FAIRLIE CREEK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LII, Issue 5817, 17 October 1879, Page 6

FAIRLIE CREEK.

The neighbourhood has assumed an unwonted lively appearance of late on account of the large-influx of men employed by the Government on the Albory extension line of railway. The earthwork of the first two miles of tho line is completed, having been done by contract ; but the bridges over the Opawa and Tengawai are not yet . begun. The men are at present chiefly employed on that portion of the line which runs through the l*mbrook property, the section of the work allotted to the different gangs extending altogether over a distance, of some three miles and a half. This portion of the line runs through a block of low downs under drop, and after passing the downs it crosses the Coal-gqlly, and then .enters upon, the main road, only touching private property at one Mint between Coal Gully and Fairlie Creek. The cuttings through the'downs will be comparatively light, except one, which is of considerable length,, though not very deep. There are- now some 300 men at work on the line. The gangs consist mostiy of from four to six men, each. gangßaving a section of the work.allotted to it. In some ■ places horses andtip drays are used; hut 1 as yet the majority of the . men i are working only with pick and shoveL Althougluit is only a few davs since tb« start, some of the gangs have made a very respectable show ; others, however, who do not understand; the work, and have not been accustomed to'it, are not doing 1 so well. The men, 4 having only been a few days at work, scarcely know yet what wages .they can make at it } but being contract work, a good deal will depend upon the men themselves. , I will say, however, that most of the different parties appear to be, going into the vrork with a wilL , The tents are pitched at intervals all along the line wherever water is to be oonvenientij obtained* One enterprising person hat improvised a store in one of the gullies, but there is ae yet no organised system of oommisariat among the men. Each nng appear*. to_ be entirely independent of the other; ... ■ The Government are euppoaed to .find them in. firewood, but up to the. preaent time that commodity baa been exceedingly ■oaroe., Main being a cooking animal, It is abaolntoly necessary that he should contrive Some means ef. boiling hi* billy, and in the abeence of a legitimate supply of fuel, divers flood-gates and other fencing material on the adjoining property have been utilised for that purpose, muon to the inconvenience of the proprietor. It is to be hoped that the Government will see the propriety of replacing these articles, er of compensating the owner lor the loss sustained. Sergeant Burteushaw, from Alburv, occasionally comes up tiie line on a tour of inspection, and Inspector Bender has also been up; but so far tn* t iervioee of the police have not in any way been required. Nothing whatever of a disorderly nature has occurred,up to the present. ; In so large a number of men brought together witho.nt, any attempt at selection, there are in all pjobabuity a certain, proportion of indescribable characters, but I have conversed a good many of, tho different parties, and have generally found them very civil, decent , follows. Mr Fox, Superintending Engineer, and .Mr Locke, Inspector, are both on the The latter gentleman has a suboffloe erected in ,Coal Gully. »- ■?.: ... 7 : -