MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20274, 27 June 1931, Page 18

MAIN TRUNK LINE.

RAILWAY BOARD'S TOUR. VISIT TO CONSTRUCTION WORKS Leaving Kaikoura early yesterday morning, the Railway Board and Departmental officers continued ' their inspection of the proposed route for the South Island Main Trunk line between Kaikoura and Parnassus, and later visited the construction work in progress between the Conway rivet and Claverley point. In their journey southward? from Kaikoura they motored for some miles along the inland route, joining the main road again to travel through the Hundalee. On returning to the North road from Claverley they were shown a huge steam shovel at work in the bed of the Conway river, and the cutting into the Hawkswood Saddle. The party later joined the train for Christchurch at Parnassus, and left at night for Wellington by the ferry steamer. Having more time yesterday than on Thursday, the Board members had better opportunities for observing the progress of construction and the type of country which the new line will tap. They found the visit to. Claverley the most interesting of the side trips undertaken. Leaving the metal road a mile or so seaward of the lower Conway bridge, the long line of cars wended its way along the grassy flat, past the point, and up to the Claverley homestead, owned by Mr Harry Eccles. There they were hospitably received and shown what this fertile land, sheltered from the north-west and favoured with a beautifully mild climate, will grow. In the orchard are rows of lemon trees growing fruit and blossom even now, and the mildness of the climate ij indicated by an asparagus bed already beginning to send up tender shoots.

Claverley Flat. At the Claverley homestead a construction camp has been established, and men are at work on culverts and the making of concrete posts for the standard and wire fence, which is. being constructed, on either side of the new formation to enclose the reserve. For over a mile along Claverley Flat the formation has been prepared, a huge motor-driven scoop on caterpillar wheels having saved much hard labour. Progress in construction here will be fast, as the ground is almost dead level, and very little filling will be needed. Mud mil cause inore trouble than anything else, as was seen yesterday at the southern extremity of the flat, where levelling is in progress in the soft clay. Nearby, Limestone creek will soon by confined in a culvert. A trestle bridge astride it. facilitates the tipping of spoil into the gully, and a chain or two westward a steam shovel is rapidly demolishing a small eminence which stands in the- way of the line. Prom the main road along the Conway towards tho sea, where the railway will run alinost due east, no problems are presented, and the formation is in varying stages of completion. It is sideling country, and the line 'will run along shelves. Work was commenced yesterday with horses and implements on the levelling of the area which will be the Cqnway station yard. The tftulplngs will stand alongside the North road, on the northern bank of the river. -

C Diverting a Stream. Many men are working in this locality, some on opening-up su cutting which will run through the steep northern bank of the river, others on the water, drive 80 yards long beneath, through which : the little Hundalee stream will be diverted into the Conway, and a number on felling the trees on the station site and similar undertakings. The water drive, now nearly finished, is being lined with concrete carried down in a long chute attached to a muter above. Much filling will be required at the Conway camp before the formation will be ready, and shingle from the river-bed will have to be added to the rock and clay spoil from the cutting. An overhead, bridge will carry the line across the road. The erection of telephone posts has kept pace with the formation work. At an early date the surveyors will move out of their camp at Claverley flat, where they have been for many months, and occupy the new one erected for them at Goose Bay, near Kaikoura. Occasional accidents are inevitably associated with such a big undertaking as the construction of a railway, as the Board members saw yesterday when they passed an overturned lorry with its load'of coal spilled, on the roadside. Mr E. A. Gibson, engineer-in-charge, gave The Press representative some particulars of the progress of the wprki At the Parnassus, -endof the line, he said, 320 men were now employed, and the plant included eight locomotives, seven steam navvies, and a dragline excavator. ..,•■ . ... •' ■ Twelve miles of grading were practically complete,, except for the Hawkswood saddle cutting. Platelayihg and ballasting had been finished as far as the Leader- bridge'. Parnassus and the Conway river four small bridges were required, but the construction of none had; been commenced yet. Then there was ia long a pointthree miles above the Claverley homestead, before another was needed. To cross the Amuri bluff the linoi would climb to a height of 275 feet, but; the Hawkswood saddle cutting would be -! the -highest point. The idea 6f,;a tunnel there had been abandoned, and a cutting; Wxth the greatest depth 69 feet and an average of 60 feet; would be made by using dragline excavators on the top of the saddle and steam shovels on the bottom. -/ NAPIER-GISBORNE LINE. • (PRESS ASSOCIATION' TILEGRAM.) ' WELLINGTON, June 26. The route cf the Napier-Gisborne railway will be inspected by the members' of the Railway Board between July Bth and 11th to view tho nature of the country that , will be served by the line, and generally acquaint itself with local features 1 relevant to the enquiry. The Board will be willing to, receive any representations regarding tho railway, out these must be made in * writing to ths General Manager (Mr H. H. Sterling] in Wellington. '.