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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 6 (December 1, 1931)

Farewell Dinner to Tunnel Workers

Farewell Dinner to Tunnel Workers.

The farewell dinner to the workmen to celebrate the completion of the work was held on the afternoon of Saturday, 16th November. His Honour the Superintendent and other guests were invited and there were also present about 250 workmen. A train left Christchurch at 4 p.m. for the mouth of the tunnel. It had been intended to run this train through to Lyttelton, but unforseen delays prevented this. By the use of trollies the guests were conveyed to the Lyttelton end of the tunnel, where the tables were laid. After the customary toasts, Mr. Holmes proposed the healths of the leading employees who had been engaged on the work, mentioning the names of Ned Walker, Harry Smith, Perkins, Wright, Sampson and others. The company separated about 10 p.m.

It was mentioned that only two serious accidents had occurred during the progress of the work. Both these accidents were caused by explosives. In one case a miner struck a charge which had failed to explode, and in the other case a snuff from a candle fell into an open keg of powder, from which a workman was filling charges for blasting.