Wellington – Manawatu Railway.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 124, 30 April 1885, Page 2

Wellington - Manawatu Railway.

THE BELMGNT VIADUCT.

j (Post.) When the Wellineton-Manawatu Railway is opened as far as Paramatta the Riinutakfi Incline will have a powerful rival, as an attraction for sightseers, m the Belmont viaduct, which has been built across a deep gully about a mile beyond Johnsonvile. This viaduct (designed by Mr H. P. Higgiason, the company's engineer) is, wo are informed, the highest wooden viaduct m the world. It is 373. feet m length, and is 172 feet above the watercourse belo.v. It is built entirely of well-seasoned kauri resting on 14 feet concrete piers, the one m the bed of the stream having its foundations sunk twenty feet. The main kauri spars used are 14 x 14 and each 40 fe«t long. They are braced and crossed m the most ingenious manner, and from a little distance the structure viewed sideways looks like a huge Chinese puzzle or kind or spider's w«b. No less than 212,000 feet of timber and 35 tons of wrought iron bolts anil braces have been used m the work. It is much the largest erection of tho kind yet undertaken m the colony, and has every appearance of bei Tig perfectly safeand stable notwithstanding its great height and length. Its design will tend to enhance Mr Higginson' already high reputation as an engineer, while the ingenious and thoroughly substantial manner m which the design has been, cariied out by the centracter, Mr Pauaher, is worthy of high commendation.