THE AUCKLAND AND DRURY RAILWAY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2610, 29 November 1865, Page 6

THE AUCKLAND AND DRURY RAILWAY.

Sinojs the commencement of operations on the Auckland and Drury Railway, initiated on the turning of the fitst aod by his Honor the late Superintendent, Robert Graham, Esq., iv Mr. Dil worth's paddock, Newmarket, we have from time to time supplied our readers with detailed particulars of the nature and extent of the proposed undertaking, and the progresi of the different works to be exeouted; and we again propose to devote a ihort space to illustrate, as far as powible, what has, up to the present, been done in sootiou No. 1. It is to be premised, jiowever, at the outset that tho very unfavourable weather which has been experienced in Auckland during the past winter hag materially interfered with the successful conduct and rapid extension of out-door works ; and which otherwise might have been justly anticipated to havo considerably progressed. As it is, however, «n observant spectator, walking over the portion of the line already in progre3S of completion, must be sensibly impressed with 1 j the great advanco which has been made in many directions. Fine summer weather having again set iv, it is naturally enough to be hoped that the favourable time will be taken advantage of to the full extent by the several contractors to whom the different sections have beon let ; and that by working what are technically termed " shifts "—with the assistance also of the engiuet, now almost ready to bo placed on the lines — the change effected iv the appearance »f the railway will be made week by week more distinctly observable. As our readers have aheady been mndo aware, Mr. Peter Grace ' is the contractor for the first section of the line, and Mr. Charles Sanderson, C E., engineer. The section extend* from Wyuyard Pier, across Mechanics' Bay, Parnell Road, Tauyard Gully, through the lower portion of the Government Domain, again intersecting Parnell Road by a tttunel underneath the Grammar School, and so to tho back of the Royal George Hotel, Newmarket, where No. 2 section commences. No. 1 section was contracted to bo formed for £19,000; and No. 2, by Mr. G.H. Cheeseman, for £6,448 6s. lid. Having been invited a few days ago to go over the various works iv course of formation on No. 1 section, we now lay before our readers a few jottings mado on the occasion, and which may serve to enlighten them as to the progress made towards the completion of this nil-important agent in the opening up of our country districts. The first sod of the railway was turned on February 16th of the present year — a very brief period elapsing before gangs of navvies were at work iv the Domain and on other 1 portions of the extensive cuttings, — clearing and preparing the ground j aud since that time — weather permitting — the works have been uninterruptedly proceeded with. Steady progress is now being made with the scoria abutments for the Strand bridge and other portion! of the viaduct. The bridge will have three arches, tho main one over the roadway having a span of 48 feet, and the other two, crossing the footpaths, 25 feet. Over the entrance to Mr. Ireland's tanyard there will be a bridge having a apau of 31 feet, aud the five other openings in the viaduct will be 30 feet each. The Strand bridge will have a larnellated arch, made with 12 by 2 planks, and the otheis will be formed with compound truss-girders. It will be seen that this is a variation from the original plans of the bridges — as it will bo remembered it was at first proposed that the abutments for the two arches should be of buck, the Tanyard bridge having 15 feet span— and the remaining portion be filled iv with earth. Subsequently it was determined by the Railway Board that a viaduct should be erected, and which is now being built. The scoria for tho viaduct is supplied by Messrs. Hart and Carter, who have leased for that purpose Mr. John Williamsons ground near the Royal George, Newmarket. On No. 1 cutting the excavating operations have been suspended for some time, but have been recently recommenced — a single line of rails haviug beeu laid, aad the tip-wagons again at work. The " top-lift "is being taken off, from the Domain end, but ai soon as the viaduct is completed operations will be begun at the Mechanics' Bay side, aud the level of the line no doubt speedily obtained. Owing to the continued wet weather of tho wiuter mouth i the formation of the 150 feet egg-shaped culvert, intended to cany the water from the Parnell side of the Domain to the Tanyard Gully, had to be suspended.'as tho foundation, whioh, had been well formed with piles and planking, gave way. A considerable portion of the culvert had beeu completed; but consequent on the moist and' swampy nature oi the ground, the briokwork bulged outwards, It will, however, be shortly recommenced. Cutting* No. 2 and No. 3 are already finished, and on No. 4 a portion of the permanent way has been laid down to enable larger tip-wagons to be used advantageously in the removal of the ombankmeni near the foot-bridge giving entrance to the Domain from Parnell. It will also be well here to mention that tho lower brick bridge — giving entrance to tin Domain from the road fronting St. John the Baptist'e Church — bos' been so far completed that intending visitors to the Domain can now pass underneath, and enter upon a number of new and ornamental walks which converge at that point. In excavatiug the embankment at the rear of flobson's Park, great difficulty has been experienced by the contractor, owing to extensive land slips, and, to obviate that hindrance as far as possible in the future, a drift has been driven through the hill so as to divert the water from tho railway cutting. The navvies' aio at present employed in the cutting and removing what is termed the top lift, and of which there remain about 35,000 yaids to cairy away. The bottom lift also— which must.be removed before the level of the lino is obtained — is also estimated to contain about 35,000 yards of carth — making a total of 70,000 yards to be lemoved. Little appears to have been done on the Auckland side of the tunuel ; but at the Newmarket end the work has been vigorously proceeded with. When last we had occasion to notice this portion of tho line, the drift or top-headiug of 6 feet by ' 7 feet had only just been commenced, but we are now informed that the workmen have carried tho top-heading 180 feet. The extent of the tunnel when fiuished will be 280 yards, 14 feet wide at the springing, and ,21 feet to the arch. To facilitate the removal of the excavated earth a four-horse power engine has been erected on tho embankment at the mouth of the tunnel, for the purpose of working the perpendicular lift. When in proper working order, the engine, it is computed, will be able.to deliver ,afc the top of the embankmont half a yard of earth ev«ry five minutei— allowing for delays of loading and tipping, and'ebange of wagons. This would give «x yardj in 1 hour, or~4B yards iv a, day of .eight hours, and whioh would ba equal to a yard and a third forward iv the length of tho tunnel. The men, it w contemplated, will work, three shift* in ft day. In No. 5 cutting the topJift Is being removed.— this being the only portiou of the leotioh where it has been required to' oarry ihe, earth up the incline. Nos. 6 and 7 cuttings, which terminate Mr,. Graoe> .seotion, were completed within 'tw,b months after the contraot had been taken, 700 yards' of earth only requiring, to be carried away, The'gradieufc.on thw portion of the line it 1 in 47, the highest gradient being met with on No. 2 section, a<ahovt .distanoe past the Junction Hotel, whore it is'jl in 60,. For the fencing aud ditohing the 'entire length of tho line,, a, separate oontraob was entered, into, by, Mr. ..Kirby, and »,. great portion of the outting* .already in, progrew ; are thus promoted. At tho , commencement of operations it was anticipated, that on, the tunnel being bored beneath' the JP maoU Road A&c|

the Grammar-school;: the' latter > would require" W bo " removed* owing to'rite standing in=tho direob line of observation of theengiheertofthenKailwayßoardy but ibis satisfactory to find that, by means' of the erection' of a small observatoryuand partial excavation underneath the s'ohool flooring the removal will ■ not be requisite. In,, accordance with the J terms of > the contract, 'No. . 3 seption of the line' »hould ; be ' finished and handed over to the Railway Board by ' June next, but owing to delay^ which we have mdi,- , oated.it is 'questionable whether the whbla of the various works now in'h'and will'bs quite completed by that month. Am ire have »aid, however, the locomotive engines are about to be placed at 'the service of the contractor, and by the prevalence of fine weather tbe:navvieim'ay be able to work in shifts. We may hope, therefore, to notice^ »noh ex* 'tensive progress being made' during the' next six imonths, that the' time for the handing'! 6ver -the seotion completed will not be exceeded 1 /' In>» future 'issue we trust to be able to give a few parti6ular(Tof the progress mads on the remaining seotions of the railway whiohhavo been already let'to contractor*. The eugineersto the'Eailway Board are' Messrs. Stewart and Harding.— "Daily Southern Cross," Nov. 21. i >» ' >'