OTIRA TUNNEL.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1923, Page 4

OTIRA TUNNEL.

THE TIMBER TRADE

OTIRA, Sept. 11

The quantity of timber ready to he sent through the tunnel is computed at two million feet, which is equal to 2100 tons exclusive of the weight of the waggons. As the height of the waggons represents approximately twofifths of the weight of a timber train, that means that the load for the tunnel will he about 3500 tons, at the rate of 110 tons a day, which it is proposed to handle next week. This accumulation will be quickly removed. Since the opening of the tunnel the timber industry on the Coast has experienced something in the nature of a boom, and most of the mills have had to advertise for extra men at good wages. There are mills or loading stacks at nearly all the stations on the line between Otira and Greymonth. A train of f>2o tons, 310 of coal and 171 of timber, was standing at Stillwater to-day ready to be brought on to Otira. Apart from coal and timber, hides, skins, firewood and posts are practical lv the cnlv things being sent' to Canterhiirv through the tunnel. The

return .- iraflic, though very much smaller than the outward, is regarded by railway officials as satisfactory. The return freight consists principally of eh.a IT, Hour, potatoes, vegetables of all hinds, fish and small quantities of merchandise. It is anticipated that the goods traffic from Canterbury to Westland will increase when the tunnel section is taken over by the Hailway Department. The Public Works Department’s charges for taking general merchandise over the nine miles between Arthur’s Pass and Otira are stated to work out at 14s 9d a ton, or .10 per cent above the Pailway Department schedule, and when added to (lie freight for the other 133 miles between Christchurch and Greymonth they make the total cost very heavy. The Public Works rate does not affect coal and timber to the same extent, as the charges for them are much lower. WELLINGTON', Sept. 18.

Wellington Chamber of Commerce today considered the effect of the Otira

Tunnel connection between Westland and Christchurch, and probable effect on Wellington trade. The report recommended Wellington merchants to see to it that the West Coast storekeepers and others do not overlook the relative cheapness of sea-carriage on most classes of goods, owing to the railways charging by weight, and the steamers liv measurement.

‘Tt is undoubted that some classes of goods will he preferred by rail,” the report states, hut. in general, we find that the steamer rates compare favourably. We feel certain the bulk of their trade can he retained, and even increased, by the Wellington merchants if the shipping companies can provide a regular time-table in their freight, service.