“TUNNEL O.K.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17231, 24 December 1923, Page 7

“TUNNEL 0.K.”

LAKE COLERIDGE SURVEY. The Lake Coleridge electric power supply for the whole of Canterbury was cut off yesterday between the hours of 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. to allow inspection work to be carried out. The tunnel intake gates were dropped and a thorough inspection was made of the tunnel and surge cham bers. Th© tunnel and the surge chamber intake screens were cleaned and everything was found “ 0.K.” No nispection was made of the pipe lines. Advantage of the stoppage of power was taken to effect necessary work on the middle and south transmission lines to Christchurch at the power-house. A great deal of work was also done inside the power-house and at the Addington sub-station. Three gauges were installed at the tunnel intake. The survey, which is an annual spring one, was highly satisfactory, as the chamber and the tunnel were found to be in perfect order. The District Electrical Engineer. Mr R. G. Mac Gibbon, had charge of the survey. He is also supervising the final survey for the new tunnel, which is proposed to be made from the lake. Ho is making arrangements for the accommodation of the men and the driving of the shaft for excavations for the tunnel. Th© new tunnel will be ten feet in diameter as compared with the eight feet dia meter of the present tunnel. Ifc is to be commenced 150 feet north-west of the present intake.