WESTPORT AND MOUNT ROCHFORT RAILWAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4160, 21 July 1874, Page 3

WESTPORT AND MOUNT ROCHFORT RAILWAY.

Through the courtesy of Mr. H. Evans, the Resident Engineer, the Westport Times is enabled to give the subjoined particulars as to the line and structure of the first section of this railway—from Westport to Eairdown : Commencing on the river bank at the end of Adderley street, at the rear of the 'Times Office, the line will run along Adderley and other streets, and thence in a straight line to Sergeant’s Hill ; crossing the Orawaiti on a piled bridge and superstructure of 318 feet, the openings being eight of 30 feet and six of 13 feet each. The gradient at Sergeant’s Hill, for about 45 chains, will be 1 in 62, the steepest gradient on the line. A quarter of a mile past the hill another curve of one mile radius will be made across the Paldhis, in the direction of Headman’s Creek. Across this creek, at a point about five and a half miles from the starting point, and one and a quarter miles • below Beaton’s accommodation house, a bridge will be constructed of 40 feet span, and two chains of flood openings. Thence the line will be carried straight onward for three quarters of a mile to the commencement of a curve of about half a mile radius, bringing the line up to the stone quarries at the foot of Fairdown Hill, about a mile and a-half distant from the commencement of the curve, and seven and a half miles from the starting point in Adderley street. From the quarries, stone for the river protective works will be brought in. On the line of route between Adderley street and the Orawaiti, the line will cross the swampy places on piles and superstructure, and at one place, about a mile from the starting point, a twelve feet piled bridge is to be erected. The line will be constructed on 3 feet 6 inches guage, and the heaviest grade against traffic will be only 1 in 142. On the 10th of January last an order was despatched to the Agent-General in London to send out materials for the line as undernoted ; —Twenty miles of rails, 401bs. to the yard, equal to 1257 tons 2cwt. 3qrs. 121bs. weight, and the necessary supply of fang bolts, nuts, strikes, top clips, side plates, and steel tail joints, for laying the same. Three locomotives •9| inch cylinders, 4 wheels, all coupled. One small first class carriage, two small second class carriages, and fifty 6 ton hopper waggons. The specifications provide that the work shall be completed within twelve months from date of signing contract, under a penalty of £IOO per week for delay ; a bonus of £IOO per week being given for every week saved in the completion of the contract. The terms of tender are liberal in other respects. A deposit cheque of £250 only is required from tenderers, and the amount of sureties is fixed at 4 per cent.