EXCELLENT WORK BY RELIEF GANG.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 190, 12 August 1922, Page 5

EXCELLENT WORK BY RELIEF GANG.

TEN CHAINS OF TEMPORARY TRACK LAID. The relief gang numbering about _ 30 men gathered together by Mr. Wilkins, the acting inspector, aa »oon as he received word of the derailment last night, was responsible for an excellent night's work in laying, the temporary line. Mr. Wilkins left Auckland on the motor "jigger" last night, and on his way to Drury picked up platelayers and surfacemen until he had secured a good gang. The men arrived on the scene shortly before 10 p.m., and immediately set to work to drag apart from the two mail vans, two sleepers that were also derailed. After being jacked up theyi were hitched on to the engine and pulled | back to Opeheke. The main train of carriages was removed to Papakura. The breakdown train arrived about midnight with the necessary sleepers, rails, etc., and then the real work commenced. All the men were engaged in building up a bed to the level of the main line on the side of the embankment, to support the sleepers and rails. This occupied a considerable time, but by 9.50 this morning ten chain of line was laid, and the first train was able to proceed slowly over the temporary line. Mr. Wilkins paid a warm tribute to the men for the manner in which they "slogged" away hard all through the Bight. He stated that they went without food all night, but this morning about 10 o'clock they were taken by special train to Papakura where they rested and enjoyed a well-earned meal. A start was made this morning to clear away the debris and to remove the damaged engine and mail vans. Considerable damage was done to the main line, three sets of points being entirely smashed and rendered useless.