ATTACKING THE ALPS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 439, 23 February 1909, Page 7

ATTACKING THE ALPS.

PROGRESS OP THE OTIRA TUNNEL 1 .

. ;.IDV TELiOßArn—ruEss association.) ' ■;?■: ;V-■■'■: ■ ■■". Chrlstchuroh, Febrnary 22. ~ The Otira; tunnel;.is'presenting 1 : a soeno of greater, activity, every week. During, the last.seven days aloiie about two.dozen fresh workmen; wero engaged; -bringing: thenumberon the pay-sheet up to a total of a hundred' and three.; In addition, thirty men are employed at the Bealey end. AU the eleetric' machinerj;. is : working smoothly and well. Eaoh machine in the power station ;is capable of supplying 250. horse-power, but, at present 100 horso-powor is about the maximum ,aotually used... A,week ago the !total supply was. derived', from '.a- 25 horse-power steam compressor, and a 6' horse-power oil engine driving the .ventilating fan. ' The'working face is now in ' almost completely dry country, only a fow .drops of water coming fromthe roof. . The rock is, however, very hard, and the drills require frequent dressing to enable them to do; their 'work at anything like the propor late.,. In .oonsejuence, the black smiths' shop has been very busy, and'nightshifts'have been tho rule for tho last two or three weeks. ..' Last night,-it is satisfactory to note, a, marked. improvement, was : mot with,, and quicker progress is the result. ■ . A delay was' caused in' rather a peculiar manner ou Thursday. The manhole door of. the boiler had to underffo 'a small repair and. steam was. blown. off. for, a. time .This let the ■ drying-room: for the men's clothes got cool, and, consequently, when tho morning ■■;shift- arrived .their working garments; were not fit to put on. It was not long, how- 1 over, before\the pressuro was up again, and the,steam coils heated once more... ■ ".-'