THE RAILWAYS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1929, Page 6

THE RAILWAYS

HANDLING THE COAL TRADE. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WESTPORT, July 12. Air McNair, District Engineer in the railway service, who is in Westport/.seen bv a “News” representative yesterday, stated: “There is an impression going about that we arc not coping with the coal. It is not so. The railway was badly knocked about, both by the earthquake and the flood, At Mokiliinui, flood water was running through the tunnel nine feet high and ballasting was washed away. In numerous other places the line was undermined. The bad weather that prevailed until the last day or two hampered restoration operations, but with every line day and every line hour in a day, good progress is being made in reballasting the line. Four or five gangs of men are at work and any further suitable labour offering is beingl accepted. All the coal loaded is being brought to Westport. Between Mokiliinui mine -and Ngakawau the speed of trains is limited to six miles, between Ngakawau and Waimangaroa to 15 miles, and 'from Conns Creek to Westport 25 miles an hour, the lastnamed being about the normal.

Air McNair said lie was. fixing up ail electric motor on to the pump in Adderley . Street for the. supply of water.'-for the locomotives and also for the cranes.. ■ Regarding work at the wharf,.Mr 'McNair admitted operations' were not ■going as well as he would like to see Them. Until the big pipe line was restored the capstans could not be used •and temporary measures had to be taken to shunt the coal wagons. Wsltersiders were not yet working after 5 o’clock. Tin’s limited the coal bandied. He was hopeful that the difficulties would be speedily overcome.