CREOSOTED RAILWAY SLEEPERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 96, 26 March 1885, Page 2

CREOSOTED RAILWAY SLEEPERS.

A North Island contractor has called attention to the specifications for 150,000 creosoted sleepers for the Hurunui-Bluff Railway and Otago Central Railways. He appears/tothink that the second paragraph and the "note" at, the end of the specification indicates an unfairness to timber growers m. the North Island. The paragraph is as follows : — " Tho sleepers shall be of rimn, miro, ribbonwood, pnhaka (hinau), silver birch, ffagus menziesii), or other approved timber ,true and out of winding, and free from knots, shakes, and all other imperfections. They are to be cut fuom full-grown trees, and shall eaob. contain at least 50 per cent of heart wood, to be seven feet long by eight inches broad and five inches th ; ck, sawn square and true, each before being crensoted to be adzed for raiL I seats to a bevel of 1 m 20, a templet for which will be furnished to the contractor." The postscript, or " note las it is called, is as follows : — " The j principal object of the Government [m entering into this contract is the ' establishment m the colony of creosote works, whereby the less durable native timbers may be utilised. It is therefore to be understood that m. the event of the present experiment being successful, creosoted sleepers will be extensively used m future on the Government railways. For the same reason the works spent should be of the best description, and the creosoting process ' curried out with, the greatest possible care." .-