MECHANICS' BAY VIADUCT.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2711, 26 March 1866, Page 6

MECHANICS' BAY VIADUCT.

To tb» Editor of the Daily Southern Cross. Sib, — I beg to make a few remarks on the important inquiry relative to the Auckland and Drury Railway. My observations I will chiefly confine to that portion of contract, No. 1, called " Mechiancs' Bay Viaduct," the masonry of which had been so unscupulously condemned by a few inquiring gentlemen in these words : " The masonry in the pier of the Mechanics' Bay Viaduct is very inferior, owing in a great measure to bad mortar, and should not, in our opinion, be admitted in important public works." I deny the truth of these statements, and say that the piers are built of good solid masonry, and with good mortar, the latter being the same as is used at the Supreme Court' house now in course of erection. The cause of the mortar not setting quickly is owing to the quantity of water contained in the scoria with which the piers are built; this is manifest, for the mortar which has fallen from the pierswhile in course of erection, has already attained its wonted hardness. I have had opportunities of practically knowing how similar works are constructed on railways, both in England and in the colonies, and I have no hesitation in saying that the masonry of the piers in question is above the average rate. Piers are generally built in oourses of rubble masonry, between quoins. In conclusion I should suggest that those inquiring gentlemen go deeply into the subject; for frivolous' inquiries and opinions begged without proof are worthless and uninteresting. —I have, Ac, < Daily Osserteb. Parnell, March 20, 1866.