CATLINS-TAHAKOPA RAILWAY

Otago Witness, Issue 2923, 23 March 1910, Page 53

CATLINS-TAHAKOPA RAILWAY

INTERVIEW WITH MR R. CHISHOLM. The deputation from the Catlins-Taha-kopa Railway League returned to Dunedin on Thursday evening after a visit to the railway works. Speaking to a Daily Times reporter on Saturday evening Mr R. Chisholm (president of the league) said : —" We are well satisfied with the progress that has been made with the construction of the line betwei n Houipapa and Table Hill, taking into consideration the number of men employed. There are now 370 men on this section, which is about six miles in length. Up to Papatupu, a distance of three miles from Houipapa, the railway is practically completed and ready for opening. On the section between Papatupu and Table Hill, however, a considerable amount of work remains to be' done, and it will probably be 12 months yet before the railway reaches the latiir point. This part of the work is very heavy. It is on an up-grade through the bush, and, in addition to bushfelling, it takes in a number of embankments and cuttings, as well as some large culverts in the gullies. "The section beyond Table Hill runs to M'Cullough's, a distance of three miles. Here there is more heavy work to be undertaken. Then, on to MTntyro's, it is another three miles, and from there the line will be pushed on for five miles into the Tahakopa Valley to Rimu, where it might stop for a considerable time. Practically 11 mike of railway are required beyond Table Hill, six of which involve fairly heavy work, while the other five are easy. " The settlers we met would, of course, like to see the line pushed on faster; but they all admit that good work is being done. The settlers in the Tahakopa Valley are waiting patiently. They are improving their properties year, by year, and are in good heart. Naturally they expect great things when the railway comes along and they are able to fully develop the district. A number of riew sections are being taken up in anticipation of the advent of the railway. " I think, looking at the work generally, there ought to be no difficulty in getting the railway finished to Tahakopa in four years. The Public Works Department estimates that it can make progress at the rate of four miles a year, but, allowing three miles, the railway should be right into the Tahakopa Valley early in 1914. The M'Lennan River, between M'Cullough's and MTntyre*s, will require bridging, but it is a work that does not present any special difficulty. On the section between Papatupu and M'Cullough's there are many engineering difficulties, but the greatest of these —a viaduct and a tunnel — has been, averted by the ingenuity of our district engineer (Mr Furkert), who has provided for the line being carried round a curve. It seems to me the line will have to be opened to M'Cullough's siding before it will be of much benefit to the Kahuika and Tahakopa settlers. " Owing to heavy rain and the very difficult state of the roads the' deputation found it impossible to visit Tahakopa on this occasion, as was -originally intended, but it is our purpose to make a special visit to Tahakopa next time a deputation goes to the district."