RAILWAY WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23183, 1 November 1938, Page 11

RAILWAY WORK

PAEROA-POKENO LINK CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS ESTABLISHMENT OF CAMPS [BY TKI/EGRArH OWN CORRESPONDENT] PAEROA, Mondaj' Although to outward appearance progress on the Pacroa-Pokcno railway link since work was begun in January has been slow, practically all the ground work is now completed, and tho actual construction of tho line has been commenced. Housing arrangements have been completed for approximately 25 single and 50 married men at tho camp near tho Puke Bridge, Pacroa, while a section of land at Kerepeehi, on the Hauraki Plains, has been secured for tho erection of a further camp. Considerable difficulty had been experienced over the last stretch from Ngatea to Mangatarata, where walking was heavy over the deep peat and progress was slowed for a time. Tho first formation work undertaken by the Public Works Department was done by dragline dredge from th<> Pacroa station. This was discontinued as soon as the steam suction dredge commenced taking sand from tho bed of tho Wailiou River at tho Ngahinoa Wharf for forming aproaches for tho bridge. Minor mechanical troubles caused temporary hold-ups, but that work lias now been finished, except for shaping up by the dredge. Provision for an overhead crossing on the Paeroa-Pokeno State highway has been made at Netherton, near the school at Kerepechi, and at Ngatea. A considerable stretch of the route at Maramarua has been fenced and drained and cuttings and fillings are in courso of construction. A camp for 30 men has been erected there, while earthworks are being made at Pokeno. Littlo difficulty is anticipated by tho Pacroa staff in construction between Pacroa and Mangatarata, in the low plains area. Soil for the bed formation will dbe taken from, the land flanking tho line, but where the route runs through tho peat area it will bp necessary to transport spoil from the hills to attain tho correct level.