RAILWAY WORKS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2205, 21 March 1881, Page 3

RAILWAY WORKS.

JiAlUnAl <IUIUW. TO XHB BDITOB 07 THE PEBBB. Bib, —Having noticed in your issue of March Ist a letter headed “ The Hallways,” and alluding to the recommendation of the Civil Service Commission, that the Public Works Department and the Railway Engineering Staff should be amalgamated, I shonld like to give one or two reasons why some sweeping alterations should take place in the Resident Engineer's Department. We have heard a great deal for some time back about economy and retrenchment, and I will now give you an instance of the way in which that system bae been carried out by our Resident Engineer. On several occasions the Rakaia River when in flood bae swept away portions of the line on the south side of the river, and various plans wore proposed to prevent the constantly recurring danger; amongst others, that of lengthening the bridge. This plan was proposed by at least one engineer, and others who were thoroughly practical men ; but the Resident Engineer thought otherwise, and decided to alter the course of that wild river, by depositing large quantities of stones on the shifting shingle river bed, and backing them up with sand to prevent the water from finding its way through. Immense quantities of stone were procured from Martindale and Co,, in Port, and large gangs of men were employed in carrying out this engineering scheme. The work progressed well enough until a flood came, and then this precious breakwater vanished, and the work had »11 to be done over again, with a like result. Well, Sir, this little game lasted for morths, and must have ooet the country more money than the necessary extension of the iridge would hav* ooet; and now, after all that money being lost, the plan of lengthoniag th> bridge is to be carried out. A somewhat siniilar plan was adopted by the same or.e to alter the course of the Rangitata river. A largo gang of men, with horses and dreye, w. is employed for months in building a broakwoter of stones, sand, and debris of all sor.'s collscted from off the river bed, and, of course, with the same result as that of the Sakaie. Many other instances of inoompeteocy besides these two could be brought forward. Yours, &c.» Late Employed.