THE WAIPARA-BLENHEIM RAILWAY

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 63

THE WAIPARA-BLENHEIM RAILWAY

THE CHEVIo-l EXTENSION.

The Cheviot News, commenting upon A recent visit paid to the railway works at Hurunui by its editor, in comnany with Mr A. W. Rutherford, M.H.R.," and Mr T. Meikle, the chairman of the Cheviot County Council, holds out no hope of the line being speedily carried beyond the north bank of the river. " What we saw convinced us," it says, " that the fulfilment of the Government's promise" to. have the line completed to the north bank of the river by the end of March, at the present rate of progress, is an utter impossibility. * Between the bridge and the cutting on the south side there is an embankment which will take at least six months to make, although double shifts are, we believe, being worked. On the north side, between the rjver and the station site, a long, heavy cutting has to be made. This has, so far, scarcely been commenced.' In our opinion, it will be fully 12 months before the- line is opened at the spot indicated. Then the real trouble commences. ..To reach Hole's paddock, it will Be necessary to go through ground which is continually on th© move; and where the possibility of obtain•in*g, a- solid foundation is extremely doubtful. Tuanelling has been suggested,, but that, we are inclined to think, is out of the question, owing to the treacherous nature of the ground. Trial shafts are being, put in, three of which were carefully examined. In no case has solid ground, been struck, .and the prospects of reaching Hole's paddock by means of a tunneL are excedingly remote. What the department will do it is hard to say, but in the meantime the settlers may rest assured that it will be. many years before the railway gets beyond the nortl* bank of the Hurunui River."