OTIRA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 21 April 1911, Page 2

OTIRA NOTES

(Correspondent of Chen. Press.)

Much ;water is agfain being met with in the tunnel. The shifts at ihe face, for more than a week, have been working in "wet" country, and in consequence have worked only sixhour shifts, for which they receive eight-hour pay — and at present they well deserve it. The face is now, of course, more than a mile in, and it is interesting to know that it has reached the nearest point of contact with the Otira river. This may account for the presence of the large flow of water at present being- met' with, though when one realises that the face is over three hundred" feet below the river, and as many feet to the one side of it, it seems that the flow is as easily explained as 'being a larger fault than usual, and comes •from one of those many underground reservoirs whose presence no one can foretell. Then, too, this bottom heading is passing' under a large gravel slide and deep gulch which one sees when passing through the gorge. The "country" is still as firm and solid as ever, and. it is Timply marvellous to watch this flow of water from seemingly solid rbokL It is quite a feat to be able to keep the plugs of gelignite in the holes when | at'out ta fire, so strong is the flow of water from them at times.

Mr McLean is introducing more machinery, month by month. One simple little machine, yet wonderfully effective, is an air winch. It is used for lifting the blocks of concrete on to tEe staging. from the tunnel floor, and thus relieves a horse. It is taken in on its truck, clamped to the rails, and a pipe is attached to the compressed air main, and away i£ works. '■ Three such winches have been ordered from the firm of Middleton and Co., of Greymouth, who have made them.

A larger air winch is on order from England ' for hauling up the trucks to the face from the end of the electrified line. This will do away with the need for horses, and thus much improve the atmosphere in the tunnel, 'as well as be very much more economical.

Then there is being set up outside a set of machines for sharpening the steel drills. It is guaranteed to fc'e able to sharpen sixty per hour under competent workmen. There is a furnace for heating the steel, and two "steam" hammers— one vertical and one horizontal — driven by compressed air.

This further- drain on the com; pressed air well probably necessitate the importation of another compressor, and it is quite possible that another generating- machine may have to be set up in the power-house.

Men are still coming and going at an astonishing rate. Each pay day sees a number going off...

On Monday there was held in the schoolroom a special general meeting- of those interested in hospital affairs. In spite of the very wet and boisterous night, 'some forty persons were present, when the local, committee rendered an account of its stewardship. The chairman (the Rev E. K. Mules) gave an account of the committee's work since they had been in office. A further committee of six gentlemen were appointed to confer with the members of the Westland Board when they come to Otira for the opening of the Hospital. This should be in about two weeks' time. We are fortunate in having secured the services of Nurse Davies, of Palmerston North, who is to be our first matron. Since August last the Westland Hospital Board has received, through the local committee, along with its Government subsidy, no less than ,£BOO for its funds.