORK PROGRESSES SATISFAC-

TORILY

TWO IMPORTANT .CHANGES

Special to "Tho Colonist.")

Christchurch, Feb. 13. Work in the Otira tunnel is progressing steadily, under the Public Work& Department. Mr. W. H. Ga-vin is now resident engineer j and has full control of the Midland Railway from the Cas9 to Otira, the latter place being hie headquarters. There have been two big changes during the past month. The.first was putting the clock right. Otira has for the past five years been working under what was known as "tunnel time"—that was half an hour in advance of the right time. The idea wae to take full advantage of tho daylight in winter time. In th© rearrangement that took placo last week only the tunnel workers were affected. All outside works start as usual at 7.30 a.m. tho second change was the stopping of th© night shift, and in the future only two shift6;are to be worked—day and afternoon shifts. The cause for this Btep was the shortage of labour, which has been very marked and up to tho present time, even after dividing the night shift into day and afternoon, the ehortage of men for tunnel work is very evident.