OTIRA TUNNEL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18889, 3 January 1927, Page 8

OTIRA TUNNEL.

YEAR'S TRAFFIC A RECORD. 421,906 TONS OF GOODS. Since the Otira tunnel was opened on August. 4th, 1923, the gross weight of tho goods trains travelling through it from west to oast has been 1,1«6,95S tons. Last \ear's total was easily ti record, being 421,906 tons, as compared with 351,867 tons i'J 1925. 302,0-14 tons in 1924, and 88,171 tons in 1923 (four months and 27 days,).

Up to the present the hno has really not had a chance to bring in a maximum annual return, traffic being interrupted and hampered through various agencies.

In 1921 n deadlock in the mining industry lasted for several months, while in 1925 there were heavy ilootio, with consequent damage to the iine ua both sides of the ranges, the Blackball mine was compelled to close down througli the railway bridge being washed ana}, and serious stoppages occurred at tua State mines. Although the siuvmuluig industry was fairly prosperous in tna • year, the demand for coal was not always sufficient to keep tho mines worlv- | ing full time. j It is not a. difficult matter, m scan- | ning the figures for 1926, to perceive the effects of the many niterruptions to the line and other factors contributing to reduce tho tonuage earned. As early as January 21th tonnage suffered through a washout at Moana, an there was a heavy slump in timber in evidence. No coal was produced "om the Blackball mine for considerable periods, througli floods again damaging the bridgo and the Reefton line was affected by wash-outs on more than one occasion, but tho worst trouble oamo in early November. Lino Interrupted in 1926. The iine was affected in numerous places, and tor several days goods traffic was suspended. Production of coal at the Dobson mine ceased owing to the disastrous explosion, and a serious subsidence of the line at Omoto tended further to reduce consignments, until the deviation was completed on Christmas Day. In spite of all these mishaps, the demand for waggons was exceptionally keen right through the year, and tho Department has never previously experienced such a strenuous time in supplying rolling stock. When tho Blackball mine was reopened there was a great rush of coal, and the record tonnage for one day s operations of 2240 was established on November 27th by tho Railway Department. For the week ending .August 31st, 11,927 tons were transported, this being the record for any week. The highest figures for any month were those for July, the total being 43,445 tons. To ascertain the actual weight of the goods carried, approximately onethird must be deducted to cover the weight of the rolling stock. Although no figures are available, it is known that the goods traffic from east to west, although not < yet very substantial, is growing steadily. East-bound traffic is represented by the following figures, which give the totals month by month:—

1923 1924 A925 1926 Tons Tons Tons , Tons Jan. — 18,15? 20,050 28,331 Feb. — 21,836 26,411 30,183 March — 2-2,781 28,959 30,029 April May — 19,245 26,026 28,274 — 34,124 34,672 i» 34,078 Juno ' _ 25,264 34,862 37,629 July — 27,208 39,202 43,445 Atl£. 8,695 27,837 35,309 39,466 Sept. 18,154 28,797 29,259 41,268 Oct. 20,5.58 28,165 27,134 40,958 Nor. 20,313 25,723 28,134 30,709 Dec. 20,461 22,906 24,849 37,636 Totals 88,171 302,044 354,867 421,906