OHAI RAILWAY BOARD.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 1282, 26 August 1930, Page 3

OHAI RAILWAY BOARD.

♦ . The monthly meeting on Wednes day was attended by Messrs W. Excel (Chairman), W. Qrawford, W. J. A McGregor, G. S. Edie, T. Fraser, L S. Edmond, E. Davis, I). D. Mac ddnald and R. N. Robertson, Before vacating the chair, Mr Excel thanked the member^ tor ineir assis tance during the year, tne business having been transacted m a harmonious manner to allow full discussion before decisions were arrived at. He also thanked, the General Manager, Engineer, Traffic Manager aond btaff for their co-opertaion m assisting for the effi&ent.w.prkingvof the Board's affairs. He hoped! members would extend the same supopor't to his successor. Before calling*'' fpr the . Generad Manager thanked Mr Excell for his Work as Chairman and his sympathetic and -tactful assistance to all conuected with the Board. Mr W. Crawford was unanimously elected Chairman for the ensuing term. -. In returning thanks for ■'this' honour, Mr Crawford appealed for the assistance of members, and by dping^ his best m the interests of all, trusted the Board's affairs would continue to run smoothly. V V ' ' GENERAL MANAGERS' REPORT. Since my last report, dated 23rd ult.,* . four weeks have elapsed, during three of which there was a> very Considerable decrease m the haulage of coal as compared with the eorrespondihgy period of last year. The last week end^ ing on the 10th inst. showed 'an increase, however, of 103 tons. The decrease was caused mainly by the fact that one of the mines was completely closed down for two weeks . oi*. more. . The. total decrease m haulage ior the expired portion of the current financial year as compared wtith -tne like period m 1929-30 is li, 241 tons, yy SHORT WEIGHT IN WAGGONSI I understand that the.Coal Owners' Association have left this question m the hands of Messrs Crawford and Excell with power to act m conjunction with the Board's Representatives. MISHAP" AT REED'S SIDING." - On Saturday last, the 16th inst., Mr Donnelly reported verbally to me that a mishap; had occurred at Reed's Siding. Fortunately, ho one was . seriously injured, although oue Of our men was off work for two days as a result. The written -reports of Mr Donnelly, Guard Spowart and Ganger Blackwell are attached hereto.-—'Adopt-ed, ..J ENGINEER'S RE^RT. Herewith I beg to submit my report on "the progress of work on the W'airio to Birchwood Railway for the period ending to-day; August 20th. j CONTRACT No. 9/1929— J. J. Johns; Contractor. Very little work has! been, done on '■•': this contract since last report* the Contractor making a start-again last Tues-/ '. day. "Three-men were employed today. The material from the cutting is being removed by boxes,: the necessary fails and sleepers being, lent by the Board. Approximately 2800 cubic yards of material has been handled and about 486 c.-yards are required to complete. The very severe weather we have expenience^d;. during the past month has made it impossible to maks - any progress with outside work, : ,yyy'. '■ FENCING./, y . Fair progress hasy been made m . strengthening the face- anaVlransferring the second Vand 'third; jwiresv through MouhVLintonj and l^rfcliwbpd y Estates .and the "-fencers are "how Vat work through the property of Mr W. V Bayne. Another 150 posts; are required;; and I ask authodty to.procure them.,. WORK ON EXTENSION^ , The cattle stops on Lintph ' Road Crossing have been built, fence poiits erected, and the fence will be joine v up to them m the course of: this week- " Tho sleepers for the bridge and water openings are beihg^adze^ and sized and the permanent V way l oh; No 1 bridge will be put m hand at an early date. 'y''J -yV;VyVy r 'J Flood gates haive been made V ancFhung at Nq 2\ water Opening and they appear to 155 satisf actoryy :/ A slight settlement m the embankment between pegs 9 miles 14 clis. and 9 miles '6s' chs.waß noticed after the heavy snow. An examination show* there is a movement on the papa cap, but as the" embankment; is' only :2ft. 4ins. at §5 chains and 6ft. Oinsyat 64 chains, there is not a great -deal of wpight. op the ' country. ' I \yiU ditch the upper side and endeavour to keep the water out and this should prevent further movement. y "V An opportunity was taken of testing the viaduct with loaded waggons and il was observed) that the first bay frop: the Ohai- end avhich consists" of tvft piles, settled under the load* abpn three-quarters, of an inch, it lndicatei that the cap of the papa rack int( which thd piles were driven must hay< been moved m some manner with thi large sliding movement -experieniei Rfor the records of the pile-dfiyini that m the last twelve blows':_q Scwt. monkey; the pile drove bal of an inch. I thinfe. i d be advisable to treat "the rerttair ing two bays similarly to the otheri and I recommend ,tha't it be- done. . In regard to the work to be put. i hand, I consider it would be more c: pedient to continue the p}ate'4ayin to No 2 bridge before ..cpmmjencmfi:tl main ballasting work, it will, I thin be founds more economical to leave tl ballasting WOrk^until the track is fai ly dry, when the whole use pftl material will be obtained. VVThe; toi amount of ballast required 4s v appr6: ■mately 7000 oi. ;yaxisJJ-\/y&J':-