WORK PROGRESSING

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1931, Page 8

WORK PROGRESSING

SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK. CONWAY RIVER SECTION. CHRISTCHURCH, Aiay 21. During the ' past week there has been a concentration of men and horse teams on the Conway riverbed in the vicinity of No. 8 camp on the route oi the South' Island Main Trunk railway. At present there are thirty men there ‘ and six teams, but . when the work is in full swing there will be fifteen to twenty teams and over fifty men. Just now the excavations arcbeing made for the groynes by band labour, but a Barber-Greene excavator is to commence immediately. A deviation a mile in length lias been made at this spot, cutting out much heavy sonstruction. work round Stocker’s Bluffs. This will include 25 chains of riverbed. To protect the permanent way twelve main groynes are being built, similar to those in the Bealey River on the Midland line. The work at No. 8 camp is being pushed ahead so that it will be completed (when the new big drag line arrives, to lay ballast on this section. The pile-driver on the Conway bridge site continues to make good progress; four temporary piles have been driven and a satisfactory foundation lias been found. The smalled pile-driver is at present getting a foundation for a new culvert near the old No. 5 camp. During the flood the temporary budge over the creek there collapsed and a large culvert has been decided on. The Their shovel is still putting up a fair performance, and the spoil from cutting is rapidly stablising the trestle bridge there. The- water drive, at this point, which is over three chains in length, has just been completed. The tractor train which has recently been tried at the Conway bridge is functioning success ully. Working in conjunction with a caterpillar bulldozer the. levelling of the station site should not take long. The scoops used are of the tumbling type with revolving wheels, which, under suitable conditions, are cheaper and more efficient than the old-time hand scoops. The trestle bridge near the beach on, the ClaveiT. y svCLion G rapidly taking shape. Timber is being obtained b.v contract parties from the bush behind the old Claverley homestead. A feature of the construction wont is the organisation. Right throughout, is a very efficient telephone system. For matters of urgency and in times when some camps are inaccessible this system is indispensable and repays its cost of construction over and over again. The organisation of the transport, too, is excellent, stores and supplies being delivered punctually to the various camps.