THE NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7881, 25 February 1887, Page 5

THE NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

COSTLY VIADUCTS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —press ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday. There will have to be three costly viaducts on the Northern Trunk Line, one of whioh is in the Waititi contract, just let, at the northern end this, .and another in the southern portion. They will cost about £30,000 each. The third is in the centre, and will run some £10,000 more. The three represent about £100,000. The engineers have striven in vain to avoid these costly works, and even now a double party are surveying in the endeavour to find some means of escaping the central one. Tho necessity for these via ducts arises through the peculiar contour of the country. The line runs through broad plains, stretching for miles on either side, and at certain points, some of which the rails must cross, deep-shaped ravines have been scoured out of tho soft papa formation. Those in the direct route of the railway are a hundred yards or more in width, and proportionately deep, with steep sides. The southern viaduct is not an unmixed blessing. An attempt was made to take the line across lower down, in order to reduce tho height of the bridge, but it was found impossible. By adopting the present route it turned out that nine miles would be saved, aud the viaduct will consequently almost pay for itself.