NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11783, 12 October 1901, Page 3

NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY WORKS.

The following is a report from the commissioner of the Auckland Main Trunk Railway League as to the progress of the wor*s since last report •—" There seems to be indications of a slackening of the work on this railway. The sly liquor-selling seems to have reached an acute stage, and has grown to large dimensions the last few months. The Public Works Department are now carrying all goods from the I'oro-o-tarao tunnel to Ougaruhe, and at first they refused to carry the liquor on, but they found on inquiry that as public carriers they had no option in the matter, and so have to carry it. I have been told that one consignment of 60 cases of spirits has passed through their hands to one man in a single train. How is this for prohibition. The liquor is said to be of worse quality than in the old davs. You will wonder what sly-grog has got to do with the progress of this work. It seems to have a good deal, or else is being made use of to reduce hands. To one going over the works it is very hard to decide how many men are at work," and how the numbers are keeping, but it seems to me that a less number is now at work than for many months past,' and I find the impression is very general that the number of men is being steadily reduced. This is where the liquor business comes in. A good many of the men drink more than is good for them, and besides the time lost drinking, owing to the quality of the drink they take a long time to recover, and although they may put in time they are not able to do much, and the result Is that there, is not much money earned. A good many men have left of their own accord the last pay-day or so ; and besides this a good many'men have been discharged by the Department. In at least one instance a whole gang were discharged. I am unable to say how many men have been discharged and not replaced, but it is considerable. Otherwise the works are progressing favourably ; the rails are close to the cylinder bridge over the Ongaruhe, and as the air pump, etc., are on the ground, doubtless a start will soon be made with the erection of the cylinders. A temporary bridge is being erected at this point, so that the laying of the rails will not be delayed by the erection of the permanent bridge. Messrs. Vickerman and Louch, the engineers in charge of the works, lately took ,\ trip on foot over the section from the Tunanui station southward. This is a very rough section, and contains a good part of the up grade into the Waimarino tableland. No work lias yet been done on this section, nor can there" be till the service roads are ma.de. The general impression on the works and in the district generally is that a great mistake is being made in reducing the number of the men employed now after keeping them in full swing all through the bad weather. Preparations have evidently been made by the staff in the matter of roads, etc., for a big summer's work, and now it has the appearance that full advantage is not to be taken of the preparations."