THE MAIN TRUNK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 200, 13 August 1908, Page 3

THE MAIN TRUNK.

A STARTLING ItUMOK. On Saturday » statement was convened to us (says the Taihape Times) of a most alarming character, and suc'i, if there are any grounds for it, as will come as an unpleasant shock to travellers over (he Slain Trunk line. The report brielly went on to show that what is commonly known as the "Black" tunnel, situated between Toi Toi and Maligaweka, was discovered to be in a very unsafe condition, it being alleged that a hole existed through which the waters of the Kangitikei river could be seen. As is well known, the tunnel in question skirts the liangitikei stream at a precipitous height, and is regarded by those who know the locality as one of those many mistakes nr.ule when the southern section of the Main rank line was put through years ago. The information given us further tended 'c show that a day or so before the Parliamentary special made its maiden trip over the route between Wellington and Auckland, a gang of men were engaged in shifting the rails laid through the tunnel further in from the river wall, with the idea (so our informant said) of putting less weight on that side of the track in which the defect is supposed to exist. It was also pronouncedly prophesied that an accident was being awaited by those who were in a position to know tlie exact state of all'aivs. and that it was only a matter of time when some train or other would crash through the structure and smash into the bed of the liver some hundreds of feet below.