MAIN TRUNK LINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13456, 8 April 1907, Page 6

MAIN TRUNK LINE.

PROGRESS OF THE WORK. PROBABLE COMPLETION NEXT YEAR. [FROM OUR WAIMARINO CORRESPONDENT.] It is almost incredible that any person,, who has been acquainted with the progress [ of the North Island Main Trunk line for the past year or two should express the opinion that it is absolutely impossible for the line to be completed by the end of 1908.*' To the close observer, especially when resident in the district, the antici- I pated completion of th" line within the time stipulated by the Hon. W. HallJones has become not merely possible, but most probable. The Christchurch gentleman who recently travelled over the Main Trunk line, and whose opinions have been given to the press and commented up >n by various newspapers, could not possib'v have made a close personal inspection of the work in hand along the line. Ace ling to his printed statement the line was laid and a ballast train running from Taihape to Waioura, a distance of 23 miles, i To-day that train has crossed the Waiouru plains and is ballasting the line at a \ point 10 miles beyond Waiouru, and only six or seven miles from Ohakune, so that very rapid progress must have been made since the visitor from Christchurch passed over the line, It is expected that the engine will reach Rangitawa station. 2.j mdes from Ohakune, in about five weeks. According to the same authority there is still "30 miles of difficult construction" between Ohakune and Raurimu. As a matter of fact, 22 miles of that distance will be practically easy for railway con structionthat is, apart from such large works as the Raurimu spiral and tunnel, Makatote (not Manga tote) and Mangaonui-o-te-au viaducts, and Maungatunituru Bridge, all of which will in all probability be completed in 12 or 15 months at the outside. By the time these important works are out of hand the whole of the formation work will be finished, and the Public Works engine will be running from Raurirnu, the present northern railhead, to Horopito, a distance of 22 miles. The statement that "a track has been burned through the bush" over the 30 miles >f country, -covered and very hilly, and the clearing of the burnt track looks j as if it might take a couple of years in itself," is misleading. For several miles ' there is scarcely a stick to be seen ; over the whole route of the line the bush has long been felled and fired, while practically ail of it has also been cleared. The Waimarino Plains lie between Raurimu and Makatote, and as the country has a fine easy grade for about, six miles that part of the construction work v.ill proceed rapidly, as on Waiouru plains. The contract for the Makatote viaduct has still 12 months to run, and as there is nothing whatever to prevent the completion of this and other large works already mentioned the running of ballast trains to Horopito at the end' of March, 1908, is practically assured. Then, with Horopito on the north and Ohakune on the south, there will be only a distance of seven miles separating (he railheads. True, this final gap in the line, which is at the base of Ruapehu Mountain, consists of construction difficulties, and requires great engineering ability. The Public Works Department does not intend to delay these works, and is now pushing them on with great expedition, so that the. last seven miles will not long prevent the opening of the completed line. The important works between Ohakune and Horopito include the Taunni viaduct, the ironwork for which has been, or is being, made in the Makohine workshops. There are also several large cuttings and a tunnel on this portion of the line, all of which are fully manned and being worked both day and night. The coming winter cannot hinder the progress of the work to any great extent, the Public Works Department being now practically independent of roads that are likely to become bad, as the ballast engine will convey railway materials to Ohakune on the south, and a splendid road has been made to Horopito from the north. The Christchurch critic's estimate of three years for the completion of the line is (apart from unforeseen circumstances) wide of the mark.

When the Minister for Ptfblic Works had travelled over the route of the line, about three and a-half months ago, he reiterated his previous statement as to time. If the past year's rate of progress is maintained, the long-looked-for railway connection between Auckland and Wellington will be established before, the end of 1903.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Sunday.

Mr. F. M. P. Fisher. M.H.R., is organising a party of local and district members to pay a visit to the Main Trunk railway works about the end of the present month. It is. hoped that a Minister will be able to accompany the party. if