THE RIMUTAKA TUNNEL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 72, 14 July 1876, Page 2

THE RIMUTAKA TUNNEL.

—♦ From a reliable source the " Wairarapj Standard" learns that fair, but ratha slow, progress is' being made with the railway over the Rimutaka ranges. The summit tunnel is 1,860 feet in length. Oa the Featherston side it has been excavate to its full size for a distance of about 1,100 feet from the mouth, or more this half way; while at the opposite, « Wellington end, driving is about to com. mence, and strong hopes are that the whole length will be pierced is eight months from the present time. jj the same time it must be borne in minj that from the looseness and lamiuatej strata cut through, it will have to be cas&j nearly its whole length with brickwork, varying in tliicloiess according to thesolij or friable nature of the walls and rot.; of the tunnel. On Mr. M'Kirdy's contract about 120 men are employed, and work steadily. The same may be sail of Mr. Oake's contract, which is a (lift "cult one. In fact, all the three cojtracts, from an engineering and mania] labour point of view, offer serious dift culties in execution. For these contract it lias been difficult to obtain and retail first-class navvies. The men are paid fro® 7s. to Bs. per day; some earn more. Thest rates of wages may appear high, but in these ranges the rainfall is excessive ail very frequent, and the munber of daji the men can work in a month is less that in a lower altitude. Hence many ma prefer a lower rate of wages on the plain to a higher on the hills. From this labor difficulty, and to expedite the progress ti the works, it has been found necessaryli introduce and try Chinese labour for Mr, Oake's contract. How it will answer r r mains to be seen. Sixty Chinamen hiti arrived, and are on the works ; sixty m® are expected. Their pay will be 6s. pj day ; and it is now to be hoped that m« rapid progress will be made on this.il longest delayed railway line in New Za land.