“The Press” In 1866

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31057, 12 May 1966, Page 18

“The Press” In 1866

M THE RAILWAY—The Southern Railway is progressing if not rapidly at least steadily and satisfactorily; the permanent way is laid for about eight miles from Christchurch, where a camp is established in the old Waimakariri river bed, near to Parish’s hotel. The whole of this old river bed is a mass of shingle to depth unknown; and wells which have been sunk, we believe, to eighty feet, have discovered nc change in the formation. From this unlimited reservoir of good metal the contractors are at present drawing their supply of material for ballasting the line, and one engine is constantly enmployed in drawing the ballast to where it is required. The line is perfectly straight from the Christchurch station for about six miles, where it takes a turn to the southward

round an easy curve with a mile radius; after which it takes another stretch of many miles in length in a perfectly straight line. The part which will now shortly be completed is fenced in with a substantial fence of strong posts, with five or six wires surmounted by a wooden rail. The roads are all crossed by level crossings with gates. The number of these gates in the first mile from the station is somewhat surprising, and not only adds considerably to the risk of accident, but will unnecessarily increase the expense of working the line, as each will require a gatekeeper. Considering that a public highway has been reserved on each side of the railway, and that horse and cart traffic would be turned but little out of the way, one or two of these gates might have been dispensed with, leaving crossings for foot passengers only. } i