BACK BROKEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 24 November 1939, Page 6

BACK BROKEN

EAST COAST LINE

MINISTER'S REVIEW COMPLETION FOR 1941 KEY-JOB CONCENTRATION BIG OBSTACLES OVERCOME (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. By the middle of 1941, the railway which is actively under construction north of Wairoa. to Gisborne will be ready to hand over to the Railways Department. This prediction was made by the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, after examining the latest report from his engineers regarding the progress made.

“Since I have been Minister” he commented, “we have never been over in our estimate of time, and I have no reason to suppose that, despite the multiplicity of unforseen and serious difficulties which have been experienced on this construction work, that the engineers' estimate is likely to be wrong.

‘I am well satisfied with the work the engineers have done, and with the fact that the men have pulled their weight, giving no trouble whatever.”

“Details of the present position of construction work,” continued Mr Semple, “show that the bade of the job is well broken, and that, what remains are the ‘key’ works. One is the Waiau-Tikiwhata tunnel, 10J miles north of Waikokopu, the longest of the 13 tunnels on the line to Gisborne.

Main Tunnelling Projects

"These tunnels aggregate 6921yds, or nearly four miles in length, and this particular tunnel is 3270yds. Excavation has been completed over a distance of 1833yds, and the concrete lining 1504yds. The second largest tunnel, the Waikoura, is 1577yds in length and was completed some months ago.”

It was pointed out by the Minister that the Napier-Gisbornc line is being constructed in very difficult country, particularly along the route now in hand. Very heavy ground has had to be tackled in the tunnels, and there have been several serious setbacks. First there was the tremendous flood which caused heavy loss of life, then the Esk Valley was washed out and every bridge between Napier and Wairoa destroyed.

This disaster necessitated transferring men from other parts of the line to carry out restoration work. Several other heavy floods caused big slips.

“So, taking all these handicaps into consideration” declared Mr. Semple, “I think the progress made has been phenomenal. There were 1,500,000 cubic yds of earth and rock to be excavated on the route from Waikokopu, and of this large total, only 50,000 cubic yds remain to be handled, a considerable portion having to be left until the bridges and tunnels are completed, which will be about the end of next June.” Details of Progress Mr. Semple stated that in the Gis-borne-Waikokopu section there were 28 bridges with an aggregate length of 4870 ft. Thirteen, totalling 1885 ft., had been completed, five were well on towards completion requiring only the placing of the steel girders when they arrived. Seven more bridges, totalling 1865 ft., were in hand.

“The only delay likely to occur in bridge-building,” said the Minister, “is the lack of carpenters and other skilled workers. If these can be obtained the bridges will be completed by the end of November next.”

Mr. Semple mentioned the principal bridge jobs on the line. There was a large one over the Kopuawhara Stream 530 ft. long and 138 ft. high which had a reinforced concrete arch span of 180 ft. in length. Another bridge over the same stream, two miles further uP, was 377 ft. long and 60ft. high. This had steel girders and concrete piers.

Mr. Semple had mentioned the two largest tunnels, and he supplementea this information with the particulars of 11 others, totalling 2074yds. in all. Of this length, 1333yds. have been excavated and 924yds. concrete lined. Three of the tunnels are completed, and the remainder should be finished in September next, at the present rate of progress.

"The tbtal length of rails to be laid on the main line from Waikokopu to the junction with the present Gisborne line at Northcote road,” continued Mr. iSemple, “is 351 (miles. Rails are laid now over 161 miles, comprising 31 miles northwards from Waikokopu, and 12' miles .southwards from Gisborne. All rails are expected to be laid by the end of March. 1941.

“Ballasting the line has been completed over 10,1 miles, of which 9 miles are from Gisborne and 11 miles northwards from Waikokopu. Ballasting, it is expected, will be done by the end of April, 1941.

“There are four new station yards on the route,” added the Minister in completion of his survey of progress. “Work on these yards, as well as additions to the station at Waikokopu is in progress, and almost 40 per cent complete.”