OTIRA TUNNEL WORKS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1921, Page 2

OTIRA TUNNEL WORKS

IHCmCIt NEWS. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., who naturally takes the greatest interest in toe progress of the Otira tunnel works, and the speeding up of the completion of the great work, has been in - touch with the English contractors for the electrification of the tunnel and the operation of the railway through the portal joining up Canterbury and Westland.

j Sir Arnold C rind ley, who represent- ! ed the English company in New ZeaI land when the contract was taken up, writes to -m Seddon personally to the ! effect that he is longing to return to j New Zealand, help along the mountain ! piercing work, and see it finished. The i machinery for the electric power works at Otira Gorge* is being built at Pres- , ton, England, and some of the staff | have sailed from England to take charge of the installation work. | In communicating this news to Hon i J. G. Coates, .Minister of Public Works, , the latter informed Mr Seddon that j now the lining is about complete, the I m en will get on to the laying of the permapent *way through the tunnel and j have everything in readiness for the ' contractors.

This is rather better news than has been current of late in reference to the progress of the works, as at the annual meeting of the Progress League last week, quite a note of pessimism was struck as to the indefinite period within which the country’s . biggest public work would be in complete operation. It is evident the English contractors are earnest and enthusiastic about pushing their part of the work through as quickly as possible. The interior work of the tunnel will he ready no doubt in advance of the elec.trificaton scheme, hut the outside work is hardly likely to Ijo so well advanced. Still if the interior work is completed, the possibility of through traffic being temporarily provided for, is more likely, and it may he hoped to see this established in some workable form or oilier, some time during next year.