THE HAMILTON – OHAUPO EXTENSION.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 901, 2 April 1878, Page 2

THE HAMILTON - OHAUPO EXTENSION.

SUBSIDENCE OF A PORTION 0 F THE LINE.

The Ohaupo extension of the railway, as we announced m a second edition on Saturday would be the oise, was not opened for traffic yesterday. The springy spot a few miles from Ohaupo gave way on Friday, and left a large gaping hole m the centre of the line. On Saturday fully a hundred tons of ballast were filled m, but the pit absorbs it almost as fast as it is laid down. By yesterday raorniug, the contractor did succeed m getting it filled m a foot or two above the level of the railway, and a rake of ballast waggons brought something like a hundred tons of gravel, and deposited them on either side the line to fill m the hole as the gravel m it subsided. But during the course of yesterday not only had the main hole sucked down all that was put into it, but a hole as large as would swallow n man was seen to form m the heap of ballast ou one side the line and the gravel commenced to settle down into the vortex like sand m an hour glass. We understand that it has been proposed to divert the line at this point, and it is uudoubtedly the best course the Government can sanction To insist on filling up the vacuum would lead to to enormous expense, and never make a safe work of it. At this spot the swamp has been bored, and a depth of between thirty and forty feet reached without finding bottom. Nor does it mean simply filling up a hole of certain dimensions, for as the gravel is absorbed, its -weight forces it otwards m all directions under the crust of the swamp, and it is impossible to say but lhata mountain of ballast would be required to fill up a hole under such conditions. The proposed deviation, is we believe, m f.ccordance with the views of the District Engineer, and could be accomplished without any grea v . loss of time, as the bad spot upon the line is not mere than a chain m length.