PUBLIC WORKS THE WAIKATO RAILWAY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4506, 3 February 1872, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS THE WAIKATO RAIL WAY.

"We are glad to learn that the strike amongst the navvies on the Waikato railway line has practically come to an end. Reflection has worked the usual cure ; it hailed the men to see that while they were loafing about their expenses were going on without anything to meet them, that evorybody else was busy, and that for the time they hare been stand* ing on their dignity they have had no pay Strikes in the colonies art likely at all times to end unfortunately, except when some poor settler i« the victim who may have his crops ready for reaping, and therefor* cannot wait without running tho risk of losing the result of his year's toil. In public works of any magnitude, and wh«ri undertaken by a firm of ample means, such as Messrs. Brogden and Sons, it only necessitates the delay of the works for a few modths to provide an ampte supply of labour. We have heard that extensive railway works which havo been, going on in Brazil and other South American countries are near completion, and that the labour on them has chiefly been performed by British navvies. These are thoroughly praotioal m,«n, who have been accustomed to work under a warmer sun than that which shines on Auokland province, and would no doubt ultimately make excellent settlers. It would be easy to procure a few thousands of these men, and wo are therefore glad that wise counsels have at last prevailed amongst the working men in Auckland They ought to take the foil ndvantage of any expenditure that may now be going on, work cheerfully,' live economically, and in time be prepared to become their own employers. About sixty men have now resumed work ; and yesterday the works at this end of the line presented a busy scene. At the commencement of next week it is probable that a few men will be set to work on the section between the Domain and Kewmarket. The locomotive in the shads at Newmarket, which we mentioned some time ago was being cleaned, has now been overhauled, and in a few days will be put together. It was in an awful state of dirt and rust ; even the cylinders, although steam had been raised in them many years ago, had not been cleaned out since that time, a quantity of water having remained in them since 1866. This speaks little for the care of those in charge. As soon as the Bhoulder of the hill immediately above the bridge in Mechanics' Bay is cut down, the locomotive will be brought round and placed on the line for shunting purposes. The earth removed is being tipped over the end of the bridge, thus forming the embankment for the future line to tbe station. It is intended to have the rails along the bay some 4ft. above the level of high water. Daring next week it is thought that something will be done to this end o£ the tunnel through the Domain, and when the Hue ia sufficiently clear for the locomotive to be placed upon it rapid progress will be made.

WALKING OVER THE LINE. About a week ago we intimated that the survey on the line, and the necessary plans, were in a sufficiently advanced stage for the line to be what is technically termed "walked over." A slight delay, however, took place on account of a change in the resident engineer. Mr. H. Wrigg was displaced, and Mr. James Stewart, C.E., appointed in his stead. A disagreement occurred relative to handing over the plans, but that difficulty has at last been overcome by the plans being delivered up to the Government. This is so far good, as otherwise the delay caused in having another survey made would have been considerable, and would have placed this province in a false position. No time is now to be lost, and we believe that Mr. Oarruthers, Colonial Engineer ; Mr. Henderson, confidential engineer to Mr. Brogden ; and Mr. Stewart, resident engineer, start to-day for the professional walk-oror. It is time that the last of these pieliminaries were ended, and actual work being carried on all over the line. It was in March, 1862, that the Parliamentary i-urvey was beguu by Messrs. Stewart and Harding, during Mr. Williamsons superintendency. The survey was not finished that year, and on the following year Mr. R. Graham became Superintendent. At his request the survey was completed, and in 1863 the whole of the sections prepared. On the war breaking out, the £500,000 loan by Mr. Graham's Government was not required for immigration and settlement purposes, owing to the exclusive scheme initiated by the General Government, and it was at once resolved to complete the line between Auckland and Drury, and £100,000 was set apart for this work. That was the estimate of the cost at that time, exclusive of what might be required as compensation for the needful land. Commissioners were at once appointed to ( any out tho work. On these gentlemen lesolving to have a heavier line constructed, the estimated cost was at once increased to £103,000, which estimate was submitted to the Provincial Council in 1864. In the meantime Messrs. .Stewart and Harding wore appointed joint engineers for the Commissioners, and working sections were got out in 1564, and tenders invited. The tender of Mr. Blanford was the lowest, but he failed to take up the contract. That of Messrs Higgtns and Bloomfield was the next lowest, and they alto failed to take up the contract, Thus began the tionbles of the Waikato Railway, which, through one phase or another, have continued to the present time. The Commissioners then determined to let the work in small sections. This resolution was carried out, and the portion of the line between Auckland, Penrose, and Onehunjja was let in four separate sections, which were all completed except No. 1 section, the portion nearest Auckland. This was the heaviest contract of tho whole, as it included tho tunnel in the Domain and some heavy earthworks at this end. It is noticeable that those works that were completed, were completed at a price considerably below the Parliamentary estimates. The expensivebridgein Mechanics' Bay and its attendant works were not originally intended. The first proposal of the engineers was to raise the road in iMcchanics' Bay several feet, and run the railway on a level, leaving it practicable for the city authorities, when they wanted to facilitate the communication between the city aud Parnell, to throw a bridge over the railway line, and thus make the roadway across the bay neaily level. - The Railway Commissioners very foolishly rl<v«l^ against this prop™"'. <««<* --«nised the bridge to be constructed, thus commuting a Mi lu der which can never be rectified ; as tho roaci undor the bridge can be raised no higher than its present level. The low-level line would we believe have been a saving of some £20,000 in the coat of construction. The rest of *Jie delays, and the various proposals to renew the works on this railway, need not be further traced. The start that will be made to- day to procure the necessary information to enable Messrs. Brogden and Sons td contract for the whole line to Mercer, will we hope end all further delay with this unfortunate line. We trust that the only thing we shall have td chronicle respecting this line in the future will be the rapid progress that is being made in completing the works, and/ that ere long that wonderful modern engine of civilisation, Ibe locomotive, will pass daily between this city and tho Waikato district. About six or seven days will be required to go over the line as surveyed, when Mr. Brogden will be called on to contract, and according to his • agreement is bound to do so within a month from the date of that notice. The works at this end of the line will however be pushed Tapidly forward under the present arrangement.

DEPUTATION TQ MR. OSMOND. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. James Williamson, Alfred Cox, and Fr*bz Seherff, waited on ibe Hon. the Minister for Public Workß foAbe "purpose "ot prestfriting the fol- , lowing petition, wgned- by 1 380 "settlers in the! Waikato Delta:— "To his Excellency Sir | George P. Bowen, GKO M.0., &C, and. the; Members of the Exeoative Council.— \y©»f your humble petitioners resident in the Waikato Delta, respectfully heg tp represent that, having obserWd^ by an .Aob' of the, General Assembly, pawed last session,' fi-granthasheen made -for the pnrpose 6t surveying a line^ ! ol"rMlw*y from Mercer to

Rmbridffe, we, your petitioners, most respectfully pr*y that yonr honourable body will, before finally adopting the said line, cause & survey to be made from Mercer to Orakau, or some other point in that direction, for the following reasons:— l. That a railway from Mercer to Cambridge would pass along the banks of a river at all times navigable, with which it would have to compete for traffic, and if extended must pass through a comparatively poor country, where very great engineering difficulties exist. 2. That a line or railway from Mercer to Orakau and thence to Wellington would not only ptas through the finest portion of the North Island south of Auckland (possessing as it does few engineering difficulties), bat would in all human probability | settle atonceandfor everthenativedifficulfcy. j And. your parishioners, as in duty bound, ! will ever pray." The deputation were courteously received ; and, having explained the many advantages which, in their opinion, a ruilway to Orakau or Alexandra would possess over one to Cambridge, Mr. Ormond promised that a survey of a line to Orakau or Alexandra should be made, as well as one to Cambridge. The deputation then thanked Mr. Ormond, and withdrew.