RAILWAY WORKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22465, 8 July 1936, Page 14

RAILWAY WORKS

EAST COAST LINE PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS PROVISION FOR CAMP RADIOS [llY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] GIBUOKNE, Tuesday About 230 men are now employed between Waikokopu and Gisborne on the route of the east coast railway. They are beginning to make an impression upon the great amount of preparatory work which faced the Public Works Department when authority to procoed with the railway was issued. Many of the men are clearing up the formation work in anticipation of early progress with the key positions 011 tho northern section. Approximately 140 men are working between Waikokopu and the head of tho Kopuawhara Valley, and of these a considerable number are reinstating tho Waikokopu Bluffs excavation. Tha bluffs tower almost perpendicularly over the line of railway construction and before the formation level is reached thousand? of tons of rock and spoil will have to be removed and dumped into tho sea. Among the more important of tho preliminary works is the extension of tho power transmission line . from Wairoa for the various camps and tho tunnel faces. All instruction from tho Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, is that each hut or tent is to be provided with a lamp socket and a point from which power may be drawn for radio installations. It is proposed to encourage workers in the camps to make use of these radio points, as they will serve the double purpose of entertainment and instruction. How far electricity is to be employed in driving mechanical units for tunnel excavation and for heavy formation work has not yet been disclosed, but it is known that extensive inquiries have been made with a view to utilising tho national power supply as far as possible and eliminating expenso in tho matter of imported fuels. Some months ago the Minister placed overseas orders for machinery suitable for use 011 different types of public works, and the needs of the east coast lino were considered to some extent at that time. It is not expected, however, that the major items of plant will be available in the near future. 111 tho meantime work suitable for the absorption of large numbers of semi-skilled workmen on co-operative contracts is engaging the attention of the engineers. Work 011 the major bridge crossing tho Waipaoa River is to be put in hand as soon as the necessary gear for pile-driving can bo procured. It is probable that co-operative contract work will figure in this task as in others involving bridge building. Plans for the structure have been approved by the Minister and it is probably only a matter of weeks before tho job is actually put in hand.