STRATFORD MAIN-TRUNK.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 36, 29 September 1914, Page 7

STRATFORD MAIN-TRUNK.

Under the heading, "Our Railways," j a representative of the Ohura Advocate says:—"Upon a recent visit to the works I was pleased to learn that satisfactory work is still going on, tno machinery doing well, and the labour! satisfactory. The work is proceeding from both ends of the tunnel, whicii is; now much wetter, but so far nothing has been met with or anticipated othei than papa formation, and as everything is working smoothly, a good average of one chain per week from each end has been done for some time past, and some weeks as much as 70 feet at the Matiere side. The tunnel is now in 13 chains at the eastern and nearly 14 at the western end, making a total of nearly 27 chains, and the contractors confidently -expect to j pierco the tunnel by February next. | Of course something may arise and de-j lay this, but as things are at present there is every indication that it will be carried, out. At the eastern end the' larger mullock waggons now run . straight in from the tip-head, but .it the other end the small trucks are usee as there still remains a few chains o , approach from the permanent level »v be completed. When the tunnel isj pierced, possibly some arrangement, will be made with the contractors '<■ carry goods through t« the 11-mile, or as far as the rails are laid on tb ' formation towards Matiere, but an-I other obstacle may arise to prevent this, viz., the building of a bridge over the Ongarue at Okahukura. This bridge, I understand, will take,' considerably over 12 months to com-j plete, and so far nothing seems to J have been done towards making t j move in that direction, -therefore it might be as well to ascertain from the member for the district, Mr C. K. Wilson, the financial position with regard to this matter, and it will greatly facilitate the work at the tunnel and the convenience of the Ohura settlers in general. If connected with the'Main Trunk, metal for the Main road might be brought from the On-' game river—or, what is a few extra 1 miles by rail—from the shingle-bed of the Wanganui river at Taumarunui. I did not learn how many men are noAV employed on the formation works, and as it was Sunday, did not see any, but, judging by appearances, it seems to be going on steadily all along the line." \ I