SOUTH ISLAND LINE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 252, 21 September 1934, Page 8

SOUTH ISLAND LINE

DISPOSAL OF MATERIAL. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 20. Describing the present condition of the railway construction depot at Parnassus, a correspondent states that when the work on the South Island Main Trunk line was suspended the depot was a mass of sheds, rails, sleepers, pipes and other heterogeneous material. A glimpse of the same yard to-day shows a great difference. The fitting shop, which contained much of the latest machinery, specially bought tor the works, has been completely emptied. Many concrete mixers, air compressors and pumps have heen scattered far and wide over the country. Outside in the yard one sees very few rails left out of miles and miles of service rails used on the job. The rails have been bought by farmers for fence posts_ana by contractors «for concrete reinforcing. Should the works he reopened, the correspondent states, it would be necessary to acquire anew practically everything needed for the job. Even most of the workers’ oottages have been sold. “It is true that some of the material has been disposed of,” said the Engin-eer-in-Chief of the Public Morks Department, Mr C. J. McKenzie, when the Christchurch message was reterrea to him in Wellington last evening, it was better to sell the material than to let it deteriorate and go to waste, ine Railways Department got some of tne rails and other material was sold in various quarters. This was the wisest thing to do, especially in the case ot the temporary buildings, which have deteriorated very rapidly.