EAST COAST RAILWAY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 213, 23 August 1927, Page 8

EAST COAST RAILWAY

ANNUAL REVIEW OF PROCRESS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPORTS. A review of the past year’s progress in connection with the East' Coast Railway is contained in the annual report of the Napier Chamber of Commerce. It is pointed out that the work has -again been steadily proceeded with all along the route between Eskdale and Wairoa. With the exception of two small block cuttings totalling 8000 c. yds. the formation had been completed to the Matahourua viaduct site at 34) miles from the Napier railway station, and by the time this viaduct had been completeci, the formation and plate-laying should be finished to Putorino station yard.} 39 miles from Napier- From here on to Wairoa patches of formation had been carried out mostly with the idea of commencing tunnel work and getting the larger jobs under way. Good progress had been made with the Waikoau viaduct at 27 miles 60 chains, all piers and abutments being completed and the temporary trestle work to carry the main span was also practically finished. Work in connection with Sandy Creek bridge and the piers for the Matahourua viaduct were in hand. The platelaving had been completed to the Waikoau viaduct and preparations were now in hand for tile laying of the rails from the north side of this viaduct to the Matahourua viaduct site. Two tunnels at Chimney Creak were in hand. No. 1 had been pierced for 3 chains at the northern end and No. 2 has 7 chains completed at the northern end and had a bottom heading right through. The Wairoa station yard had been laid down with necessary sidings and permanent rails laid from this yard to the Waoroa river bridge site, a distance of two miles. The passenger station building, goods shed, platform and loading bank have been built( also a 'carpenters’ shop, stores and other buildings have been erected. The station yard had been formed and ballasted. A number ot road deviations had also been completed and metalled and others are ill hand. A considerable amount of work has been done in connection with housing and facilities for workmen over the whole line, and, generally speaking, our workmen are very comfortably housed: A large Y.MC.A. building has been provided at Waikoau and Kotemaori. Thirty-live huts, 16 married men’s cottages, 5 bath bouses, and several cook houses have been erected. Six concrete block cottages for platelayers have been erected, two at Matahourua and 4 at Kotemaori, stores sheds and offices have also been built. Eleven steam shovels and many scoop teams have been in operation during the year, and the following yardage has been excavated:— By steam shovel 168,880 c. yds. By hand labour 86,504 c. yds. By scoop teams 84,321 c. yds. Total 339,707 c. yds. Approximately an average of 540 men have been employed on the whole line.