HAMILTON-OHAUPO RAILWAY EXTENSION.

A iiecent visit to the line between Ham. ilton and Ohaupo somewhat astonished ju ß by the extent of the progress mad^ m; the work by the contractors — Messrs' Tbpham and Angus — considering the short time they have had it m hand. When Mr Topham, at the banquet held m Hamilton to commemorate the opening of the Newcastle - Hamilton extension, on the 19th December, admitted that he had been quick with that portion of the line } but expected to be quicker with the section between Hamilton and Ohaupo, there were many who thought that it was there he had made the mistake, for it was known that there were one or two parts of the line which would present considerable difficulties on account of the nature of the ground. Scarcely, however, have seven weeks elapsed and the line is all but finished. The platelaying has been, completed a fortnight ago, and the line is now ballasted right through to Ohaupo ; the station buildings and platform aie being pushed rapidly ahead, and everything looks as if the line would be opened for traffic m time for the races on the 13th and 14th instant. The station yard at Ohaupo is one of the best and largest on the line; m fact, second to none m the colony except those adjacent to the larger centres of population, such as Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, or Dunedin, and it is indeed necessary that it should be so, for it will have to accommodate a large amount of traffic at this central agricultural position, even when the line is still further extended. There are quite a number of sidings m the station yard, on either side the main line, to facilitate the loading and unloading of stock and produce. The line itself between Hamilton and Ohaupo is m perfect good order, and has been severely tested by the number of conti-actors' ballast trains, with as many as sixteen ballast wagons m a set, passing oyer it .dsy by day, showing that whatever fclie .diJ^cidt nature of some portions (if the gi'ouud, it has been metand {/v<?FCO|»e'. The opening of the Jline will L * % ffl&fc boon ' to a very Itirge numbei Je "" «*'<WB4 Ohaupo - . apd yi.U maor settle^ „ ttlo fefl |£ 0 re turns of the teriaUy increase , .orders for bonehne: itself. Many large Mug held dust and ofher manures are . a A «> over m Auckland until this means oi .. hvermg them can be availed of, and even tops year there will be no small amount of farm produce forwarded to Auckland, to be more than quadrupled next season We trust that the line wSI be open for tr<iflic xn time for the races, but, whether '

or no, great credit, is due to the contractors for their despatch, since the wholo line- -from Newcastle to Ohaupo will be completed within the time aUowed for . thp completion of the -work between Hamilton an_& Newcastle only. ■ '_ ' '