PROGRESS OF THE RAILWAY. (By our Travelling Reporter.)

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 542, 9 November 1875, Page 2

PROGRESS OF THE RAILWAY. (By our Travelling Reporter.)

During the past two years good progress his been made with the formation of the *lyie between IkjLer;er % and Hamilton* and the time is now rapidly, approaching when the work of ' platelaying and ballasting can be • commenced in * earnest. • The ballast « required will be obtained from, Taupiri 1 , where stone breaking machines are to be erected, and work can this be carried on in .both directions at once, A. contract has just been let for the completion of a few odds and ends of works • between Rangiiiri and Newcastle, an^ these will b6 completed in the course of a few months, _In the meantime an engine will be fitted, at Taupiri,- where a branch Hue has been made from the main line down to the" wharf for the purpose of receiving all rails, &a, as they are landed from the barges. I noticed that nearly all the small wooden bridges are rapidly being completed- below Newcastle, and between that township and * Hamilton, a contract has been taken for the erection of four more, to be completed in six months from this date. ' Regarding the bridge at Ngaruawahia, I noticed that great pro- ; gress has been made during the last three months. The four cylinders are now properly fixed in position a,nd built in, in readiness to support the superstructure, a large quantity of material for whic'i is now lying on the temporarj" bridge ready fot immediate use. This teoaporaay bridge has been carried right across the Waikato so that the workmen can get to all ' parts of the works without any troubla, thoiigh of course- the general public are npjt 1 allowed to use it as a throughfare. The whole of this large work has been carried out under the management of Mr Glendinning, overseer for Mr Taylor, who has everything about the works in excellent order and is evidently throughly up to his work. All the earthwork between 1 Newcastle and Hamilton, has been coin-

pleted, and a site for a station levelled on Mr Jolly's farm nbout a mile from the main township, and I understand a good road will be run across tbe'ilat through Jolly's paddock; The formation of the line through Cbft's swatap is being pushed ahead vigorously, four-parties^df contractors being hard at' worfcj* » --The* line has been formed and drains ctitr'orf either side of the line at far as • the intended rice course, ani other -parties aw oof starting at Hammond's bush, Atkinson's yarcfs and near McNieol's farm s\> that in the course of about three months from th> present time- the line will be ready for J sleepers, <feo, very nearly to Obaupo. '$Ie system adopted for carrying' en the works by the Government 1 , is I am given to understand, acting very satisfactorily. They have let a series of petty* contrttcW to the" men who were formerly fh tfie Engineer Volunteer Militia Force, and by this mea^s-the'-work is being most economically carried on. Notwithstanding the extremely bad we hare had lately, and $c great quantity of rain that, has fallen* thtt swamp* workers have not been much delayed, and the .men all seem ia good. health and spirits. »».-;•