THE STRATFORD RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 269, 21 December 1909, Page 4

THE STRATFORD RAILWAY.

PROGRESS OF THE WORK. Settlers in tie Whangauiomomi district express l themselves well satisfied with the progress that is now being made in the construction of the above railway. They have every reason to be well Mitislicd, as there is no doubt that the railway is being vigorously pushed ahead, and by next winter the settlers should he able to receive great benefit from it, in so much as the saving oi cartage of foodstuffs' is concerned. This is a very serious item, as the cartage in summer from Douglas to Whanganionmna is about £a per ton, rising in winter to as high as .filO per ton, an 1 even then it is extremely difficult to get carting done at the price. It can readily be conceived, therefore, that the cost of even the barest nocessarics ot life is considerably above town prices. The railway is' now completed to Tc Wcru, where it strikes the East road, about 2.'! miles from Stratford, or 1/ miles from Wliangamomona; and tlio opening of this section will be a great boon to settlers by consideral:,, reducing the cartage charges, as it will save a long journey over the Strathmore saddle.

There is a considerable amount, ot shearing being done in the district, which is essentially sheep country, although a little dairying is being carried on, and the settlers were anxious to know how tlhey were to get their wool to the railway at Douglas. The news tliat the Government have decided to rail the wool from Te Wera at once, without waiting for the formality of opening the line, has been hailed with great satisfaction by the settlers, as it will be a saving of pounds in cartage and enable them to place the wool on the market much quicker. The construction of the railway, however, is still being pushed vigorously further ahead on the Pohokura section, and at the present rate of progress another section Should be open for trntlic in a very few months. The work is being carried on on a very systematic principle. The formation is now completed to the Pohokura tunnel, a distance of 28 miles from Stratford, the heaviest filling on the line between Te Wera and Pohokura having just been completed at Rcporua, which means "muddy hole," and probably accounts for the reason wJiy a shrinkage of 3ft has been allowed for. The platelaying | gang are now up to the 20'/ 2 -milc peg, and as they are laying at the rate of from 10 to 12 chains per day it should not be long before the tunnel month is reached. Only temporary oridges are being laid over the few drains and creeks that arc met with, as the engineers arc anxious to get to the tunnel as soon as possible, and the bridges or culverts can easily be built later. Ballasting is also being pushed ahead with the same activity as the other works. Two ballast trains are busily engaged, and five rakes a day are being taken out from the ballast-pit at Skinner road. Ahout eighty men are working at the tunnel througli the Pohokura -.mldlf, which is being worked at both •ends by three shifts, so that there is no cessation of labor throughout the 24 hours. This tunnel is 12% chains long, and its full size is about 17ft high by 13ft wide. A smaller tunnel about' oft x Bft is being first driven, and of this there only remains about 180 ft to be excavated for a connection to be made, which should be early in January. As soon as this is doue temporary rails will be laid nnd material for the works hauled through the tunnel, instead of, as at present, over the saddle. About five chains have .been completed the full size. A start will shortly be made to line the tunnel with concrete blocks, of which a large number have been made and are now in readiness at the Skinner road pit. The tunnel work will be continued throughout the Christmas holidays, and It is expected that it will be completed in about five months. A good seam of shell rock has been struck whilst excavating this tunnel, and this will be utilised in making concrete for pipes and culverts. Formation works are going on well ahead of the tunnelin fact, as far as the Pohokura station yard, 32y 2 miles from Stratford, where a nice residence has been erected for i Air. Dyson, engineer in charge at the works, whilst the line has been cleared for a mile or two further on. so that by the time the tunnel is completed platelaying will be able to be pushed on as far as Poliokura; and there seems no reason why that section should not be able to he opened before the close of 1010. After that there will be a delay of some time, as there is a lengthy tunnel to bore through the Whangamomona saddle.

Opening up to Poliokura will bring tlm rail-head within about six miles of the burnt papa roucl, and will place the settlers wlio have been so long isolated within easy rencb of railway communication.