A GREAT WORK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9027, 14 January 1908, Page 7

A GREAT WORK.

ARTHUR'S PASS IUNNEI. STATEMENT BY TH3 CONTRACTOR. Mr Neil M'Lean, one of the contractors for the Arthur's Pass tunnel on the Midland Railway, was in Christchurch last week, passing through on his way to Otira. Speaking to a representative of the "Press" regarding the progress of the work, Mr M'Lean stated had just received a cable message from his brother, Mr Murdock M'Lean, that he had purchased an be used in the boring operations at the tunnel. While in Switzerland, Mr M. M'Lean made a visit to the Luetschberg tunnel (eigh'-, and a-half miles) which is being constructed between Brigue and Berne, and in which the air drill is being used with satisfactory results. The contractors were driving the drills with electric motors, the power being generated by water and supplied free. Mr M'Lean estimates that 2,000 h.p. will be required at each end of the tunnel to drive the drills. At the Bealey end the Punchbowl Fails will be harnessed and it is estimated that 750 h.p. will be generated. At the Otira end one of the streams will bo utilised, and 500 h.p. will be available. In both casss the power will be generated at the source of supply, and conveyed by wires to the tunnel workings. In regard to the ventilation of the workings,where the headings are adV3nced sufficiently to necessitate a plant being put in, the system of exhaust will be adopted in preference to air being forced in from the tunnel's mouth. The exhaust system is generally favoured on the Continent, as it draws out the foul air, and fresh air rushes in, nature abhorring a vaccuum. It has been found that to force in fresh air only removes the foul atmosphere from the face, and that the work cannot be properly ventilated in the deeper recesses of the heading;?. At the Otira end, Mr M'Lean says about 50 huts have been erected and carpenters are now building the workshop, while labourers are doing bush clearing at the tunnel mouth. He expects to start with the cuttings next week. So far nothing has been done at the Bealey end, and probably a start will not be made until Mr Murdoch M'Lean returns. Mr M'Lean is finding no difficulty in getting all the labour he requires at present. He receives numerous applications for work. "Of course I don't, know what it will be like later on," he said, "but J think that with a good long job offering at 10s a day and no lost time there should be plenty of applications."