OTIRA TUNNEL.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1922, Page 3

OTIRA TUNNEL.

CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 5. A report oil the present conditions of work at Otira tunnel was submitted to the executive of the Canterbury Progress League last night by Air P. R. Climie (official organiser), in whi»h lie stated, inter alia::—: 'l’iie electrical contractors are making satisfactory progress with their portion of the work and expect to lie in a position, provided no unforseen delays occur, to run the plant under light load about the end of the -year. A good start has been made with the erection- of the pole line at the Otira nd and this; work is proceeding at what ,is comjidered a satisfactory rate of progress. A large reservoir, which will simply ..Water to the condensers, is in course' efj.construction at a point just abovejjtihd adjacent to the power station and.-should he finished in the course of a/’ week or so. A smaller reservoir, located at a higher point on the hill.) is to he constructed, and will lie proceeded with as soon as the larger undertaking is completed. Both these, works are under the supervision of .Mr Hiilijm, who so ably carried out the erection of she greater portion of I'tie piwor-liimso, and his policy of hustle is a'sufficient guarantee that no time will he lost. No definite information is yet obtainable concerning the electric locomotives, but it is tinderstood that one or more are about to lie shipped from England—if they have not already left. There will he five locomotives altogether—four 880 h.p. and one 189 h.p. halterv loco., which is at present at Addington. The former wifi have a maximum trailing capacity OT 1 It) tone each up-grade ("I in - with mi average speed r-f 15.3 miles per hour and the 180 h.p. batI -rv loco, will have a trailing capacity r-f 40 tons am! will be capable of doing a return trip between stations on the nne charge. The 880 h.n. locos, will he equipped with three independent braking systems comprising fl) lYestinghduse fair), which will be coupled ini v- ith the carriages in the usual wav ; (2) electric, oil the reliostatie principle; and <3) mechanical. It is cstiniated that passenger trains will take .about 31 minutes on the run between Otira and Arthur’s Pass stations. a distance of 81 miles. At the Arthur’s Pass end. the present state of tip’ various activities is not nearlv so advanced nor so satisfactory. There is much yet to he done in many directions; hut a few months should bring about a considerable change. Work on the formation of the central platform and subway loading thereto, is at present, in full swing while n geod start lots been made with the erection of the girder bridge over tin* Healey. Hie mat-rial j for wh'eh is nil readv for placing in I position .'Hid fastening together. There are 18 cottages to lie ep-e'ed at Artline's Pass end. and a start will he tend ■ with thvse as soon »* Hie contra:! i-s ('Messrs leva Bros A can arrange for the transport of timber 1 ’"nngh the tunnel. No delay is likely to occur in this connexion.