Big Blast

Using 10,0001b of explosives, Ministry^-.of Works personnel succeeded in blasting out a bluff in the Waioeka Gorge to obtain large rock filling for reconstruction work in the gorge.

The explosives were set in a tunnel driven 50ft into the face of the bluff and also in 45ft cross drives from the end of this tunnel.

An estimated 35,000 to 45,000 yards of material were dislodged by the blast.

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The bluff before the explosion.

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The resident engineer, Mr H. B. Goodman, has just pressed the plunger to set off the explosives while Messrs L. I. Wills, bridge inspector, M. G. Smith, engineer, D. U. White, district commissioner of works, and E. D. Keller, district civil engineer, look on.

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The mass of spoil brought down.