Main Trunk Railway.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8144, 24 July 1906, Page 2

Main Trunk Railway.

Some Interesting Details.

i a ' _ A Visit to the Railhead.

TAIHAPE, Monday. On Wednesday last your correspondent took a trip to the present terminus oj the Main Trunk line, which is about 12 miles beyond Taihape. The ballast tram leaves about every two hours. My choice waß the train leaving at 2 p.m. After some trouble I got a fairly good seat (considering there is no charge made) on some damp gravel fresh from the pit. On this train there Were 9 men and 2 women, one with a baby, all perched upon the ballast trucks. There is no such thing as the warning "Seats please 1" The engine driver simply looks up and down the line to see if all is clear and then on we go. After passing through the Taihape tunnel there is some heavy bush on either side of the line; which the sawmills are making into building material. Three miles further we rfeaeh the Mataroa tunnel, which is 32 chains long, being the longest on the new formation. The next thing to catch one's eye is the Mataroa railway station, _ which is just completed. In size it is about the same as the Ashhurst railway station. There is also a fine goods shed built on the left side of the line. The township or village of Mataroa at present consists of two general stores, one smithy, post office and several boarding houses. The school house here has just been enlarged J to hold 100 schools. A rather imposing building has been erected at Mataroa purposely for a hotel, but owing to Mataroa being in the King Country, a license could not be obtained. After a short stay at Mataroa we again steam up the line, passing over the Hautapu bridge, which has been so long in being built. About 2| miles above Mataroa a sand slip has occurred which it is said will cost £1000 to remove. A side line bad to be laid to enable the ballast train to proceed. ) Passing through Quinn's and Fahey s cuttings (these cuttings, being named after the head men of the gangs) we reach the^presenttermiaus. The Resident Engineer informs me that he "expects to have the engine run ning to Turangarere in two months. The Turangarere tunnel is being built larger than the tunnels lower down the line to allow the Auckland end engines to pass through. LIFE AMONGST THE WORKERS. Those accustomed to town life and the comfort and conveniences that civilization brings around them have no idea of the hardships experienced by those pioneer workers at the various cuttings. One sees tents pitched sometimes in pairs or in groups. There are no wooden buildings whatsoever. Even the boarding houses are made of large tents with earth floors and a long bench down the centre for a table. Your scribe called at one of these boarding houses, called "The Grand Palace." I was met by a strong-look-ing Irish dame. I asked: '* Is there any chance of a cup of tea, mum ? " The answer came : " Sure, it's late that you are, sir. Sit down while I make .the billy boil." After drinking a pannikin of strong tea with tinned milk and eating a slice of home-made bread, I asked: " How much do I owe you ? " " Sure, sir, I would not think of charging you for that snack." On the return journey I noticed the cuttings were not finished off as they usually are on other lines, and on making enquiries found that they would be gone over and the facings touched up. Between Taihape and Waiouru (21 miles) there are over 1000 men engaged in the line work, and beyond Waiouru there are hundreds more making way for the iron horse. I am told by Inspec ■ tor, Mr McGonagle, that he expects the line will be open up to up to Waiouru by November next. Then the coaches will connect there for the Hot Springs district.