NEW RAILWAY STATION

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28002, 23 June 1956, Page 8

NEW RAILWAY STATION

SEEPAGE OF WATER CAUSES DELAY

PILE DRIVING HINDERED Contractors driving piles for the foundation of Christchurch's new railway station have been considerably hindered by water seepage. This was confirmed yesterday by the General Manager of Railways (Mr A. T. Gandell) on his return from Australia with the Minister of Railways (Mr J. K. McAlpine). Mr Gandell said that last Monday he had received a cablegram from the contractors. Messrs Wilkins and Davies, about some “teething troubles.’’ However. the troubles had been overcome, and pile-driving was under way.

The “teething troubles” were “associated with water and the particular type of pile," Mr Gandell said. “I do not think anyone would take on a job in Christchurch without some troubles in the wet sands and quicksands in the subsoil,” he added. Mr McAlpine, who was present when Mr Gandell made his remarks, said he knew nothing of the matter. He could not say whether a rate of pile-driving of 150 piles in seven months, with about 700 piles still to be driven, was satisfactory. “That is an engineering matter," he said. Mr Gandell said there was no question of the piles being unsuitable and being changed. The design and specifications had been approved by lhe department before driving started, he added.