THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 227, 18 June 1908, Page 8

THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S TRIP. GETTING READS FOR FLEET WEEK. (BT TF.LEGBA.Pn.—SFECIUi CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland, Juno 17. Tho " Herald's" special correspondent with tho Primo Minister telegraphs: —The Primo Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, who travelled up tho Main Trunk line to-day as far as the Hapuawhenua viaduct, and proceeded on again from tho Northern rail-head to Taumarunui, described the Hapuawhenua viaduct as an admirable piece of work, and one of the largest and longest viaducts in tho world. Sir Joseph said he was very pleased at tho way tho work of the line had progressed during tho last twelve months. " Wonderful work has been done," he added, " and it is intended to havo the connection between tho two rail-heads mado by August 7, so as to enable a train to go through. I sent telegrams to all the members of Parliament yesterday stating that the Government hope to be able to get through by that date, so that members of both houses can come up the line in order to take part in the reception to the American, fleet. Tho Minister for Public Works and his Department havo done all they can to havo the. lino ready by that date, and if they do not succeed, in having a temporary track laid down it will bo only a very short gap that will remain. We are now nearing the completion of tho North Island Trunk railway line. Tho engineers .of tho Public Works Department have done excellent' work in hastening on tho completion. .It is a very interesting route, and no doubt we have a very good track. Portions of tho land adjoining tho route should bo. reserved for all time as a national area in order to preserve the sc&iic beauties of the route. Wo also want to see what area of land for selection should be mado available by the clearance of bush." SCENIC EFFECTS. On inspecting the' gaps between tho rail heads it was apparent that thero is no doubt that tho line is being hurried on with all possible speed in order that it may bo-ready by fleet week. On tho Makatote viaduct side threo shifts of men are working day and night at the cutting. Instructions havo been given to secura all the teams and wagons possible, so as to start plate-laying on the other siilo of tho Manganui-a-te-Ao viaduct, and it is expected that plate-laying will-be started next Tuesday over the 'Makatote viaduct. When the Main Trunk line is finished tourists travelling by the direct route from Auckland to will have the opportunity of seeing en route several fine viaducts along the lino. The first one istho great viaduct across the Makatote Gorge, which has been in course of construction for. the last two years and a half and is now practrically completed. Makatoto 39 miles beyond 1 Taumarunui, is the present southern terminus of the Main Trunk for regular railway traffic from tho north, and is reached daily by a Public Works 1 train which runs at a fair speed over tho recently-laid rails. Between Taumarunui and Makatoto,' after passing Raurimu, somo of tho finest sccnerjr of tho wholo route is viewed. Above Raurimu the wonderful spiral railway begins which, over ascending, winds round and round the mountain a distanco of more than four miles to a height of 404 ft. above Raurimu, which is a settlement 1900 ft. above the sea level. The scenic beauties from any point of the ascent are indescribably grand. MAKATOTE VIADUCT. Tho temporary station of Makatote is reached shortly before 10 o'clock, after a threo hours' journey. Hero the railway to tho south for tho time being ends, and here, straight in front, is the mighty Makatoto Viaduct. All round are the works that havo been specially erected to carry out this contract, and here also is a little settlement that has sprung up to meet the requirements of tho workmen. Tho viaduct, which bridges the chasm between the north and tho south, is 900 ft. in length over all, and its height from the bottom of the mountain stream that has its bed in tho depths of the gully beI ncatli is 260 ft.' The viaduct consists of ten spans of 36ft., fivo spans of 100 ft., six-con-crete piers, and fivo braced steel piers. In the construction of it 1200 tons of cement, 1000 tons of steelwork, 'and about 500 tons of plant were used. Some' idea of tho magnitudo of tho work may bo grasped when it is stated that all tho materials and plant had to bo carted to tho edge of tho gorge from Oio, twenty miles away, by horso waggons. The plant used for the work is claimed to be tho most up-to-date in tho Dominion, and is worth £5000. .Nearly all the machinery was either specially built or imported for the work. The massive steel piers that support _ the bridge • itself have been placed in position by a steam winch and. hauling gear.' Theso piers rest on huge concrete blocks sunk in the bottom of the ravine. Thero are 6000 cubic yards of concrete in these immonso blocks, which were manufactured in tho bed of the creek with tho _ aid of a stone-crushing and concretemixing plant specially installed there. .