A RECORD YEAR

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1929, Page 7

A RECORD YEAR

OTIRA TUNNEL RECORD. HALF A MILLION TONS. Yesterday was the sixth anniversary of the opening for traffic of the Otira tunnel, and the year 1928-29 has been no exception to those which passed before in that it has seen a fresh record established in the volume of goods transported through the tunnel from the West Coast to Canterbury; Since August 4th. 1923, no less a total than 2,479,674 tons of goods has reached Canterbury from the West Coast by way of the “hole in the hill,” the aggregate for the past twelve months being 552,907 tons. ... So great has been the increase in the traffic that last year’s total was more than double that for the first twelve months after the ranges were pierced. The following figures give the total for each of the six years now completed, and illustrate the remarkable growth of the traffic. Tons 1923- .. .. 258,877 1924- .. .. 243,899 1925- .. .. 380,365, 1926- .. .. 438,916 1927- .. .. 504,710 1928- .. .. 552,907 , Total (6 years) 2,479,674 Very few interruptions have occurred in 1928-29, 'and the past few months an exceedingly busy time has been experienced through the heavy demand for West Coast coal owing to the cessation of imports from. Australia caused by the deadlock across the Tasman. Coal has had a much greater part than timber in making 1928-29 a record year, and even larger figures might have been reached had the Railway Department always been able to supply trucks where they were needed. There is a proposal now to run goods trains through the tunnel at night, and jf tjiis is adopted the year now commencing is, certain to produce a. total .whiiph will make those for the preceding .six years ook almost paltry by comp'apsop.; > Last month produced' three July 24th. had the highest-total,fot one, day since August, 4th. 1925, the week ending July 27tli, registered the-great-est aggregate for such a period; anjd the unprecedented total of 58j659 tops passed through the tunnel from west to east in the month. " As many as ten trains; were needed on some- days. Ine heavy demand.for coal on the east coast was solely responsible. , June brought a few, interruptions, none of which was very serious."' . The Blackball mine was idle for two days through a dispute, reducing the ton-, nage, and the earthquake on June 17 th. damaged the line in several places, as ■ well as causing the ■ production of coal to cease at. all the mines for some days. In July a landslip caused a derailment, which caused the cancellation of goods trains for part of a day. The following were the monthly totals in 1928-29:

Ton 8 August 1928 (27 days) 42,344 September 45,536 October •.. ... ... : ... 44,110 November ... 49,360 December ... ... ... 40,873 January, 1929 40,329 February ... ;.. ... 43,199 March ... ... 38,593 April 43,616 May ;.. 56,279 June 42,648 July 58,659 August (4 days) 7,361 552,907

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