THE ROUND HILL TUNNEL.

Evening Star, Issue 3988, 6 December 1875, Page 2

THE ROUND HILL TUNNEL.

To the Editor, Sir, —On reading this morning’s isms of the ‘Otago Daily Tim-s,’ I was not a little amused to’observe that everlasting bugbear—the Hound Hill tunnel—cropping up again. One would imagine that it was time the papers got a little rest, and the contr .ctors bo allowed te complete the work in peace, without such a tremendous row being caused by the vigilant member for Tuapeka, aided and abetted by other influential residents.

But, after all, it seems the engineers do not see any reason to bo alarmed on account of its insecurity, like the deputation and the member for the district were. However, no wonder, although those people would feel anxious if the ground is so loose as described by the deputation, and, instead of improving matters in many instances, it does a great deal of harm, especially when they know nothing of what they try to represent. On reading the re ort of the deputation which waited on the Hon. the Minister of Customs, people would be apt to believe it all, as it was rumored about town the previous week that the undertakers contemplated sluicing the face of the tunnel, by which, I believe is meant the approaches, by

water-power fiom Coombe’s claim. If this could be done it is a grand idea, and, if carried out satisfactorily, it would do away with unnecessary labor if the stuff is not required for making up the hollows, “so called embankments.” It seems contracting in New Zealand has taken a turn ; every giade of society is mixed up with this branch of industry of late, so much so, indeed, that I am in-

formed but very few experienced contractors have a show at all. But, like other businesses, it must chre itself sooner or later, and from what I hear in my travels very few, if any, made money by those undertakings. Even Messrs Brogdcn themselves, al'ho.igh they got their railways without competition, will not m’.k« much by them when their enormous plant is taken into consideration. In conclusion, I trust that we have sufficient skill and science in New Zealand to perform those works without so much ado with deputations and mi isters to interfere in the matter. If the Tuapeka ‘ Times ’ will continue its habit of raking up profitless reports, I fear the Government will have to send for Sir John Hawkshaw to solve a problem for the due completion of the Bound Hill tunnel.—l am, be,, A Traveller, Dunedin, November 30.