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Globe, Volume V, Issue 555, 29 March 1876, Page 4

A grove of gigantic trees (says a contemporary) has just been discovered in California. The grove is situated in a basin at the head waters of the San Lorenzo and Boulder creeks. One of the trees eclipses everything hitherto discovered, far exceeding even the mammoth trees of California. The circumference of this one at a height as high as a man can reach is 150 ft. The height is estimated at 160 ft, and the remnant of the top of the tree which is lying on the ground is over 100 ft in length. Other trees in the grove are of immense size, though not so large as the one referred to. The Waikato railways, says the New Zealand Herald, are still progressing, slowly to ba sure, but still progressing, We wish the same could be said respecting the continuation of the Kaipara line, or the line at the Kawakawa coal mines. The progress now being made in constructing the line in the Waikato district may be judged of by the following from the Waikato Times of yesterday : —" Mr Carpenter has just laid out the two last bridges on the line of rail way between No 1 bridge and the Hamilton station, which completes the bridges between Ngaruawahia and Hamilton. The bridge over No 1 gully is upwards of 200 ft in length and 60ft above the water line. The last bridge is to be erected on the skew principle, the bridge being set to suit the natural features of the ground, instead of cutting the ground to suit the bridge, or diverting the creek, as is done in many instances. The wharf branch line at Taupiri is now completed, and tbe engine running. The engine-shed and other buildings, tanks, &c, are nearly completed, preparatory to the Government calling for tenders for the ballasting of the line from Taupiri to Mercer, and from Taupiri to Hamilton. A large quantity of rails and sleepers are stacked at Taupiri, ready to be moved either way along the line when it is ready for them. The bridge at Ngaruawahia is being rapidly completed. The hardwood superstructure is now being fixed in place ; the earthworks being carried on simultaneously. If the weather continue favorable, and no accident occurs, the work will be completed in from three to four months. The Government will then call for tenders for the erection of stations along the lines, With the fine weather the earthworks at this end of the Auckland and Puniu railway are also going rapidly ahead. A contract has been let for forming the ground at the Ohaupo station, and the work will be commenced at once Drains are now run through the swamp from end to end, and with the most successful result, and though in places it is found to be still a little soft, the line will stand well, owing to the excellent system of drainage adopted. This will show our readers, if any proof were needed of it, the groundlessness of the report that has been going the round of some of the Waikato settlements, that it was not intended, for years to come, to carry the railway beyond Ngaruawahia."