THE WAIKATO EXTENSION RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4021, 1 October 1874, Page 3

THE WAIKATO EXTENSION RAILWAY.

Upwards of 60 men arrived at N garua wahia on Saturday last from, the lower section of the Waikato Hail way, says Thursday's Waikato Times. There are now in all 90 men worker. ing on. the section of the line between ; Ngaruawahia and. Ohairpo, which is "being pu»hed forward vigorously by a most efficient body of picked men, who are worthy of the designation of navvies. We are informed that there are no real engineering difficulties in the way, which fact will greatly facilitate the speedly completion of this portion of the v line. ' Although so large a body of workmen have been "transferred from the works between Rangiiriri and Ngaruawahia, that portion or the line is not being neglected. We understand that the complexion of the un- | finished portions remaining on this section j hi? been left to small bodies of men who have been told ofi' for that purpose. Cax>tain i Howe's detachment will shortly be engaged yn works at Taupiri connected with the ballasting of the line. There uno scarcity of stone, although at one time it was i ; anticipated that such would be the case; lj there would indeed be sufficient metal to :1 ballast the whole line were it required, and

j . tho Tncvotapproved appliances, from, designs A. by Mr. Stewart, C. E., will be employed for this purpose. When the quarries are euffi--piently opened, a locomotive will be engaged jn conveying the ballast to all portions of the line without delay. The permanent way is ■ nearly formed between and **angiriri, consisting of about 20 miles, and ; the workmen will shortly be removed e/i I ftwwse and -told ofi* in parties to work on I j : that section between Ngaruawahia and \ > Ohaujpo. The station fdte at Ngaruawahia is | i ( definitely fixed-upon and the ground is being P re P a red to receive tho buildings, &c. Mr. '' the contracted for the bridge over the river .at that towmship, has arrived and 1 made arrangements to commence work forth- ] o The only difficulty that may stand in j ? : we Tvay of the, speedy completion of this 3 j structure is that of getting the materials on | *«s to the ground. This," however, we believe, ffi will not b# insurmountable, as tlie total H" -

\7©gfefc of tie iron work is sot more'than 133 tons. We believe that the Government is anxious to open the line to.Mereer.as soon as. possible, but Messrs. Brogden and Sons, judging from their nsnal custom, -will skin the colony to the utmost. It is a curious fact to the uninitiated that the great English contractors who wsrc to put colonials in the way of constructing railways, have proved themselves more incompetent, or more niiney grasping (to use a mild phrase), th?;: any contractors with whom the Governm?:-/; has' had .to deal. It is quite possible, p.c-dded that the material arnves from England and the aleepers can be procured, that the line will be opened to Ngarvawaliia thre" souths after the completion of Messrs. X: '< m's contract.