BIG TUNNEL CONTRACT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1847, 5 September 1913, Page 4

BIG TUNNEL CONTRACT.

THE STRATFORD RAILWAY. Tho contract for the construction of tho tunnel nearly a milo in length at) tho northern end of tho StratfordOkaliukura railway, as has been stated, lias been let by tho Public Works Department to an Auckland contractor, Mr. W. Forrest, and tho contract agreement has just been signed. Tho contract prico is £97,000, and tlireo years is to'bo allowed for tho construction of tho tumid. With tho completion of this contract tho provinces of Auckland and Tarauaki will bo connected by railway. Tho Do-' partmont, with co-oporatiye labour, has already constructed ono ulilo and a quarter of. track from Okahulmra to tbopoiiit at which tho present contract begins. Tho tunnel is to bo 75 chains in length, awl will run through a hill 700tt. high. Tho railway formation at each end of tho proposed tunnol is through a succession of small hills. Auckland advices Btato that tho tunliel contract is to be commenced at once with 20 men. This number is to bo augmented every week until a total of about 200 men are'employed. Tho difficulty in getting the full plant over tcinporarilyconstructed roads will ho a factor in dolaying rapid progress at the commencement of the work. It is proposed to start sinking a shaft and driving- tho tunnel from the eastern ond of the hill at onco, and to sink a similar shaft and coinmenco driving from the western end in about two months. In tho meantime, tho railway formation and approaches will bo puslnd fthead. While tne contract t-imo for tlio work, namely, throe years —four years was the period originally specified—is considered to bo rather short, it iB anticipated that, with special effort, tho work will bo finished within tlio shorter poriod. Colonol H.ayhurst and Captains Mad-' dings and Onslow will bo passengers by tlio Waliino from Lyttclton this moraing. ' ■ "Take tho fort," tho soldier ordered; "Tako a pull," the sailor said; "Take my hand," tho maiden, murmured} "Take him down," said Spieler Ned. "Tako Woods' Peppermint Cure," say nil men, It will take yoar coughs away, Make rou strong and bright and happy, Make vou glad, content and gay. —Advt,