THE MAIN TRUNK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13768, 5 June 1908, Page 5

THE MAIN TRUNK.

MAKATOTE VIADUCT. WORK PRACTICALLY" COMPLETED. [BY TKLKGBA PH.—J'K ESS ASSOCIATION.] Chribtchitbch, Thursday. Nkws has been received by Andersons, Limited, from Makatole, that the last girder of the viaduct \va., placed ill position yesterday, which practically finishes the work. The contract was lei on June 15, 1905, but it was not untii June 25, 1906, that operations connected with the manufacture of the steel structure could be started, owing to the difficulties of transit by rail and road to the site. This viaduct is probably the largest in the southern hemisphere. It consists of five braced-steel piers, of the following heights:— From concrete base to top of handrails, one 240 ft, one 203 ft, one 175 ft and two 110 ft, while the structure from the bed of the creek to the top of the rail is about 260 ft. The highest pier, including the concrete abutments, is about 270 ft. The main girders (10 in number) connecting the piers are each 100 ft. The.se were built and riveted up complete, and then launched out en masse into position. The time occupied in this work varied, but on one occasion it was performed in an hour and a-quarter. The Government asked the contractors to complete the work in two years, and it is understood that they were informed that that was quite impossible. The contractors, however, expected to complete the work at the end of last March, and it is almost certain that they could have accomplished it in less time had they not come to some rotten foundation, causing extra, excavations and a considerable addition of concrete. Messrs. Andersons, while - working at Makatute, also made there the Manganuioteao bridge of two 120 ft spans, Mangaturuturu bridge of two 100 ft spans, and a creek bridge of two 20ft spans, and one 30ft span. The creek bridge and the Mangaturuturu bridges are erected, gild the material for the Manganuioteao bridge is all at the site, and in course of erection.

TRADE FOLLOWS THE RAILS

WELLINGTON .MERCHANTS ACTIVE. [BY TELEUBAriI.—-OWN CORRKSI'ONDKNT.] W KLLiNGXO.v, Thursday. Every few months an extra stretch of country is made available for settlement by the'extension of the North Island Mam Trunk railway, and the prospect of remunerative trade with the new settlements and districts is being freely epoken of. Ohnkuue, which i« generally regarded as the coming business centre of the mid-districts of the North Island, has been specially regarded by the Northern wholesale houses. A press representative made some in- ' quiries on the subject in Wellington to- '■■ day, and ascertained that while no con- ! ceited action had been taken, there was » general movement by the individual .merchants of this city to secure a share of the extra trading that is pure to become available. Three of the leading wholegale house.-: of Wellington have branch i businesses established at Wanganui. 'those 'nouses which have no local agencies all ! have travellers on circuits that cover the I whole of the coastal and inland districts l between Wellington and Taranaki. There j are. of course, many representatives of I Auckland merchants on the .same "road."

Even at present the west coast of the North Island is said to be the most persistently canvaesed ptieich of country in the Dominion.