RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2584, 30 May 1871, Page 2

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Mr Blackett, the head of the Government engineering staff, has been making a tour of the Middle Island, superintending the surveys now going on ; and from information afforded by him to the Wellington Independent, we obtain the following interesting particulars :

“The agent of an extensive English contractor is expected by next mail to go over the long projected line of the Nelson and Cobdeu Railway. He would have left by last mail from London had it noth on altered so far in advance of its ordinary date. An examination is to be ma le fortwith by Mr Blackett and Dr. Hector, with a view to determine the best line for a railway to connect these mines with a shipping port. The line from Christchurch, twenty miles nortl • wards to llangiora, is in course of formation, and the rails, &c., for its permanent way, have been ordered from England. The sunny for a railwa / fr m Rragiora to the Waipara hj: s been authorised, and also that of a branch line from Raugiora to Oxford. Christchurch is to be connected by rail with Timaru. A part—namely, from Chrischurch to Selwyn, twenty-five miles—has been open for traffic for some t years. From Selwyn to llaikaia, twelve miles, the line is being continued, the construction proceeding rapidly, the rails for the permanent way having been ordered from England. The survey of the line fom the Ralcaia to Ashburton is also in progress, and a bridge over the Rakaia has so far advanced towards completion as to be available for ordinary traffic. Beginning at the other end (the Timaru) of this Christchurch and Timiru Railway, we have to report that the survey of the line from Timaru to Temuka is now completed, and a portion, viz , from Timaru to Washdyke, 2$ milts, is ready for contract, and tenders will be advertised for immediately. A site for a bridge over the Temuka has been surveyed. The continuation of the line from Temuka to Ashburton is being surveyed. A branch line from Rolleston to South bridge, and another from the main trunk lino, near Christ: church, to the Malv-ru Hills, have aho been authorised to bo surveyed, and surveyors have been appointed, with orders to proceed without delay. The line from Rolleston to Southbridgc crosses the Selwyn River, over which a bridge is authorised to be erected. The surveys of the whole of the lines in the Canterbury Province arc uudeif the supervision of Mr W. B. Bray an 4 Mr S. Tailored. The Waitaki, (die boundary between Canterbury and Otago Provinces, will soon be bridged over, L 35.000 having been voted for the purpos". This is a work of great magnitude and importance, and the site has only been decided on after carefu} investigation by a joint commission representing the Colonial arid Provincial Governments of ‘Canterbury and Q.tigo, consisting of the fallowing 'vyell-lciiqwn 'eiigiueers, viz'" Bray, Taucred, and Millay Mr Blackett coii-, fening and assisting. The bridge is to cross the river about turn and a half miles from its mouth, the river at the flood being nearly 40 >0 feet wide. It is to be co nposite (woo I and iron); the design has been agreed on, and the ironwork ordered from England. Thus these four rivers, the Rakaia, the Selwyn, the Temuka, and the Waitaki, will shortly be bridged over. We may explain that ail these bridges arc intended for railway purposes, but they will be opened at first for ordinary traffic, and made applicable to railway purposes as they are respectively required.