“ SET FOR CHRISTMAS.”

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1929, Page 8

“ SET FOR CHRISTMAS.”

RAILWAY DUPLICATION. \ (Auckland Star, Oct. 11th). Every mail engaged by the Railway Department yesterday to commence work on the duplication of the line between Paptoetoe and Papakura, to relieve traffic congestion on the single orack between Auckland and the latter point, made his appearance this morning, and was eager to get his coat off, Punctually at 7.30 o’clock the first batch of thirty nien signed on by the Department commencing to wield pick and shovel on the £60,000 relief of unemployment undertaking, on the northern side of Punhinui station, on the outskirts of Papatoetoe. An excellent type of labourer they made good with preliminary track formation work, though, after long periods of unemploment during which they suffered physicially through lack of proper nourishment, they found the going hard.

‘‘DECENT LOT OF TOILERS.”

Mr G. McLeod, inspector of permanent new works, who was supervising operations, was more than satisfied with his new Workhen, whom lie anticipates will develop into an excellent team. “They appear to be a decent lot of hard toilers,” he said, and his statement was confirmed by the way the men were making an impression on the rough* ground that skirts the main line at Puhinui. Two experienced gangers were assisting Mr McLeod in putting the new hands “through 'their paces.” Some of the gang are working towards Papatoetoe and the remainder towards Papakura on the task of push-* ing ahead with the eight miles of duplication. An advance guard is also clearing the proposed track of gorse and tangled, growth. While to the casual observer the overhead bridges along the route, do not appear to be sufficiently wide to permit of a double track, provision has been made in most cases for the duplication. The gang at the moment is working .in behind the Puhinui' station, which eventualjly .will’ be converted into what is commonly termed as “island station.”

The Department will place another twenty men on the work on Monday, when they will relieve a certain number of men at Puninui, who will be transferred to Wiri, a few miles further south, where more difficult country will be encountered. All the men engaged under'the big unemployment relief scheme, it is understood, will receive the ordinary rates of pay.

WORK A GOD-SEND. The men now at work confesed their delight at once having an occupation that to. a 'certain degree will be permanent. Pick . and snovei work alone will early them through for four months and thereafter there is a certain amount of concreting work and plate laying -to 1 be executed. “I have not had a constant job for three years,” said one of the workmen “Tins four months’ work is as Godsent and it will set my family and 1 right for Christmas.”

“Yes, I find the going pretty hard, as 1 have' not had any ' really hard work for twelve months,” added, another, “but I jumped at getting a job and will be broken in again in about a week. Another thing I am pleased about is that my work is not far from Auckland. Had I been sent to a Public Works job it would have meant having to keep two homes ‘going. This will keep me going nicely and give me a chance to make up the ground 1 have lost through having no constant work for many months.” ' The scheme to proceed with the immediate duplication of the railway line between Papatoetoe and Papakura is one of the largest unemployment relief works to be undertaken in Auckland, particulary by the Government. The duplication of the section has long been considered as part of ire scheme for a double-track line wu.b Frankton junction, but it was not miginaliy intended that it should be prosecuted with the idea of assist; i r the city’s army of workless. At present the double tra ;’c from Auckand extends to Papatoetoe, a distance of 11> miles, and ibe distance from Papatoetoe to Papakura is just under eight miles: The seven m>’< s between Frankton and Horitiu was recently duplicated, so on the completion of the Papatoetoe-Pao-Tc jink there will remain 58 miles between Horotiu and Papakura still served with a single track. WORK INVOLYKi). The track over the ,-M‘tnh N-iwee-n Papatoetoe and Papukura will be formed over comparatively level country, but about 40,000 yards of soil will have to be excavated. Embankments will have to be extended to carry the new rails, and the cuttings will involve the excavation of close on 3500 yards of rock. Three bridges will also have to be duplicated and a fourth at Wiri may have to he entirely recontsructed Alterations to various stations along the route are also provuled for and two-way platforms will be etsablished at Homai, Mabia, Takanui, Tironui and Puhinui. Other stations along the section have already been provided with th : s facility.