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Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1939, Page 7

Although many visitors to Arthur’s Pass have walked to the mouth of the Otira tunnel for the sole purpose of seeing the other end. few have been rewarded with anything more than mere darkness, relieved only by the dim yellow radiance of the line of electric lights fading away in the distance. It is authoritatively stated by railway officials at Arthur’s Pass, however, that under favourable conditions it is possible to stand inside the tunnel and see a pin point of light indicating the end at Otira —a distance of more than five miles. Several excursionists the other day went in search of the elusive “other end” and saw nothing more than the electric light, but less than half an hour later a few more casually walked over to the tunnel mouth and were surprised to see a brilliant speck of white light in the centre of the darkness. Inquiries from railway officials revealed that there were no trains approaching, and apparently the movement of the sun had caused a brilliant reflection from the snow-clad hills at Otira directly in line with the mouth of the tunnel.