MOORHGUSE AND THE TUNNEL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18009, 20 November 1926, Page 21

MOORHGUSE AND THE TUNNEL.

A BIG UNDERTAKING BY A SMALL COMMUNITY. By R. E. GREEN. T have read with much interest the reminiscences of Mr J. Loader in the “Star” of October 30. I note “J.L.” was born in Ly'ttelton in the same year as myself. This should give him a superior knowledge of events in the early days because he was here at least six years before I landed here. However, he has mentioned many' interesting subjects, and as far as my memory' serves me he is substantially correctThe one item that appeals to me more than the rest is the Moorhouse tunnel. This was an absorbing thought in my young mind from the start to its consummation. It was, indeed, a great undertaking for such a small community as we were at that time; the early settlers looked upon mountains as if they' were mole hills. They' either got over them, or pushed them to one side or got through them, and this is what they' did with the mountains between Lyttelton and Christchurch. But their efforts in this matter were misplaced—they should have constructed the canal. However, perhaps if I relate a little of the historv of the Moorhouse Tunnel it may' be interesting to some of the people of to-day. The first contract to burrow through to Lyttelton was let to Messrs Smith and Knight, but the job was too much for their constitution so they threw their contact up. Then in May. 1861, a’tender was accepted from Messrs George Holmes and Richardson to construct a railway line from Christchurch to Lyttelton, a distance of about six miles, the works' to be completed by' June 1, 1886 (five years). The amount of the tender was £240,500. The price fixed for the tunnel, which was estimated to be 2838 yards, was £195,000, but when the tunnel was pierced it was found to be 30 yards longer than the estimated length. The first sod was cut in the Ilcathcote Valley-. on July 17, 1861. and on September 29, 1862, Mrs Moorhouse laid the first stone on the north end of the tunnel, and the first stone on the south end was laid bv Tohn Hall in April, 1864. The whole of the plant and materials as well as some horses and men came from Melbourne. For nearly seven years the work proceeded continuously day' and night except Sundays, when at 6.30 a.m. on Friday,* May 24, 1867 (Queen’s Birthday) communication was established between the two drives by' the miners on the Port side. (At that time to guard against accidents the miners

were working on the Port side only). A 1 though they had drilled a small hole through on the 24th it was not till May 29, 1867, at about 3 a.m. that the miners were successful in making a practicable breach in the parting wall, whereupon they- rushed through, and as fast as their legs could move they made a bee line to “green Ilammertop," there to congratulate Mr Holmes on his success. After this they returned to the valley, and there breakfasted with their fellow workThe contractors sent an impromptu invitation to his Honor the Superintendent asking him to pass through the tunnel and afterwards lunch with them in Lyttelton. At 12 noon a trait: left Christchurch for the valley' on which were his Honor the Superintendent, and Messrs Stewart, Williams, Duncan, Dobson, Ollivier, Davie, Reeves, Aynsley. Donald, Hamilton, Major, Soster, Rouse, the two Blakistons, Maude, Hannah, R. Holmes and Dr Ilaast. At about 1 p.m. the partystarted on their way through the tunnel on two trollies. The Miners’ Band which was stationed at the mouth of the tunnel play-ed some appropriate airs- The journey through was accomplished in half an hour including stoppages. At the junction of the two drives the passengers changed carriages and passed through the aperture, which had been made that morning high enough to pass through without stooping.

The company' on arrival at Lyttelton adjourned to the Queen's Hotel, where luncheon had been provided by the contractors, and while this party were partaking of the good things provided and while their glasses were being emptied and refilled again and again, etc., etc., a party- of adventurous ladies, including Mesdames Moorhouse, Holmes, Richardson. Dobson and some others successfully accomplished the passage through the tunnel to the. great delight and gratification of the miners, who conducted them through- The... trip occupied about half an hour for the lady pedestrians.

J have no record when that distinguished party left the Queen’s Hotel, but I suppose some of them got away some time that. day, or may be the next day? However, it was on Monday, June 10, 1867, which was “Whit Monday-.” that the contractors threw’ the tunnel open. to the public to walk through free of charge between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. On this occasion the tunnel was lighted from , end to end with about 6000 tallow dip candles in tin sconces ranged along the dingy wall of rock, and .some in cases suspended on candelabras from the roof. I did not count the candles, but it was stated at the time there were 6000 alight at the same time, and kept alight all the while.

A successful triaL trip, was made from Christchurch to Lyttelton on Monday- night, November 18, with No. 3 engine driven by Abraham Beverly and a train of waggons. This was a private tQp and no one but the contractors were present- The first passenger train to leave Christchurch station for Ly'ttelton left at 9 a.m. on December 9, 1867, carry-ing 503 from Christchurch to Ly-ttelton, and from Lyttelton to Christchurch 241 passengers, but there were no illuminations on this the official opening day of' the tunnel. The only', time it was illuminated throughout was on the occasion I have above referred to.

Part of the tunnel at the Christchurch end was illuminated three y-ears previously. When the contractors had accomplished half a mile and six chains they' invited the public to inspect that portion, and on this occasion they illuminated that part with 3000 tallow dip candles. These were arranged as before stated, and at the end of the works there was a power-

ful limelight, and at the extreme end was a red light. Holmes and Co. at that time were running the trains to the Ileathcote, and on this day' special trains were run for the occasion. At the Christchurch station there was quite a rush for seats in the trains, and the number who entered the tunnel that day was 2200. and that was on a bright sunny day- of December 26, 1864 a red letter day in Christchurch. 1 may here add that during the pro-

■ Kress of the work in the tunnel at the Port end. in the drain that carried off the water and about half way through the tunnel. were found a number of eels and shoals of white bait. The tunnel was also infested with rats, and quite a large number of them were white. On this page I hope you will sec a photo showing the unveiling of the statue of the late Wm. Sefton Moor house, which took lpaee in the Botanic Gardens on December 22, 1885.