THE SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1930, Page 8

THE SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK

PROGRESS OF WORK

THIRTY-FIVE! -MILES UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

For a distance of thirty-five miles, the work of completing the gap in the South Island Alain Trunk between Parnassus and Wharanui is now ii. hand. The distance between the railheads is seventy-six miles. Over 600 men are now engaged on the various phases of the construction work, 290 at the southern end and 315 at the northern. From the Parnassus end construction parties are working for nine miles northwards of the present railway terminus. The farthest point in which work is progressing at present is three miles over the Conway River. Work is also in progress for twentysix miles south of Wharanui, tho outlyina camp being five miles south of the Clarence River. The southern end of the line was started some months after the northern end. Progress lias also been slower on account of the heavier nature of the country. BIG CUTTIN.GS. The first five miles of the work from the southern end . is notably for the number of cutting's that are being constructed. The line will rise gradually to the Hawkeswood Saddle and will be on an even grade all the way. To enable this to be achieved three big cuttings have to lie made and three gullies have to be filled in. It has not yet been decided whether the Hawkeswood Saddle will be tunnelled, or traversed by means of an open cutting. Work is in hand at both ends of the line on the saddle and when the cuts have been made further into the hill, and definite information gained as to the nature of the country, a decision will be reached. If a tunnel is to be made, it will be approximately twenty-eight chains long.

From. Parnassus to the Leader River, a distance of just over half a mile, the formation is ready for the rails to be laid. This will not be done for some time, however, as no advantage would result and the rails would depreciate rapidly if not used Work is still in hand on the approaches to the bridge "which will span the Leader River. A long bank is being built on the south side of the stream and from this groynes will be constructed to direct the- water ) into its customary channel. No attempt is being made to divert the' stream, as big divisions sometimes cause-'-.- much trouble in flood time.

On the north bank of the river, In the Brookdale estate, owned by Mr R. E. M’Dbugall, a large cutting is being- made. The spoil from the cut is being used on both sides of the rise to fill in the valleys. A stream which runs on the southern side of the cut has already been covered by a culvert. The northern side of this cutting is in the Inverness 'estate and here a valley 230 yards in width and 50 feei in depth has to be filled. STEAM SHOVEL USED. A steam shovel is being used to make the cut on the northern side. The spoil is loaded into trucks ; and shunted by a locomotive to a trestle bridge which has been built half-way acrcfss the valley. From the bridge it is tipped into the gully. It has been, estimated that 70,000 cubic yards of material will be needed to fill the depression. This valley is two miles and a quarter from, Parnassus.

Three-quarters of a mile further on, on the Braemar estate, another large cut is being made. Here, a valley sixty-five feet in deptli has to be filled. To make this cutting, a drive is being put into the hill, and the spoil is being dropped from the drive on to trucks and then deposited into the valley. Altogether, four steam shovels and two locomotives are being used on the southern end of the work.

has been found necessary to divert a creek through a hill in order to iay the line across the valley. Accordingly, a water drive over three chains in length is being built. Already, about two chains 1 as been constructed into soft papa. The drive is six feet high and five feet wide.

Altogether three water drives are being constructed to divert various small streams and prevent them causing trouble later when the line is built.

pn the north side of the Conway River two gangs are employed on formation work. The line will cross the river at the point where it first meets it and will run on the opposite bank to'the present road. These gangs are covering a distance of three miles down the river. UP TO SURVEYS. The work at the southern end is now in hand as far as the permanent survey has gone and as far as definite plans are prepared. The trial survey has been made down the north bank of the Conway to the sea coast and the line will then follow along the coast until it rejoins the road at Oaro. Tt will continue alongside the road until it nearly reaches the Elms, n few miles south of Kaikoura. The line then runs inland, about two miles behind Kaikoura, until it reaches the ITapuka, where is again runs along the sea coast

Practically all the men employed at and near Parnassus are now housed in huts, In addition, a messroom has

been built for the Public Works Department officers and another is nearing completion for the Department’s gangers. A large kitchen and dihinjg room has also been built for the men.

Twenty three-roomed huts for married men are being built on a block of hind on the north road, a few yards past the site of the depot. ’One or two of these are mainder will be ready in a short space of time. It is the policy of' the Department to keep the married men’s quarters some' distance away from those of the" single men. EASY GOING. For the twenty-one miles south from Wharanui the country has presented no difficulties and there is every pros--ject of the line being completed within i year as far south as the Clarence River. The only hindrance will be he bridging of the Clarence and the negotiating of the Blue Slip,' a moving hillside. A decision has not yet been reached as to the method to be employed in getting the line across the slip, but investigations are now‘being conducted.

The Clarence River has, to he bridged <ind a beginning has already been made with the putting down of test piles in order mat the nature of the bridge can lie-decided upon. If the test piles show that the bottom is satisfactory, a bridge built on concrete piles will be used. If the bottom gives . indications of presenting difficulties, a cylinder bridge will be erected. The site of the bridge has already been selected.

Before the Clarence is reached, a bridge will have to be built at Kekerangu, but this presents no engineering difficulties and should be shortly under way.

The trial survey from the northern end has proceeded as far south as the mouth of the Hapuka River, a few miles from Kaikoura. The permanent surVcy is still 'ten miles north of this, at Aniseed Point. It is estimated that the perfiianent survey could be completed to Kaikoura within six months. A beginning has been made in Kaikoura to erect two houses, one for the resident engieer and the other for the location engineer. This is taken as a hopeful sign by the people of Kaikoura,' who now hold the opinion that, in the near future, their present isolation will be broken by the construction of a railway.'