MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20273, 26 June 1931, Page 11

MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

TOUR BY BOARD. JOURNEY FROM BLENHEIM TO KAIKOURA. VISIT TO CLIFFORD BAY. [Fhoji Ode Special Reporter.] KAIKOURA, June 25. In a speedy inspection of the north-, ern section of the South Island Main Trunk Railway, members of the Railways Board motored to-day from Blenheim to Clifford Bay (the proposed new terminus) through Ward and Wharanui to Kaikoura. En route to Clifford Bay the cars left the railway line at Seddon for a brief visit to Richmond Brook, in the Awatere Valley, and the party also made a short detour to see the Kekerangu Valley. Leaving the main road again at Puhi Puhl, the Board inspected that valley, and reached there by way of the Kaikoura flats. The Board did not find an opportun ity to call on the two engineers in charge of tho construction work, ono of whom awaited them at Wharanui and the other at Waipapa Bay. It was obvious that the members were interested more in the potentialities of Marlborough than in the details of the progress on the construction. Last evening the members held a conference with Mr P. S. Wilkinson, Commissioner of Crown Landß for Marlborough, Mr L. May, Resident Public Works Engineer, and Mr E. F k Healy, M.P. for Wairau, when much information about the productive capacity of the district was given. Colonel J. J. Esson, chairman of the Board, joined the other members in Blenheim this morning. The party making the inspection thus comprised: Colonel Esson, Sir James Gunson, Messrs E. Newman, D. Reese, and G. W. Reid (Board nembers), Mr H. H. Sterling (General Manager of Railways), Mr P. W. Purkert (Engineer-in-Chief of tho Public Works Department), Mr Wilkinson, Mr May, Mr D. Rodie (Business Manager of the New Zealand Railways), Mr P, Pawson (Business Agent, Christchurch), Mr Healy, and Mr J. E. Bell (secretary to Mr Sterling). Dr. P. Marshall, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, left the party at Clifford Bay, where he investigated the work of the Marine and Geological Survey there.

At Clifford Bay, The Board was favoured with delightful sunshine for the tour, and Clifford Bay was seen under the best possible conditions. Just west of Mussel Point, which in its turn is about four miles westward of pape Campbell, the coast line describes a semi-circUlar sweep. This inlet was given the name of Clifford Bay many years ago, in honour of the Clifford family, who we're the original owners of tlie Flaxbourne Station in this locality. Towards Mussel Point the bay is backed by a range of low hills which leave a fringe of beach about two chains wide. Standing on this foreshore, the Board members were able to see waves breaking over the long reef jutting out from Cape Campbell, which gives Clifford Bay shelter from the south-west; while toward the north-west the Sounds hills form the horizon. Only toward the east is the bay unprotected. In a north-easterly direction the hills round Wellington, and even tlie entrance to Port Nicholson, 40 miles away as the crow flies, were clearly seen. The »ppt is ten miles nearer Wellington than is Blenheim, and about twelve miles closer to the capital city than Picton. Clifford Bay and Picton ,are almost equidistant from Blenheim. There is a good metal road to it, leaving the main Picton-Bluff highway close to the Hauwai 1 station, crossing the railway line, akd skirting' Lake Grasmere in a northeasterly direction for about four miles. If Ciifford Bay is made the terminal, the new section of line will run over country almost dead level-—the dried-up bed of Lake Grasmere; but if the shortest possible route is followed it will cross a low saddle.

Saving of 50 Miles. 'About 50 miles of travel would 1)9 saved by using the proposed new ter« minal, and the economy in time would be greater than this figure could ordinarily represent, for no slackening in speed, as in the Tory Channel, would be necessary between Clifford Bay and •Wellington. Members of the Board greatly admired the panorama of the Marlborough sheep country, its low hills, soft in outline, even now green with abundant winter feedSurveyors with theodolites, chains, and flags were busily engaged on the marine survey, which it is expected to complete in about three weeks. A boat which assists them in their work was out of sight round the point, It is obvious that the depth of water must be satisfactory for the survey to be advanced to the stage which xt has reached. When the marine survey is finished, that for the new section of line from Ilauwai will be commenced. This locality is very sparsely settled, only two homestead's being in sight from the shore of Lake Grasmere. Numerous photographs were taken by members of the Board before left Clifford Bay. The engineers anticipated that ? halt would be called at the Blue Slip, fcur or five miles from Wharanui; but the cars sped on. Fine has been done at the slip, and the engineers hope Boon to have the great mass of wet clay under control. They are forming big drains in it, and isolating the troublesome portions. Mr A. J. Murray, of Woodbank Station, met the Board there. Visit to Kekerangu Valley. Deviating from the main road, the party visited Kekerangu Valley, a beautiful pocket of sheltered hill country. Nearly as much work has been done lately on reconstructing the road as on railway formation. Long sections of it have had to be remade because of the route selected for the railway crossing it not far south of the Blue Slip. A stone wall is being constructed to hold the hillside. The Board lunched at the Clarence bridge, where Mr Murray left them, and reached Kaikoura a couple of hours later. Altogether there are now'4so men, working on the northern section of the reach Sydney by conveyandes other than the railways. Several passengers who booked at Melbourne for the Niagara are arriving at Sydney to-day by aeroplane. It is expected that rail traffic between Sydney and Melbourne will be restored by to-morrow, but a number .<*£ brftnak Usm m I*MJ