THE RAILWAYS

Grey River Argus, 7 December 1918, Page 2

THE RAILWAYS

MIDLAND LINE;

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

WELLINGTON, December 5

r Jlie Public Works statement proposes £845,000 as the total vote this year for- railway construction.

Regarding the Midland line, it says: The enlargement and lining of the tunnel is still far from completion, and while war conditions prevail but little progress can be made With the development of electrical energy for use in hauling trains through the funnel aiidover the mountain sections On either side.

The liability on tlie Otira-Bealey section of the Midland line at< the end of March last was £4862. ' The vote for the current year proposed is £40,000. Last year £42,911 was spent out of a vote of £60,000.

The. votes -for other sections afet" South Island Main Trunk, £56u0; Midland— Nelson, £5,000; Reefton end £'4000 ;"' Broken River, ; £100 ; West-port-Inangahua £1000 Gutverden-aWi-au, £15,000, Waimate Branch and: Otago Central, each £15,000.

Of ..the South Islaud lines it remarks: The terminus of the South Island Main Trunk line is now at Waharanui Station rails are laid over a. further' length of 3^ miles, but work is suspended because of the impossibility of obtaining material > for "two small steel bridges on the section. CJulverden-Waiau :— formation is completed and rails laid over the whole 13 miles of this line. Only a. little ballasting and minor finishingwork remains to be done, on completion of- which the section can be (.pen-; m\ for regular traffic. A daily goods service is now m operation over tlie wliole length.

Otago Central: — Oonstruction of tlie section from Clyde to Cromwell^ aho'nt 12^ miles in length, and mostly in a narrow river-gorge, is practically completed, and for some time past a traiu service has bee n in operation right up to the Cromwell Station site. The damage caused by the phenomena^ thunderstorm in November 1916,' lias been repaired,, and only a. couple bf siuall concrete bridges besides work irt Croimvell Station yard, require completion before this section can be opened for regular traffic.

Dresses. — -Wp hnvo just up :mntfi<*r ranpp of fl^Tal '"'voiles. rtrmb?o width from .3/11 ' per yard. All tht daintiest shades in plain voiles 3/Tl T>fr ynrd. TymoTis' and Co., GTeyTainui StTeet— Advt, ' J