Thames-Paeroa Railway Construction.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2077, 10 February 1898, Page 2

Thames-Paeroa Railway Construction.

PREPARATIONS FOR A BIG EXPLOSION.

Mr Stewart, engineer in charge of the railway works, is displaying great energy in the advancement of the line, and one of the new works to be undertaken at once is bridging of the Puriri River. Tho requisite timber has arrived and?tfie carpenters are to ho started on the erection of the bridge immediately, One of the most forcible, if not important achievements associated with the construction of the line is shortly to. take place—namely, the blowing up of the Ornahu Hill, to which we have already referred iu these columns. The hill in question contains an extensive quarry of good stone, which is to be used in ballast - the line, but owing to the hard face, it is difficult to break it out without the use of a large quantity of explosives. Therefore Mr Stewart has decided to have one effective explosion. With this end in view a tunnel 50 feet long has bee driven into the hill, and from the face two crosscuts have been driven 40 feet each, In these drives between five and six tons of grain powder will be placed, and fired off simultaneously by means of electricity, a powerful battery having been procured in Auckland for the purpose. The result of the explosion, if successful, will naturally lift a tremendous body of stone, as, taking the power of the ; powder into consideration, it is estij mated that not less than 13,000 cubic yards of stuff will be lifted by it, bosides the shaking up of a great quantity more. An explosion of six tons of powder at one' shot is a very rare oc • currence, and it is hoped that no accident will result on the day of firing. The day has not been definitely fixed, but it is anticipated next week will witness the dislocation of Ornahu Hill. A member of the Auckland Torpedo Corps is to have charge of the firing.