EAST COAST LINE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9847, 28 October 1924, Page 4

EAST COAST LINE

NAPI E It-GISB OK NE SECTION

CONCENTRATION ON TUTIHA

LINK

WAIKOKOPU LINE TO BE FINISHED NEXT YEAR.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 27

- The following references are made to the East Coast line in the Public Works Statement: On the East Coast Main Trunk railway, from Waihi to laneatua, construction work irom V\ aihi to the 14-mile peg is in hand by the Department. Hails are laid as far as Atnenree, and this section should ne ready for traffic by the end of the year and to be handed over to the Railway Department irf June next; meanwhile it will be available lor use by the contractor referred to in the next paragraph, and lor ordinary goods traffic. , J . . , The contract for construction of a section of this railway for a distance of 18 miles 18 chains was let -on the 27th March 1924, to Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co. (Limited), as already stated. As yet only preliminary work such as clearing, fencing preparation lor sta/cking-yards, opening un of cuttings has been done. Practically the whole of the plant and material required is on order, and some of the major plant items are now arriving. Live of the six steam shovels are now in the country, t\\ o of which arc actually in position. Jne hundred and twenty men are at work, and it is anticipated that when the works are in full swing four hundred to live hundred men will be employed. , Tha following is a list of plant already ordered, two-thirds of which is now available in the Dominion: 0 steam shovels, 7 small locomotives, 200 trucks. 24 ballast-waggons, 2 stone-crushers, 1 cable-way excavator, 1 10-ton crane for bridge-work, 2 JOit pile-driving outfits equipped with st-eam-harumers, 2 launches, 1 towingscow, a number of punts, 3 motorlorries.

From 35 m. to Tauranga formation is nearing completion, and the section from Tauranga to near r i e should be ready for goods traffic by end of July next. From Tauranga to Pekatalii, a distance of 58% miles, the line is completed except for final ballasting tlmnighout and permanent bridges between Matata and Pekatalii. Jhis section should be completed in two years and a halt, by which time the whole line between Waihi and Taneatua should be ready to be handed over to the Railway Department. Beyond Pekatalii the Whakatane bridge is in hand, arid the line into Taneatua should he ready for traffic within twelve months’ time. On the Xapier-Gisborne line work is being concentrated on the Tutira section, so that this railway may reach as soon as possible a pon:t where it will connect with the main road between Napier and Gisborne'. This noint lies near Tutira, and when the line reaches here the worst- portion of the road between Napier and W-airoa will be. cut out. and the road distance between' these places shortened bv about 28 miles.

It- was hoped to reach Tutira by the end of next year but serious Hoods have delayed the works for a few months. To overcome this delay, however, it lias been decided to concentrate twelve steam shovels on this section, and ten of them are now at work. In addition to this the tunnels are ail well under way, and should be done as soon as the steam shovels complete their work. It is expected therefore that the date at which Tutira will be reached will not be much behind the specified time. Ahead of Tutira are several large viaducts, one of these (the Mohaka) being the largest in New- Zealand. The designs for these viaducts are. all wearing completion, and are now so far advanced that the manufacture and erection of the steel work can keep pace with the rest of the work or. the railv.ny.

On the Waikokopu line traffic is already being run by the Public Works Department, and ballasting, stationyards. and buildings should be completed bv the middle of next year.’ The Waikokopu wharf is nearing completion. and several vessels have been successfully worked at it.