TUNNELLING THE ORONGO. RONGO

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 223, 15 June 1921, Page 5

TUNNELLING THE ORONGO. RONGO

Mr. Robert Semple, who with a gang' of co-operative miners undertook to tunnel the Orongorongo range from Wainui, was in town yesterday, and reported progress to a Dominion reporter. The gang now consists, of scq»e fifteen men, who had been engaged for some weeks in the formation of a pack track over , the mountain to tho spot on the far (eastern) side of the range, where would be commenced the bore that would eventually meet the one from the Wainui side. Such good progress had been made through heavy, virgin bush that the track had been cut to the top of the ridge, some 2500ftabove sea level. Naturally at this time of the year, said Mr. Semple, the bush was very wet, and rain, hail and sleet had to be contended with. The men were working with a will, and it was expected to have the track rough finished in about six weeks’ time. This track is important, because over it would have to be packed most of tho provisions and material for the gang that would later on be camped on the far side of the range. The tunnel had been pierced to a distance of about 250 ft., but the mothei rock had been struck—rock so hard that it would be folly and false economy to attempt to take it out by hand. A steam plant was now 'feeing set up near the Morton dam, which would supply compressed air for the drills. When that was ready the men would at once start on tho tunnel work again, working some five or six men to a shift. All the men were anxious to got underground again,, as they were keen on establishing a tunnelling record. It was anticipated that there was about two years’ work ahead.