THE NORTHERN TRUNK RAILWAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 52

THE NORTHERN TRUNK RAILWAY.

PROGRESS OF THE WORK

PROSPECTS OF COMPLETION. (Fbom Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, February 11. The Engineer-in-Chief has given a local paper an official statement regarding the progress of the North Island Main Trunk line. Mr Holmes says the line is finished, with Ihe exception of one bridge, up to Waiuru. Waiuru is 69 miles from Marton Junction. The line is completed to 70 miles. From 70 miles to 72i miles the formation is still under construction. This is where the deviation was made, and it is art present in use from 72i miles right through to 85i miles the line is finished. That brings you to the Ohakune Station yard. We are running passengers now right on to that place. The coach actually meets the train a little beyond that place on a temporary line that w e have run into Hapuawhenua viaduct. Going back a bit te the unfinished part between 70 miles and 72 miles, we anticipate that the formation will be finished in about three months' lime, when the rails will be laid and ballasting completed. We also expect to finish the bridge I have mentioned about the same time, and, allowing a month for laying those rails and- ballasting, we anticipate having the whole line completed up to Ohakune by the .end of May From 85s miles to 87J mile's we expect the formation to be completed, the rails laid, and the line ballasted by about the end of May also. That will include the Hapuawhenua viaduct and the Raetihi tunnel. From 873 miles to 90J mile* the earthworks are heavy, and there lemains a considerable quantity of work to do, and upon the completion of those earthworks depends the connecting of the rails with the northern end. In this latter length occurs the Taonui viaduct, which was completed last December. All the concrete work is completed, with the exception of four piers in the bridge over the Haeramaria Creek. These are being constructed with the view of being completed some time before the earthwork. From 90j miles riyht through to the railhead from the northern end, which is now at about 103 miles, the formation is practically completed. The heaviest piece remaining to be done i 6 a part of the cutting at the north end and the Makatote viaduct. This, however, cannot be completed until the anchorages of the wire rope used in connection with the erection of the viaduct are removed. At the present date the actual distance between the railheads is 17i miles. Rail-laying is being proceeded with at the north end, and it ib anticpated that will reach the Makatote viaduct about the end o f March, which, with about a mile and a-half (which will probably be completed at the name date) at the couth end, will reduce the gap to 10 miles. From 103 miles through to Raurimu, at 111 miles, the rails are laid, and all the works may be considered to be 90 per cent, completed. From R&v.rimu to Taumarunui the line is completed. Taumarunui is the southern tertninus of the northern end of the lino open for traffic. No farther section at the noith end can be opened for traffic for some time, aa the ballasting pit is olose to Taumarunm, from which supplies will be obtained for ballasting nearly down to Ohakune. Messrs John Anderson and Co.. of Christchurch, have contracts for the election of the Makatote viaduct, and for the erection, of the superstructure of the bridges over the Manganui, Ao-te-ao, and Mangaturatura. At the present time th« manufacture of the steel work for the Makatote is about completed, while that for tho other two bridges ia nearing completion. The piers of the Makatote viaduct are all erected, except two sections of one pier in the centre. At the other bridges the contractors are constructing staging ,and conveying 1 the steelwork to the sitee. The question as to when the two «nda of

the rail will meet will depend on when the Makatote -viaduct is completed and the oarthw o; ks at the southern end. The dolav in completing the Makatote viaduct will cause the work to be carried out br the G )vorn.nent to be delayed until the winter weather ?ets in. which will no doubt cause delays which cannot be estimated. If all coos volt. and making a fair al'owance ,'or contingencies tho clpy..xrtment anncipatos hay injr tho raiU connected about the end of next October. The moment it gets the ra'lt connected it will run a. passenger train through, but it will not be safe to commence running the fast express trains unlil the works have had some time to consolidate. Wherever it .s possible for men to work, they are being employed, and every effort is being- made to complete the works at the earliest pcceible moment, and our plant and methods of work are beirff adapted to facilitate matters