£390,000 JOB.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2732, 14 July 1925, Page 4

£390,000 JOB.

GOVERNMENT MUSTERS II “A UTTLE EXERTION” Getting Railway Deviation Under Way BIG BUILDING PROGRAMME PROBABLE. ! Things are about to buzz in Palmerstem North. They have been so quiet lately that something really had to happen, and the’ time selected appareutiy coincides with tho date of the Prime Minister’s visit to Palmerston North, on Monday next. The Right Hon. J. G, Coates also happens to be Ministers of Railways. Pie sprang one bombshell on Palmerston North on May 12, when the. executive officer of the’ Post and Telegraph Department (of which the Premier is also Minister) informed tho Palmerston North Citizens’ Lunch Club that the Government had graciously consented to Palmerston North becoming a chief Now. as head of the New Zealand Railways, the Prime Minister is going one better. For indications point to a survey party getting to work at Palmerston North op July 20 on the, railway deviation. The probability of over fifty houses being erected by the RailwAy Department will no doubt keep the I-and Office busy arranging the essentia! dotails, as once the survey is made, steps iwill, of course, require to bo taken to | secure the necessary land for the Depart mentis requirements both in this condition and the actual deviation ! work. Programme of Works. Palmerston North station-yard Is jone of the most important links in fho North Island railway system. _ From Iho.position as the. central distributing I point for traffic from the Wellington. I Wairarapa, Napier, Main Trunk, New I Plymouth, ’and Foxton lines, its imj portanco will grow commensurate with the North Island traffic (estimated to tincrease 100 per cent, in 121 years). iTho new railway station and deviation j will extend over the first four of an i lght-ycar programme and is to cost approximately £300,000. Tho area covered by tbe new station will be from Milson’s line in the north 'and half-a-vnlle below Gillespie’s Line in the south —just on 21 miles. There are three main divisions. The goods yard will occupy the whole of the allotted space between Milsou's Lino and Rangitikci street. Tho passenger yard, station and platform will extend practically the jwhole distance from Rangitikoi street ito Gillespie's Line. The locomotive yards will stretch Gillespie’s Lino for a distance of just on half-a-milo, coal storage accommodation being also provided. The total expenditure for each of the four years over which the work will extend is:— £ Ist year 100 000 2nd year 100,050 3rd year 93,000 4th year 95,000 £330,000 In addition £30,000 for Palmerston North-Marton grade easement (£2O, 000 in 7th year, £IO,OOO in Bth year) and £50,000 for Palmerston NorthWhakarongo deviation (£73,000 each Ith and Bth year) will be required.