STRATFORD RAILWAY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2393, 24 February 1915, Page 7

STRATFORD RAILWAY

TUNNEL WORK STOPPED. Work in the Okahuknra-Ohura tunnel contract on the Main Trunk end of■ the railway to Stratford has been at least temporarily suspended. ' It was expected at the outset that operations would be resumed without delay, but (writes the Taumarunui correspondent of the Auckland "Herald") some days have passed and there has been no resumption. ■ A total of 180 men were -employed on the tunnel at the timo of cessation. Nearly all the married men have remained at Okahukura, tho Public Works Department having found employment for most of them. It seems fairly clear that the 'deadlock arose chiefly through the contractor receiving smaller sums in progress payments than he considered he was entitled to. When wages became due early in February, the engineer is said to have certified for the contractor considered a much smaller sum than he was entitled to, which compelled the latter to close "down until he could readjust his finances. • It is understood, all claims will be met, but what arrangement will be made for carrying on is still a matter of conjecture. Provision had been made for every detail in the prosecution of the .work, which was going on smoothly and satisfactorily. There is stated to be absolutely no reason to fear any permanent check in the prosecution of tb# work,two-thirds of which has now been finished.