MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 219, 9 June 1908, Page 6

MAIN TRUNK LINE.

. . VISIT OF INSPECTION.. .' L THE PROPOSED TIME TABLE. , Tho General Manager for Railways (Mr., 11,I 1 , Ronayne), who,-with the heads of branches,returned on Friday night from: an inspection of : northern lines, states that the section of the" Main Trunk railway from . Mataroa to' Waiouru will be taken over by the Railway: Department on July 1?: This will suit both tho Public Works and; Railway Department, Mr. Ronayne states, better than an earlier date. • ■ \ i'

Mr. Ronayne reports ' that -excellent: pro-' gress is being made with' the construction ' of the Main Trunk line, and the work done is of a very high standard. If lines had been . constructed in the samo thorough manner twenty years ago; the. cost of renewals would be much less.than.it is to-day.'. In connection with tlie Makafote'viaduct, of which'the final, girder was placed in position, last week, the superstructure has still to be'completed, and in view of tho .'deep'gulf beneath, the-work of laying sleepers to carry tho rails-must be very special care. The banks and; cuttings on. tho line are., very stable, ;and Mr. Ronayne does/ not expect that much trouble will ; be caused by slips. In the old section .between Martori and;, Taihape,' owing to the treacherous nature of .' the soil, is likely to give more trouble of this , kind than any new portion of the line/; As regards the tiine-table to be followed, nothing' has been definitely decided as yet, ■ but it is probable that a " through", service from Invercargill will ; be • favoured. A -passenger making the "though " journey would leave Invercargill about 7 a.m., and reach Wellington about 10 a.m. next. day. Leaving this city about. noon;' he: would arrive ;at Aucklaind by 8. a.m. next day, the trip from hereV to 'Auckland taking':2o hours. .This would-be rather heavy travelling for persons not.in. a hurry, or desirous of enjoying tho scenery, but ■ tno. " tlu ough " .would Ibe of. great commercial value.;.'jit ,is" possible that. tho 20 hours' journey to Auckland might bo' reduced iji> point',.of'time when the service-was consolidated;.' -, V FOUR MONTHS OFF COMPLETioN. Th 6 ' Under-Secretary;; for Public Works (Mr./ H. J. : H. Blow),' speaking with .refers / ence'tbTtho 'Hon. W: Hall-Jo'ri'es's statement . that 1 the. Slaih'L*.link line would be complo-' ted by November, expressed .the opinion tliat the rail, connection would be completed even before .'that, if the weather was'at all favourable. ! ;' ' ; . 1 , ■ ■■ I' "Sb far," said Mr. BJow, "they have been experiencing splendid weather for , this time of the-year, not-so good as-we are' having liere, but .still vej\v fine ,indeed. If tliat keeps up, they will be able to get through in-good time, you'll see:", V.' .•: _ ' A recent Press Association message from Christcliurch giive praise ;to'. Messrs. Andersbn, Ltd., of Chri&tchurch,- for the work I dono in tho construction of the Makatote viaduct. .Tho; same firm has iii hand the erection'of the Manganui viaduct, about ; a mile „and_ a half further on, the .masonry (erected by the Public Works Department) having been in. position for twelve months past.> With all tho material on the ground, it is anticipated that . the structure can bo erected within two months.. ...Manganui is l .a tw<v. span viaduct; but both spans aro, longer than any on the Makatote viaduct.

REARRANGEMENT OF STEAMER ' SERVICE. : (BV TELEGRAPH.* —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) ' , ■ Auckland, June 8. Sir James. Mills, interviewed, said that on completion of tlie Main Trunk Railway, the Union Company, would probably .discontinue the through/service from Wellington to Onehunga, via New Plymouth; withdraw either the Rotoiti or Takapuna, and run one steamer /between New Plymouth and Onehunga, alternating with the Northern Company's steamer. .