THE MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1930, Page 2

THE MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY

CONSTRUCTION WORK.

CONFERENCE OF PROGRESS

LEAGUES

KAIKOURA, May 2G

Definite progress lias been made during the past few weeks in the effort to close the gap in toe South Island'Main Trunk Railway . between Parnassus and Wharan'ui. Seven miles of track are in the early stages of formation between Parnassus and the Conn ay River. .Important features of this sec-tion-are a bridge over the Leader River, half a -mile l north of Parnassus, and a tunnel through, the Hawkeswood Saddle, three miles and a half further north. There will also be a bridge over the Conway River. 'l’lie country- north of the Conway River and south of the Kaikoura district is under survey by the location engineer,who. has pushed his camp on a.s far as Claveo;ley,. which is on the coast and seventeen miles from Parnassus. ; - I 1 M Good progress has been.made with the construction of ; the approach to tno Leader • Bridge., , This is, in itself a huge task,, requiring 90,003 cubic yards of earth and shingle to bring it to the required level. The approach, will be ten chains in length, and will rise to eighteen feet, at, its highest point. It is" expected that the approach will be completed .within two months. A labour-saving • machine which is being used in.,connection, with, the, erection of this approach is an excavator and filler, which is capable of filling a dray every one minute and a half at about one-third of the cost of manual labour. A twenty-two-ton mechanical shovel is being assembled at Parnassus, and will be used in connection with the large cuttings that will be made north of the Leader ,River.

The men are at present working towards the Hawkeswood Saddle, and a large cutting has penetrated, a considerable distance into the hill,.but the construction of the tunnel itself Ims rot yet been commenced. Altogether two hundred men are employed qn the. work, the principal camps being at Parnassus and Coldstream, where big cuttings are under construction.

Parnassus is.the base of operations, and already is showing signs of Activity, which should considerably increase within the next few month's. The men mentioned there ape at present fairly comfortably quartered- in tents, but the Department will not permit married men to take their wives into the camp until standard accommodation is available. r fuis matter is being attended to, and ft number of four-roomed dwellings will shortly replace tlie "tents." These dwellings will be erected at a cost of between £163 and £2OO each. They are to be portable and will be nbie to be moved from time to time,- as the construction of the line -makei it neoessarv. Sinq-U----roomecl lints 'will be provided for single men. -* ;,v ‘"'"U ! Mr E. Gibson is the engineer in charge of'the work-at Parnassus, and Air E. Stewart has charge of the work of the •'location**of 'the 'line.' There will he a conference of renresentatives of the Progress Leagues' of Canterbury, ; Marlborough • and South Marlborough at Parnassus on Wednesday, when matters relative to the railway construction will be discussed. Air I\ .R. C’limie (Secretary of the Canterbury Progress League) is at present carrying out an inspec+ion of the work. The league' will make periodical i.nspec+ions in com’nnction with the northern bodies until the work is completed.