MIDLAND LINE

Grey River Argus, 10 December 1938, Page 9

MIDLAND LINE

DEVELOPING THE COAST Great Help of the Railways Attributing the increase in population and development of the mining, farming and timber industries of Westland largely to the provision of railway transport, the Hon. Sullivan, Minister of Railways, quoted some interesting figures in support of his contention to an “Argus” reporter yesterday. He said that the first Government railway constructed on the West Coast was the section between Greymouth and Brunnerton (7 miles 50 chains), which was opened on 7th. April, 1876, a little more than 62 years ago, to carry coal from the Brunner mines for shipment from the port of Greymouth at the mouth of the Mawhera (or Grey) River.

In August, 1876, a ten-mile line from Westport (at the mouth of the Kawatiri, or Buller River) to Waimangaroa (also for coal traffic) was opened, and an extension of nearly nine miles to Ngakawau was opened on 26th. September, 1877. The next development in railway construction on the Coast was the opening of a seven-mile section from Ngakawau to Mokihinui on Bth. August, 1893, which was followed by the Greymouth-Hokitika line (24 miles 17 chains) on 18th. December, 1893. . Thus, during a period of 17 years, Westland was favoured with 58 miles of State railways, of which 32 miles were in the G r /fymouth district and 26 miles in the Westport area. In those days the only economical means of transport between Greymouth and Westport was by sea, a distance of 63 miles.

In the meantime an English Company, the Midland Railway Company, Limited, had been granted concessions for the construction of a railway from Springfield in Canterbury to Stillwater (near Brunnerton), extending thence to Reefton and Nelson. The company was registered in London in 1886, and a contract was let for work at Springfield in 1890. In 1895, the Government took possession of the Midland railway after the company had expended approximately £370,000. The Premier (the Hon. R. J. Seddon) inspected The works at Staircase Gully in 1904, and in 1907, a contract was let to Messrs J. McLean and Sons for the construction of the Otira tunnel (5 miles 554 yards long), at a contract price of £559,794. Sir Joseph Ward fired the first shot in the tunnel in April, 1908. The work was exceedingly hazardous, difficult aiffl costly, and in 1912 the contractors petitioned Parliament to be relieved of the contract. The Government released McLean and Sons, and the work was thereafter carried out by the Public Works Department. A connection by means of an iron rod was made between the twb. tunnel headings on July 20th., 1918, and a month later Sir William Fraser fired a shot which made an opening large enough for a party to pass through. On 4th. August, 11123, the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works, drove the first train through the tunnel (which had a grade of 1 in 33), but it was Ist. September, 1924, when the Railways Department took over the control of the tunnel section, Arthur’s Pass to Otira (7 miles 71 chains). The Midland railway sections, Brunner-Jackson (31 miles 34 chains), Stillwater-Reefton (37 miles 13 chains), and Jackson —Otira (11 miles 23 chains), had been taken over by the Government in 1900.

To-day there were 160 miles of railway (not including the Westport section), converging from 'Greymouth southward to Ross, eastward to Otira, northward to Inangahua Junction, with sections connecting the coaliields at Rewanui and Blackball. The valuable part played by the railways in the development of central Westland was apparent in many ways. The population of Greymouth borough in 1926 was 5,621; in 1936 it was 8,115, an increase of over 44 per cent, in 10 years. In the Grey and Westland Counties (exclusive of boroughs) the population rose from 9,118 in 1926 to 11,252 in 1936, an increase of over 23 per cent.

The outward traffic returns from the 160 miles of railway covering the sections already mentioned were:— Passenger Journeys — 1925-26: 410,228; 1930-31: 506,360; 1935-36: 451,629; 1936-37: 497,938; 1937-38: 521,925. Passenger Revenue: £53,801; £44,791; £40,026; £46,273, £48,010. Parcels, Luggage and Mails: £5,957; £4,384; £4,142; £4,334; £4,618. Timber—Sup. Feet: 79,917,800; 45,294,800; 65,121,300; 67],551,200; 64,737,700. Goods (tons): 374,568 ; 540,786; 378,864; 432,171; 425,608. Cattle, Calves and Horses: 6,108; 4,834;; 7,242; 8,617; 13,372. Sheep and Pigs: 42,934; 38,351; 69,837; 55,786; 63,877. Goods Revenue: £286,506; £331,703; £340,426; £370,821; £368,464. The figures, though fluctuating slightly over the years, showed that the goods revenue for the past financial year was £82,000 in excess of the goods revenue earned on the Coast during the first full year the Grey-mouth-Otira tunnel section operated. The increase in goods tonnage (which included coal) over the same comparative periods was 51,000 tons. Last year 309,436 tons of coal were carried through Otira tunnel, compared with 342,067 tons in 1925-26, and 238,557 tons in 1935-36. If one could assess the value of the goods, timber and livestock carried on the Westland railways, commented Mr. Sullivan, "the total wealth represented by this portion of the Coast’s products would be astonishing. Still more surprising would be the total if it included the value of your rich yield of gold and the other commodities not carried by the railways. And the hills arid valleys, creeks and riverbeds are by no means exhausted of their latent wealth. Gold and coal, I am assured, are here in abundance waiting for scientific equipment to unearth them; and the tireless Member for Westland, Mr. O’Brien, claims that the great expanses of standing bush south of Hokitika hold as much as five thousand million feet of timber waiting to be cut up and marketed in order that the land may be used by industrious families and converted into smiling pastures for the rearing of stock and the production of butter and cheese. Apart from all

this potential wealth there is another asset, the unassessable value of The Coast’s magnificent scenic wonders, the fame of which has spread through many countries and will, in course of time, attact increasing numbers of tourists. “In this marvellously rich province of Westland the people of New Zealand have a goodly heritage which demands the joint efforts of Government and people to ensure that it is rightly and wisely used for the benefit of our young Dominion. Towards the attainment of this objective the Railways Department has helped greatly in the past and will offer the fullest possible co-operation in the future.”

Railway Positions OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DILIGENT. “The opportunities of advancement in the railway service are many, but necessarily much depends on the diligence of the younger members of the staff in pursuing courses of study to qualify for higher positions,” the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Railways, stated yesterday. “The importance of study is impressed upon them when they enter the service, and at all times they receive friendly helpful advice from their superior officers. The Minister remarked that examinations in the Clerical Division were held twice yearly in English, Arithmetic, train operating, railway accounting, tariff charges, rules and regulations, telegraph operating, general knowledge and such specialised knowledge as might be required by candidates employed in the technical branches of the Service. In the recent examinations, held in 19 tovVns of the North Island and 12 of the South Island, there were 670 candidates, comprising 360 clerks approximately 20 to 30 years of age, 290 cadets ranging from 15 to 20 years, of age, and 20 porters and cleaners who were seeking promotion to the clerical division.

Similar opportunities for advancement were available for the lads, about a thousand, indentured to the various trades in the workshops. The apprentices had the choice of thirteen trades, and they were able to attend Departmental day classes, under the tuition of apprentice instructors, shop talks, evening classes at technical schools or colleges (the fees of which were refunded to the apprentices under certain conditions), and they were allowed reasonable leave for attendance at day classes or lectures at Universities. Term and annual examinations for apprentices were held in the Departmental subjects of mathematics, drawing and trade theory, and those obaining the highest all round marks are awarded a scholarship which carries with it certain special advantages. “Altogether,” Mr. Sullivan concluded, “our apprentices are given the choice of a career in which the rewards for diligence and efficiency are not excelled in any other industrial organisation.”

Railway Improvements NORWOOD AND DISTRICT "Further improvements affecting the Norwood area have been decided upon in consequence of the desirability of improving the crossing - ■ facilities and train operations in this area, and also improving the facilities for handling goods,” the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Railways, stated today. “The improvements will comprise the provision at Norwood of crossing facilities to accommodate up to 111) wagons, a new goods shed and stockyarcis, a porter’s house, and the electric lighting of the station and yard.” Mr. Sullivan added that the installation of automatic signalling between Rolleston and Dunsandel was another work to be undertaken in the locality, and this, together with the improved train crossing facilities, should do much to relieve the congestion which now takes place over that portion of the line.