THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 53, 21 February 1908, Page 2

THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

. THE STAIiTIM; Or XIIK I'NDKUTAKING. HAZARDOUS WOKK. Christchurcli, Last Nigiit. The energies of the contractors lor the Otira tunnel seem at present, to be concentrated upon the water supplies at either end of the big drive, which arc very necessary and essential adjuncts to the successful termination of the undertaking. The Holts creek supply in the llolleston Gorge will reipiire some careful manipulation before it reaches the power-house. There will he some miles of piping al'ohg a track cut out of the mountain side, and two bridges, 011 c 120 ft long, in (i spans of 20ft. and Olio, of (it)ft in one span, and 35ft above, the ravine bed. Bridges of this class in any other place hut the mountain gorges of the Alps would he a matter of detail, hut when confronted liv nothing but perpendicular walls of'rock, with masses of boulders strewn beneath, the wtork assunies a difl'erenfc aspect. 011 the Bealey side, where Mr, Leslie Reynolds anil his me n have been surveying for the past week, the punch bowl supply is tlie main object, occupynig their time awl attention. The work of surveying this stream ig attended with much risk to life and limb, and is indeed without the slightest exaggeration an almost hazardous task, the men being for hours at a time suspended on ropes over the cliff side. It is understood that if this stream is finally decided upon as a source of supply, it will; be necessrtry to drive a tunnel 15 chains j

in length io bring the water through, Ko other work beyond the above mentioned has so far been put in hand 011 the Canterbury side of the range by the contractors. Oil tiic Otira side of

the Alps a different order of things obtains, and men ar c being put 011 every day at various works. The tunnel ,01-, to be more correct, the npproaeh thereto .is being pushed ahead, and every day gives indications that the solid country should soon be met with. The ground is hardening, and shows less inclination to slip. The Rolleston bridge is fully i decked, and the timber for tlio engineer's residence, blacksmith's shop, offices, etc., is now being transported. The 'first in' istalment of Messrs McLeans' horses, five in number, arrived the other evening, and it is understood another 22 arc to follow. They are without question a prime lot. They will be hitched to loads of wet rinm and requested to trundle them Over the Pass. The Government works, near the Rolleston, with the exception of groins for protection, should be out of hand in the course of a few weeks. The big cutting will receive its quietus within the next 10 or 12 days. The. Roads Department is at present erecting a horse bridge over the Otira river. This bridge will be a double pile construction, Oft wide, iir. 1 some 375 ft long, in 15 spans of 25ft each. Pile-driving will be commenced in a dnv or two. When completed, the bridge should prove a boon to pedestrians and cyclists, for the Otira. is a rough stream nine moullis out of twelve.