HOMER TUNNEL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 201, 26 August 1936, Page 8

HOMER TUNNEL

——— AGAIN CLOSED BY AVALANCHE SERIOUS DAMAGE CAUSED ( Per P r esB Association. I INVERCARGILL, Aug. 25. For the second time within two months the forces of Nature have struck at the handiwork of man. On Saturday evening an avalanche again closed up the mouth of (he Homer | tunnel and although no one was injured considerable damage was done to the machinery. The avalanche was bigger than the t one that closed the mouth of the ! tunnel last month. On this occasion, I however, nobody was hurt but it has been estimated that the fall will cost the Public Works Department approximately £lOOO. The men were ready to start work on the fresh part of the tunnel on i Monday. New drilling machines and j other expensive implements were in readiness for the arduous work ahead i and then, in a flash, all this preliminI ary work was undone. The mouth ol the tunnel was completely blocked and machinery irreparably damaged and hutments smashed to mat ch wood. Instead of proceeding with the work on the tunnel the men had to begin clearing away the debris. The Public Works Department advises visitors who intend to visit Homer to travel in the daylight only. The warning is issued because in the past travellers have encountered difficulties while travelling at night and j the department has been called upon I to give assistance by means of snow I ploughs and trucks. The last five | miles of the road to the tunnel will, } however, be definite'}' closed for night | 1 ravelling.