PRIMITIVE METHODS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1209, 18 August 1911, Page 2

PRIMITIVE METHODS.

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION IN THE SOUTH. DEPARTMENTAL BLUNDERING, (By TelezraDh—Soccial Correspondent.! Christchurch, August 17. Mr. Divid Jones, organiser of the Farmers' Political Protection Federation, who recently travelled overland from Blenheim to Christchurch along the route of the South Island Slain Trunk line, made some observations to a "Press" reporter oil the working of tho co-operative system of railway construction, which will be found of interest at tho present juncture. The settlers he spoke to on the subject usually laughed and replied, "These are not railway construction works, but relief works." He had thought the picture was overdrawn, but after going over several miles of the. prosent extension beyond tho township of Ward, he was forced to -the belief that the settlers' description was the right one. Tho methods of construction, were most primitive, and no labour-saving machines are used et all. Ho found two men working on a cutting which was, roughly, about 15 chains in length, n.nd with a fairly high face, one man working at one end and the other at the opposite end. They started before last Christmas, and did not expect to finish till after next Christmas. Not a scoop was being used, nothing but long-handled shovels and trucks or dobbins. Ho found that a considerable amount -t>f dissatisfaction existed' amongst the best class of workers. Just lieforo his visit rain had been experienced, and-men were put to work in mud and slush when they would have been better lying in their tents. He learned from settlers that the engineer's estimate of the . cost of this portion of the line was from .£SOOO to X6OOU per mile. Recently, when the Hon. R. Jl'Kenzie opened tho -section, he stated that it had cost over ,£IO,OOO per mile. - - ■ , Trouble had arisen, at the township of Flaxbourno owing to the railway station having been built about three-quarters of a milo north of tho township. site. Before the station was built a bc-arding-liouse, a smith's shop, and a house wero built in the township. Tho boarding-house-keeper has had to re-build near the station. .Matters have been further complicated owing to the fact that the land in the vicinity of the station is held in farms under the 099 years' lease, and there is no land available for building sections. During the past few days Sir. Jones has brcia in the Cheviot district, and here lie found matters connected with railway construction worse'tha,n at tho Flaxbourne end.. Tho plans prepared, and carried out in respect to dealing with the creeks crossed by the railway, appear-, ed altogether inadequate. This has been practically proved by the w.fsh'onts that took place between WaiparV-an'd Sfina during the recaht Hoods ; but' the Publib. Works authorities do not appear to. be ablo lo learn from experience. Over tho. Froghall Creek tho local bodies considered <it necessary to build a bridge with a 50ft. span, -and about 20ft. above the level'of the creek bed. .The Public. Works Department considered that a culvert 12ft. in longtli and 9ft. above the creek bed was sufficient, with a 'huge, embankment for tho remaining portion. During the recent floods the culvert was totally inadequate to carry off tlio floodwater which backed up behind the embankment until the weight'and force of the backed-up waters washed away, apportion of the - embankment... ;, Tho;. :(ioo.(l-. waters caused .damage to farm' lands, and-' the farmers are now. -'making,', claims against the Department.; A', new,'-and larger culvert is being made, 'but local opinion is thAt*','it'*\vil 1 "not. beyany iiYort). effective than the previous ,'oiie. Work on the railway is crawling on. steadily, but, to Sir. Jones's astonishment, wheelbarrows and long-handled shovels were being used in formation work on level' country. One wheel scoop," lie sUitcd,. could do as much work as the gang of men are doing. ' In Sir. Jones's opinion, if Adam had constructed a rail-, way he would have used methods similar to those in use on the southern end of this line.