MARLBOROUGH RAILWAY

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1931, Page 5

MARLBOROUGH RAILWAY

WHAT WILL BOARD DECIDE? (By Telegraph—-Per Press Association ) BLENHEIM, September 7. . Though it is believed locally that the Railways Board may present its report on the South Main Trunk railway this week, the Engineers and the workers on the line have absolutely no hint as to the trend which the document may take. In the meantime, however, work is being prosecuted with full vigor. Starting operations in May, 1929, on the 76 miles gap between Wharanui and Parnassus, the Public Works Department has achieved -something in the nature of a record in railway construction for to-day the advance gangs on both the northern and southern sections of the line are within sight of Kaikoura and the'76 mile gap has been reduced ,to one of about 28 miles in other words practically 48 miles of railway has been formed in a period of 28 months, the only gaps being represented by the missing Leader on Conway bridges •on th© southern section, and the Clarence bridge on the northern section, and the uncompleted Hawkeswood cutting close to Partlassus on the northern •;> end. The rails have been laid all the way from Wharanui k to within one hundred yards or so of Ngaio Downs Homestead. , JlorC a small bridge is being .rushed to . completion, and it - should be ready by * the time theqjUte. : layers reach it this week. Thenceforward, platelaying will proceed with-, out interruption right to the Clarence River, the only restricting factor now remaining being a small oyer Woodbank ' Creek, the construction of which is well forward, With ’ordinary luck, the rails will 'be at the Clarence 21' miles from.; 'tbe starting point, at Wharanui, well /'toefcwe Nmas. Ballasting has been completed from Wharar.ui to beyond Briny Creek, and the ballast train will soon be - hard on the heels of the plate-laying gangs. The advance construction gangs on • the northern section are a : little south-, of . Half Moon Bay, between the Clarence and the Hapuka, and about 15 miles/ from Kaikoura, while the -southern advance gangs, are- operating-close-^..toL the Amnri Bluff,about-M3,yroiles. ; south, r. of Kaikoura. ' i•’ i '

In all, some 750 men are remployed.- - It- is understood that;,a.s .utile /-result, bf r detailed survey, . the estimated..; c° s V of completing the line /-is'now'. = given as £1,800,000, as compared; A/With the. rough estimate, of £2,300,000 j on./which the job was started. Of - the ■ £1,800,000, some £600,000 is said to have already been spent, and the committ- , nients will probably run. intali £200,000 or-. so,~ ■’ ; :