THE WELLINGTON-MANAWATU RAILWAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6695, 2 October 1882, Page 3

THE WELLINGTON-MANAWATU RAILWAY.

Although only two months have elapsed since the shareholders in the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company agreed to their articles of association, a number of contracts have already been let, work having also been commenced on all of them. Considering the magnitude of the undertaking, the capital involved, and the amount of careful preparation ■which the necessary survey plane and specifications require, this has probably never been equalled in the colony. The preparations for further sections are also in such a forward state that really very little remains to be done before they can be put into the hands of contractors. It must, of course, be remembered that a portion of the formation between Kaiwarra and •Johnsonville had been done by the Government, and that the first five miles of the line -bad been surveyed and taken out in cross sections, so that this part could be taken in hand -at once. We may, however, state that it has -been found advisable to make several alterations in the original plans. The engineer’s -work has been considerably simplified by the adoption in toto of the Government plans for bridges, culverts, &c. Under this system it is not necessary to prepare .special drawings for any structure of the kind, for the Engineer has simply to ascertain the length of any structure, and he can then refer to a set of lithographed plans which are numbered from one upwards, and one of which will be found to be adapted for his purpose. That a very large saving is thus effected is -self-evident. The first section has been let to Mr. Joseph Saunders, for £48,000. It includes the reclamation of thirty acres of the harbor to the north of the Thorndon Baths, and the formation of one mile and ten chains of line. ‘The breastwork in connection with the first named portion of the contract will consist wholly of concrete. It will be 2700 ft lone, and of nn average height of 10ft, the depth of water outside ranging from 3 ft to sft at low-water. Several landing steps, also made in concrete, will be provided. In laying out the land an esplanade, 120 ft wide and facing the water, has been provided for. The short section of line connected with this contract includes some very heavy cuttings. There are three tunnels measuring 10 chains, 15 chains, and 6 •chains. A bridge to be built on screw piles, which carry the permanent way {over the Hutt-road and railway, la also a part of the ■undertaking. The clear height which will be allowed under this is I7ft. Mr Saunders has .already commenced work, and it will not be long before the reclamation will be under way, -although the bridge will have to be completed

before this can be commenced. McGrath’s contract, which is the next, includes two tunnels, one of which has been pierced by Govern, meat labor. It will, however, have to be widened and lined. The second has been pierced half-way. There is also some heavy filling in to be done near the Karori branch of the Kaiwarra stream ; but 70ft have already been done, and only a height of 20ft therefore remains. This" contract brings the line to the stream just alluded to. The price .is £BOOO, Cooley and two other contractors have the next three sections in band at per yard, the estimated coat being £2OOO. They will complete the line to the end of the fourth mile from Wellington, with the exception of a small rock cutting near the Croftou station. The fifth mile has not as yet been put in band, but it will not long remain io its present incomplete state. Some filling in remains to be done, as also an open cutting or tunnel at a spot known as Mount Misery, This will complete the line to Johnsonville. Mr Saunders’ contract expires in twenty months from date of contract, and as the other sections will be completed at • an earlier date, the line will be ready for use to Johnsonville when he has deposited the last truck load of earth. The engineer has completed the survey and cross sections from Johnsonville to distance of three miles, and tenders will be invited within a week or so. Some heavy work will have to be carried out in connection with this, one of them being a viaduct 120 feet high and five or six chains long. It will be the largest and highest structure of the kind in the colony. It will span what is known as the Half-way Honse Stream. Special plans and specifications had to be prepared for it. The remainder of the distance to the crossing of Porirua Harbor is in a forward state of preparation, and it will be _ proclaimed at an early date, when tenders will immediately be invited. The bridge named will rest on iron cylinders, which are already on band, having been purchased from the Government. It should be explained that the structure will be thrown across the Pahaufcanui arm of the harbor, close to where it branches off from the main channel.

Although no work, has as yet been done at the Palmerston end, no time has been lost in making the necessary preparations, and tenders for the first fifteen miles from Langburn close this month. A resident engineer for the northern end will be appointed, and this officer will not only superintend the work of construction, but also push on the surveys southward. As no engineering difficulties exist in this part of the country, it is anticipated that the line will reach Otaki by the time the southern works have been extended to Porirua. We may add that the Company has issued a very neat lithographed colored plan of the southern portion of the North Island, showing the route which their line is taking, together with its various connections, as also the ■ land granted by the Government, bought from Natives, still held by Natives, or to be sold by the Government.