THE OTIRA TUNNEL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 251, 16 October 1908, Page 4

THE OTIRA TUNNEL

STATEMENT BY Mil. MtL'EAN. | LABOU TROUBLES NOT SKIUOUS. Christchuvch, Monday. I The labor troubles that have been rej ported from the tumid works at Otira [are not at all serious, according to Mr. Murdoch McLean, one of the contractors for the work. Speaking to a reporter .yesterday in regard to the strike recently reported, M. McLean .said that the men's demand had been that tliev should work a shift oi live hours and a-half. and be could not consent to that. A six hours' shift was worked when th-' ground was wet. and the men wanted to be allowed half au hour for "crib time," thus reducing the working hours to live and a-half. There was no objection to a break being mad'' as long a* it came out of the men's lime. and there had been no attempt to prevent the men eating or drinking during the pauses in the work. The trouble had been overcome without much: difficulty. Mi'. McLean said that the tunnel contract would not be affected in any way by the fact that the linn of which he was a member had been formed into a limited liability company. The management would remain the same. The work generally was proceeding well. The pipes for the water-power plant were being made in Greymouth, and he hoped 'to have «the power available for the drilling operations in about, three months. I'rogrcss in the tunnel, which was now in about- twelve chains, would then become more rapid, as the machine drills could be used and the work could be carried on at both 'ends of the lunti"T. At the present time the bore at the (Mini end was going in at the rate of about a chain a week, which was quitu as rapidly as he liad anticipated, "lienerally speaking, the ground is- , really good/' said Mr. McLean. "I. am not a bit disappointed in that respect. I There has been a little more water than 1 expected. It will be impossible to say 1 whether we can finish in contract time until we have developed the llealev end. land seen what amount of water will be encountered. Ii the amount of water is extensive, then the progress will he extremely slow, and it may be that progress from that end will become impossible. as the tunnel slopes up to that end. It would be impracticable to put into the small space available at the face a pumping plant capable of dealing with anything over OR.OOO or 70,000 gallons an hour. If the water does not interfere -with us in this fashion then we should mane fair progress from tlie Bealey end and be able to finish within contract time."