GISBORNE LINES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13345, 1 April 1914, Page 3

GISBORNE LINES.

PROGRESS OF WORKS

WAIPAOA BRIDGE SPECIFICATIONS

(Special to Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Waipaoa river bridge, for which tenders are being called by the Public Works Department, will span tlie river at a point two miles from Makaraka junction. It will «o built of steel, the approach piers of concrete piles, aud three central piers of concrete cylinders. There will be three spans of 25 feet on either side, and two. main central spans, I each 106 feet long, in the shape of truss girders. Tenders close on April 17th, and the work must- be completed within nine months of that date. As for the line itself, 1 am informed that work is going on at a fair rate. Formation is completed 12 to 13 miles beyond Makaraka. Small bridges have to be put" in at various points. Rails have been laid to the Waipaoa river, and on a long section beyond, making a total of seven miles from Makaraka. The new section of the line is in heavy country. Starting from Ngatapa station, there is a long, steady rise, the gradient being one in 50. Work is in hand up to the 15_-mile point, nearly the whole distance being gutting or embankment. There are four tunnels between the 12 ( and 15-mile points. Small contracts have been let for work on this section. The northern line is finished to Matawai, except for a little ballasting. Earthworks are in hand to Kowhai road station, M-hich serves Motiv township. Beyond this point the country is so extremely difficult for railway construction that nothing definite has been planned. It will. take several months to complete the work in hand. Rails aiv being laid to 'Matawai ballast pit, but it will be some time before the line will bo in use past that formation.