MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14280, 31 July 1908, Page 5

MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY

THE END IN SIGHT. PLATELAYING NEARLY COMPLETED. (From Om Own Cohkespokdent.) WELLINGTON, July 30. An important stago in connection with (ho linking up of the gap between the railheads of tho .Main Trunk Tailway was reached this mornihg, when tho platelayers engaged on the northern and southern portions of the Jine met near Horopito, and connected tho rails on their respective sections. The only platelaying now remaining to bo carried out consists of a short length of about two chains at the Maungamri-a-te-ao viaduct. The laying of these fow remaining rails has been deferred till the completion of the viaduct, which is oxpiMted to be sufficiently finished by tho beginning of next week!, to admit of tho laying of the rails across it, and the passage of an c-ngino —an engine has already been over the line as faras Maunganui-a-te-ao. Tho first train to pass, over tho mholo length of the line will be that which will convoy tho parliamentary party to Auckland on the eve of the arrival of the American fleet. The train will leavo Wellington on the evening of August 1, probably between 10 and 11 o'clock. Tho time-table for tho trip has not yet been arranged, but it is cxpected that Auckland will ho reached early on Saturday evening. Tho "Minister of Public "Works informs mo that nothing has yet been deoided in regard to a formal opening of tho line, biit ho 6t«te3 that a convenient occasion might bo found some time before tho lino is handed over to tho Railway Department, possibly at tho end of the present session of Parliament.