THE SOUTHERN TRUNK RAILWAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1297, 16 May 1878, Page 3

THE SOUTHERN TRUNK RAILWAY.

(“Clutha Leader.”) Our attention having been called to a paragraph purporting to have been furnished from Balclutha, and published in the “Daily Times” of Saturday last regarding the progress of the Southern Trunk railway works, we have made enquiry into the matter, and have to report as follows : —There are ninetyfive men at work upon the first four miles—the portion carried out by the Government by day wages. Two and a quarter miles have been ballasted, and are ready for the platelayers. At the present rate of progress the section will be completed in five or at most six weeks. Thus the statement that “this small section is in rather a backward state ” is not true.

As to Messrs Proudfoot and M'Kay’s con-tract-sixteen miles —we believe the statement that 200 men are at work is true, but it is not true that “ all hands applying for work are taken on, none being turned away but those incapable of work.” At the Clinton end the plates have been laid on the formation for about two miles, and this work has taken about five weeks. Towards the Balclutha end of the contract there is one cutting to undertake of over 4000 yards, and other two cuttings of about 2000 yards each. It is impossible to take out these blocks in a less space of time than a few months. The “Times” makes out that the delay with the Q-overnment section prevents the contractors commencing t» ballast at both ends. A sufficient refutation t) this is to point to the cuttings mentioned, i'lese will form an insuperable obstacle to balhsting from this end for a number of months to come. Further, the rails, Ac., are ill at the other end, and before the plate layiig could be commenced at this end the rails would have to be carted along the whole lensh of the line. This during the winter months would prove such a work as even Mr Pioudfoot is not likely to undertake. As to the laying of two miles of rails at the Clinton erd, the sleepers are laid on the formation, and thus rails and all will have yet to be raised for six inches ballasting underneath. Upon the Government section the line is first ballasted and then the plates are laid. How are the contractors allowed to pursue a very different and absurd course ? Is it simply a blind ? The “Times” says “If the weather holds good it is anticipated that very little will remain to be done after the 31st oi July, the contract time.” The truth is that e*en under the most favorable circumstances the work if only carried on at the present rate of progress wil not be completed for eight or ten iionths to come. We would not have referred t> this matter at the present time but for the erroneous statements that have been pffi. lished. We may mention that our inform., tion is from a thoroughly reliable source.