OTIRA TUNNEL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17348, 13 May 1924, Page 12

OTIRA TUNNEL.

TRANSPORT OF GOODS. AVit-h the exception of the period of the recent, strike when traffic was at a. standstill the transport of goods through the Otira tunnel from the West Coast has been steadily increasing during the past few months. Last AYednesday tho gross tonnage, including the weight of trucks, amounte.l to 1910 tons, which is the record amount for any one day sine© the tunney was opened. The total tonnage for tho week—7.Bs2 tons—is also °a record. Tli© figures for the past few weeks are as follow : T on s. April 12 . . . 7.300 April 19 7.41X1 April 26 . . 300 Alay 3 3,800 May 10 7,852 The weeks ended on April 26 and May 3 included the period of the strike. The bulk of the traffic from the AYest Coast consists of coal and timber, which are being brought over in increasing quantities. During the strike a good deal of coal and timber accumulated on t\ie A\ est Coast, with the result that there was a rush to get it away as snon as the trains resumed normal running again. The mines are now working at full pressure, and as tbe demand for cool has increased with the advent of winter it is expected that the volume of traffic will be maintained- and probably increased. A shortage of trucks was experienced a few months ago, but railway officials state that this difficulty has now been overcome and the Department is able to handle all the traffic offering. An indication of the improvement that has taken place in the amount of traffic can be obtained by comparing the total load for tbe week eroded January 12 • 2428 tons—with the figures for the past v eek. Ihe loading Canterbury and Westland, though very mm h lighter than the loading from the West Coast is also reported to be steadily improving.