MILFORD-TE ANAU ROAD

Evening Star, Issue 22147, 30 September 1935, Page 12

MILFORD-TE ANAU ROAD

WORK PROCEEDS SMOOTHLY COMMEKCEMEHT OF TUNNEL NEXT MONTH Piercing the tunnel through the Homer Saddle is a major undertaking that is confidently expected to be commenced about the middle of next month, according to Mr T. M. Ball, district engineer of the Public Works Department, who has returned from a tour of inspection of what, on completion, will be one of the scenic gems of New Zealand. We was accompanied by Mr H. Morgan, of Wellington, who lias been appointed plant overseer, and will stay on the site of the tunnel’s construction when the job begins. Mr Morgan played an important role in. the Tawa Flat deviation scheme. The road through the Hollyford Valley hat reached to'within half a mile _ of the tunneling site, and. Mr Ball is fully satisfied with the progress made. Next week it is expected to form the road right to the saddle, thus allowing all the machinery, which is now to hand, and the material, such as concrete, which will be largely used for lining the portals at the entrance of the tunnel. to be brought to the site. The comprehensive nature of the scheme can be guaged from the number of men who will be employed on the formation of the road proper and the tunnel, their numerical strength being in the vicinity of 230. At present the road is only partly formed in places, the more difficult stretches being only roughly made so that the advance machinery can be transported tiously as possible to the saddle. Two heavy falls of snow during the winter leave their mark yet, -f° r , , the tunnel’s portal is covered to a depth of 7ft. A sawmill is in operation at Cascade Creek for the purpose of supplying shafting for the tunnel and timber for the many that are soon to spring up at the site of the Homer Saddle.