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Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1922, Page 2

Thk works in conjunction with the final linking up of the East and West Coast railway are now drawing to a close, and apparently an extra spnrt is being pub on with the. object of traffic through Arthur’s Pass tunnel in operation at the earliest moment. The whole of the machinery for the steam power station at Otira has arrived, and much ot tile material is now installed. The

only missing parts is the material for smoke stacks. The reservoirs in the vicinity of the steam power station are a little behind schedule time, but extra men are being put on, and this work is to be speeded up. The ballasting of the tunnel line is well advanced, and is expected to be finished very shortly now. The poles for the power line outside the tunnel, and the brackets for the line within 'the tunnel are all well forward. Ballasting and Finking tip of the station yards at both ends of the tunnel are proceeding apace. At Otira there is a vert’ considerable township coming into being, where about fifty houses for the permanent railway staff are being erected. This work which was only put under wav in May. is now well forward, a very fine winter season having permitted the work to proceed expeditiously. Some of the residences will be out of hand and ready for occupation in the very near future, and the whole of the buildings will be ready well to Time.

Thk new station at Otira is now well forward. A eostly sub-way has l>een built, and an island platform provided. A large refreshment room is to be attaehed to the station, for it will be at Otira where passengers will he provided with the mid-day meal. Two hostels are to be elected by the department—one for males and one for females in connection with the refreshment service. At Arthur’s Pass station, about a score of buildings are to be built yet. The sjtp for the now station is being prep,sped nnfj 1} sph-wnv to pparlj

same is in course of construction. Tho station yard is being levelled and graded and everything put in order for handling the large volume of traffic which will require to pass through the the tunnel. Opinions are divided when the line will be in operation for passenger traffic. A modified goods service is first to be run on trial, then a permanent goods service to give the whole plant a thorough try-out. It seems possible that passenger traffic should bs arranged for by Easter, but owing to the preliminary trials proposed even a later date is suggested. At the present time the works are a little behind schedule time but this may be overtaken in the near future with favoiirahle weather conditions. Certainly it is all n. very large work, and its magnitude accounts for the delays being experienced.