SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22003, 29 January 1937, Page 12

SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK

WORK INSPECTED BY

MINISTER

PROGRESS OF RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

[From Odb Own Reporter.]

NELSON, January 28,

Continuing his tour of the northern part of the South Island, the Minister for Railways (the Hon. D. G Sullivan) covered a great deal of territory, both by train and by motor-car to-day. With a big parly of officials he set out by special train early this morning fromPicton, and inspected the whole of the section of the working railway from Piclon to Wharanui, the present terminus of the South Island main tr Af headquarters for construction work on the line at. the northern end, the Minister was given with the completion of woik. teen miles of new line hab been laU to the Clarence river and anothei thiee miles of formation has been com p cted. Over the river four miles of formation is finished, and now waits or rails" Already this part of the line from . Wharanui is carrying heavy traffic for the Public Works Department, which hauls its own mateiialand plant from the rail-head along the line. Altogether 420 men arc employed between the present advanced construction camps at this side and Wharanui and the Minister was told. to-day that their earnings arc averaging 18s ana 19s u dny Shortly 'headquarters will be transferred "from Wharanui to Aniseed Creek, some miles along the new portion of the line. Mr Sullivan was intested ' -> bear that Mr E. P. Meachen, member of Parliament for the district, who was with the party, worked on the line for a few years and actually constructed some of the buildings now in use at Wharanui. . On the way back to Blenheim, Mr Sullivan temporarily deserted the party to ride in the engine with the train crew, and for a time drove the train. At Seddon he was shown through the cable station, which will shortly be shifted five miles down towards the coast as part of the scheme for an improved service across Cook Strait. . At Blenheim again he heard deputations, and after lunch he left on the long drive for Nelson. The evening was all occupied by deputations dealing with a variety of topics, including promotion of the tobacco industry, the difficulties of the fruit canning industry, flour milling, the working of a neighbouring lime deposit, and a request from local organisations for completion of the rail link with the West Coast. To-morrow the Minister will visit Motueka, Takaka and the Onekaka iron works, and will return to Nelson to spend the night there. ___