OUR RAILWAYS.

Evening Star, Issue 3423, 10 February 1874, Page 2

OUR RAILWAYS.

THE MAT AUK V LINE. On Saturday next the first section of the Mat aura railway from Invercargill to Woodlands, a distance of twelve miles, will be thrown open for traffic. Trains have been run over the section by Messrs Brogden for some time past, and during the early part of the year the whole of the iNew Zealand Meat Preserving Company’s produce was conveyed from the works to the port of shipment by rail. Thereafter, as we stated a few days ago, the contractors declined to convey any more produce at the previously charged rate of 5s 6d per ton—a decision which caused considerable dissatisfaction at the time, but which probably has brought about the step that will be taken on Monday. The local Press, backed by the Southland Railway Committee, urged the immediate opening of the section, and the Government appear to have lost no time in complying with the request of the people of Southland, as the Public Works Minister communicated with Mr J. Henderson, C.E., representing Messrs Brogden and Sons, requesting him to place himself in communication with hia Honor the Superintendent, with the view of having the Mataura line opened to Woodlands stationMr Brunton, the District Engineer, lias reported the line to be lit for public traffic ; and, as we have already stated, the line will be thrown open for traffic on Saturday, when Mr Smyth, on behalf of Messrs Brogden and Sons, will hand it over to Mr Conyers, the railway manager in Southland. The second section of this Hue lot to Messrs Brogden *ud Sons, ( from Woodlands to Longford, twenty-eight miles, is in a forward. state, the earthwork and fencing being well advanced. CHAIN HILLS. Messrs Brogden and Sons have taken the Cham Hills section of the Clutha line into their own hands, having relieved the subcontractor of his responsibility, and no reasonable expense will be spared to push on the work t© completion. The tunnel is fairly entered on the south side, and a large brick-kiln has been established on each side of the tunnel, at which the making of bricks is carried on, so that no delay may occur for want of bricks to face the tunnel. The earthwork ou the remaining portion of the contract (forty miles) is completed, and ballasting and formation, preparatory to laying the permanent way, are being pushed on with at various points. Sleepers are also being got ou the ground, so that on the com--1 letiou of the Chain Hill tunnel, the whole will be ready for opening. It is certain that Messrs Brogden and Co. will open the Clutha line long within contract time. THE NORTH TRUNK. LINE. The following particulars with reference to the first contract on the Dunedin and Moeraki Railway, which is now open for tender, have been furnished to us. This section it has Rbeen decided to let first in order, as it consists mainly of the tunnel through the range between the sea and Mikiwaka, and is really the key to the whole work. The present contract will therefore, only include the tunnel and its approaches, with two small bridges, each of 20tt span, over creeks. The total length of the tunnel will be 1,400 yards, and borings have been made over about fifteen chains distance from the north end of it, for the purpose of ascertaining the strata likely to bo met with. The result is that it is believed solid rock—most probably Port Chalmers stone- will have to be gone through for the entire length. The time allowed for the completion of the entire work is thirty months, and the Government offer a bonus of L 201) for every week saved within that time. As the contractor will be able to work from a shaft, it is thought that the work will be finished considerably under that period.