THE PURAKANUI CLIFFS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1796, 29 September 1888, Page 3

THE PURAKANUI CLIFFS.

Wellington. September 28. The Government have decided to begin a tunnel en Purakanui Cliff at once. There are two places where the line ia considered dangerous; one is on the cliff itself,'where the rock, is fragile and continually slipping. Last winter some thousands of tons came down and the tunnel will be driven behind this portion. The other spot is approaching the cliff from Dunedin side, where the hillside is almost perpendicular and liable to slips on account of water that percolates over the cliff. Some drains are to be put in, which it is anticipated will make this portion quite safe. It is hoped that the work will be finished by the beginning of next winter. The tunnel is only a qnarter of a mile long and the cost is estimated at from £12,000 to £15,000, the interest on which will come to about the same amount as the present yearly cost of keeping that section of the Ime in order, namely, £690. Two other tunnels were proposed cutting off the whole cliff, but one would have been 70 chains long and the cost £70,000 and the other 58 chains long and the cost £50,000. So the idea was abandoned as beyond the colony’s means, and moreover they would , have required soma two years’ work to drive them.