THE STRATFORD RAILWAY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 46, 25 February 1915, Page 6

THE STRATFORD RAILWAY

TUNNEL WORK STOPPED.

Work'on the Okahukura-Ohura tunnel contract on the Main Trunk end of the 1 railway to Stratford has been at least temporarily suspended. It Was expected at the outset that operations would be resumed without delay,' but (writes the Taumarunui corresondent of the Auckland "Herald") some days have passed and there has been no resumption. A total of 180 men were employed on the tunnel at the time of cessation. Nearly all the married men have remained L at- Okahukura, the Public Works Department having found employment for most of them. It seems fairly clear that the deadlock arose chiefly through the contractor receiving smaller sums in progress payments than he considered he •was entitled to. When, wages became ;due early in February, the engineer is said to have certified for the contractor i\, sum much smaller than lie considered he was entitled to, which compelled the latter to close down until he could readjust his finances. It is understood all claims will be met, but what arrangement will be made for carrying on is still a matter of conjecture.