PALMERSTON RAILWAY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 80, 8 April 1929, Page 10

PALMERSTON RAILWAY

THE DEVIATION WORK

It was rumoured in the city during the week-end that the Government -proposes to take similar action in regard to the Palmerston North railway devia-' tio'n as it took recently in respect to the Taupo-Rotorua line, where work has been dsieontiuued in pursuance of a reversal of policy. In reply to a question to-day, the Prime- Minister (the Bight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) said ho had .nothing to say on the subject, but that a number of -members of Cabinet would visits Palmerston North on Wednesday next. Work on the Palmerston North railway deviation was commenced by the Ecform Administration about two and a half years ago, primarily to give employment to unemployed in the Palmerston district. Tlio deviation works include the construction of 6J miles of double-track railway, as well as a large up-to-date 'goods-yard and passenger station. These works necessitate a largo amount of excavation and banking. The clearing of the railway reserve was practically completed towards the middle of last year, the work involving the removal of a number of houses and large farm buildings. A feature of the deviation is the extensive road-overbridge construction. ,' It was reported to Parliament last session that the earthwork •on the deviation was at that time one-fourth completed. The total cost of the work, as estimated when the Eight Hon. Mr. Coates laid 1 down his programme of railway improvement works in 1924, was £390,000, spread over four years.