"SET FOR CHRISTMAS."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 241, 11 October 1929, Page 5

"SET FOR CHRISTMAS."

RAILWAY DUPLICATION. ADVANCE GTJAKD STARTS. EVERY MAN MAKES APPEARANCE. WORK NEAR PUHINUI. Every man engaged by the Eaihvay Department yesterday to commence work on the duplication of the line between Papatoetoe and Papakura, to relieve traffic congestion on the single track between Auckland and the latter point, made his appearance this morning, and was eager to get his coat off. Punctually at 7.30 o'clock the first batch of thirty men signed on by the Department commenced to wield pick and shovel on the £60,000 relief of unemployment undertaking, on the northern side of Puhinui station, on the outskirts of Papatoetoe. An excellent type of labourer they made good progress with preliminary track formation work, though, after long periods of unemployment during which they have suffered physically through lack of proper nourishment, they found the going hard. "Decent Lot of Toilers." Mr. G. McLeod, inspector of permanent new works, who was supervising operations, was more than satisfied with his new workmen, whom he anticipates will develop into an excellent team. "They appear to be a decent lot of hard toilers," he and his statement was confirmed by the way the men were making an impression on the rough ground that skirts the main line at Puhinui. Two experienced gangers were assisting Mr. McLeod in putting the new hands "through their paces." Some of the gang are working towards Papatoetoe and the remainder towards Papakura on the task of pushing ahead with the eight miles of duplication. An advance guard is also clearing the proposed track of gorse and tangled growth. While to the casual observer the overhead bridges along the route do not appear to be sufficiently wide to permit of a double track, provision has been made in most cases for the duplication. The gang at the moment is working in behind the Puhinui station, which eventually will be converted into what is commonly termed an "island station." The Department will place another twenty men on the work on Monday, when they will relieve a certain number of men at Puhinui, who will be transferred to Wiri, a few miles further south, where more difficult country will be encountered. All the men engaged under the big unemployment relief scheme, it is understood, will receive the ordinary rates of pay. Work a God-send. The men now at work confessed their delight at'once more having an occupation that to a certain degree will be permanent. Pick and shovel work alone will carry them through for four months, and thereafter there is a certain amount of concreting work and plate laying to be executed. "I have not had a constant job for three years," said one of the workmen this morning. "This four months' work is a God-send and it will set ray family and I right for Christmas." "Yes, I find the going pretty hard, as I have not had any really hard work for twelve months," added another, "but I jumped at getting a job and will be broken in again in about a week. Another thing I am pleased about is that my work is not far from Auckland. Had I been sent to a Public Works job it would have meant having to keep two homes going. This will keep me going nicely and give me a chance to make up the ground I have lost through having no constant work for many months." The scheme to proceed with the immediate duplication of the railway line between Papatoetoe and Papakura is one of the largest unemployment relief works to be undertaken in Auckland, particularly by the Government. The duplication of the section has long been considered as part of the scheme for a double-track* link with Frankton junction, but it was not originally intended that it should be prosecuted with the idea of assisting the city's army of workless. At present the double track from Auckland extends to Papatoetoe, a distance of Hi miles, and the distance from Papatoetoe to Papakura is just under eight miles. The seven miles between Frankton and Horotiu was recently duplicated, so on the completion of the Papa-toetoe-Papakura link there will remain 5S miles between Horotiu and Papakura still served with a single track. Work Involved. The track over the stretch between Papatoetoe and Papakura will be formed over comparatively level country, but about 40,000 yards of soil will have to be excavated. Embankments will havo to be extended to carry the new rails, and the cuttings will involve the excavation of close on 3500 yards of rock. Three bridges will also have to be duplicated and a fourth at Wiri may have to be entirely reconstructed. Alterations to various stations along the route are also provided for and two-way platforms will be established at Homai, Mahia, Takanini, Tironui and Puhinui. Other stations along the section have already been provided with this facility.