RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1966, 29 October 1891, Page 35

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

There are at the present time employed by the Government on the Otago Central railway 175 men, who are engaged in batoheß on what are known as co-operative contracts. The formation works which are in progress under this system extend from a point 42 miles from the main line, to which point the railway is completed, to the end of the 48 mile of the Otago Central line. The men are divided into parties of 10, and to eaoh party there is allotted a certain portion of the work, which is let to them at prices determined upon by the district engineer. We understand that the prinoiple upon which the schedule rates is settled is this : A certain price is estimated as a fair contract rate, and from that price Is deducted a proportionate sum sufficient to compensate the Government for providing working plant and to cover the cost of superintendence. As a result of this system competent workmen, who work hard and steadily, make a fair wage, and the wages are proportionately less as the men are deficient either in competency or diligence. Some of these contracts will soon be completed, aa good progress is made with the work. The formation of the portion of the line upon which the men are now employed is comparatively light, and in all probability the distance over which the contraots now extend will | be completed within three or four months, or at the rate of one mile per month. Beyond the 48th mile the work becomes heavier, and of course the formation cannot progress at the same rate. Besides the men on the Otago Central line the Public Works department have 105 men engaged in a similar manner on the formation of the Catlin's River branch railway. On this line the formation work extends frem 13 miles 56 chains from the main line to the 16-mile peg, adjacent to the Owake township, and within two miles of the centre of the Catlin's River district. When the line is constructed and opened to Owake it is expected that it will, for a considerable time, serve the requirements of the distriot; but as settlement extends beyond Catling lake it will be necessary to carry the line on farther some six or eight miles.