STRATFORD-MAIN TRUNK.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 153, 2 July 1914, Page 5

STRATFORD-MAIN TRUNK.

formal opening at whanga-

MOMONA.

[PRBSS AaSOCIATION.}

WHANGAMOMONA, July \ The formal opening of the StratfoM"Main Trunk Railway to Whangafiftomona took .place this afternoon-, *the Hon. Mr -Hei»ri€# performing ;the ceremony before a large gatheiQrtg of settlers and visitors. _ The line -is oiow available for passenger 4iraffie for a distance of 37 miles 53 chains from StraifoseL I The-first sod was turned b-y*Sir W. Hatt-Jontes in Ma-rch of 1901- Toko was reached in 1902, and Tewera four year!s-agfi>. * The-Minister, in the -cotfrse of his speech, said that the now beinfe*opened for regular-.traffic made a *otai of 37 miles 37 c-haifcs from the jttn&tion at Stratford, The con»t«ietaon had involved -a particularly heavy piece ot work, .especially tor the last three and a-h&lf miles from tfehe tunnel through the main ridge iiato the township, Repeated slips Ifn the heavy cuttings had retarded completion of the section, and had -added appreciably to tthe cost. Ihe t tunnel through the length of th* ridge was 30* chains in length, and between it and the' Mew terminus there were no" less d.han seven gxwstantial bridges ovcsrithe same stream. The completion anil opening _oftaie line >to Whanganißmona would be a boon to numerous on the | Whangamomona and Mangere Prospect and WhaiTgamomona V alley roads, who will no longer have to face a long and fceavy pull over .the Whangamomona Saddle. The construction of tlie section being opened had involved an .expenditure of approximately £141#XJ0. Beyond ttfie present terminus < construction work was in hand for a distance of -seven miles, and furtbsr on there was a stretch of extremely difficult country to be negotiated before a junction could be effected with the line-m course of construction from the .mam Trunji line at Gkahukura.