THAMES DEEP LEVELS.

Thames Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 10380, 6 December 1912, Page 5

THAMES DEEP LEVELS.

GKAHiAM'S CONTRACT BjEtLINQTOSHBD.

QUESTION OF VENTILATIOiN

Supplementins on telegraphed r&?.ovit~ of yesterduy as to the business ■^transacted afc the meeting of the Thames Deep Levels Board at Auckland, our Auckland correspondent writes: At the meeting letter was read from Graham and White, contractors for the Victoria subsidiary—crosscut, as follows: "During the past sax weeks we have worked under most unfavourable conditions, our -workmen have been constantly changed!, a shift or two being sufficient for most of them. At present it is imipossible to get mem to go into the drive to work. _ Last week two of the men fainted at the face, and had to be carried out, luckily without accident. Wle lmve done all that can reasonably lie expected from men. in endeavouring to complete our contract, and we, therefore, confidently expect the Board to at once relieve us from any further responsibility." Mr G. Wariile wrote, stating that the temperature in the Victoria crosscut was 90 degrees. Tests showed th.nt butting off the supply of air to the May Quean, workings at 1000 ft made no improvement in the Victoria crosscut. Mr Eiruce said that at the outlet into the crosscut- the air snowted 76 deErrees of heat, but it reached 90 before it returned to the main tunnel. The country was a sort of sandstone, with sulphiir in it ; which accounted foT the h«nt. iRe considered the best thinor would'be to accept Graham and party's relinquishment of the. confcract. Then they could easily let another contract to' complete the other 725 feet.

Mr iHMJson moved that Graham) he relieved of his contract, and the matter of arransriuir for the completion of the crosscut be left in the hands of Mr Bruce and the supervisor, Mr Warne, to arrange for !te <'.<vmpletion of the crosscut, with power to act. This was seconded by Mr Graves Aickirt, and agreed to. Mr Hudson said according to Mr Warnie/s report, it would not benefit matter* to ant off fhfe air from, the Mar Queen. The Board had the power to do so if deemed requisite, but it was no tis" N doinsr sol unless it was aibsolutelv necessary. H"i asked power for the WMiotaJii Company to rise from the deep lef^el to the shaft. Tliis wfip* crranted, fiiibject to njr wTid other conditions.