OTAGO RAILWAYS.

Southland Times, Issue 3027, 11 March 1878, Page 2

OTAGO RAILWAYS.

The important work of filling in the gaps in the arterial line of railway in the Provincial District of Otago has for some time past been energetically prosecuted, With something like certainty it may now be said that through railway communication from Dunedin to Chriatchuroh will be established by the middle of May, and before that time the Clinton section of the south line should bo completed, in which case there will be a line of railway complete from Lyttelton to Invercargill. The section of the northward line from Blueskin to Waikouaiti has been pushed on rapidly by the contractors, Messrs D Proudfoot and McKay. It is expected that by the end of the week the rails will be laid to the Maori Kaik, and the small tunnel at Waikouaiti is fast approaching completion, the rails have been laid through tb.B tunnel ; its side wall 3 have been built and the roof will be finished in the course or a week or two. The next section of the line is in the hands of the Government, and fair progress has been made with it. The bridges are all finished—the engine has been

running over them for some time^-and the rails have been laid from the Bendigo Hotel to near the Maori Kaik at Waikouaiti. In the course of 10 days there will be only a gap of 60 chains on the railway between Duuedin and Waikouaiti, and that gap will bo filled up before the end of the month. On the Kartigi section the contractors, Messrs McKenzia and Paisley, have been, it appears, makiHg every effort, to comply with the terms of their contract. A large number of 'men have boea employed on this section from four •' clock in the morning till it was dark in the evening, and the line is now ready to be opened from Moeraki to the Horae Eange. The bridges are almost finished, and the contractors promise to have the line ready to be opened to Palmerstem by the end of the present month. Should the weather continue favorable, it may be expeoted that before the beginning of April, the Railway Department will be able to run trains from Dunedin to Waikouaiti, and from Palmerston to Christohurch, leaving only a gap on the main line of eight miles, which it will not take more than a few weeks to fill up and complete the railway communication between Dunedin and Christchuroh. On the lino south of Dunedin, the contract between the Balclutha Bridge and the town, ship is almost finished. Some few weeks ago this section of the line I was opened, but the ' buildings were not then erected. Satisfactory progress has been made with the work of the next section, which has been performed undethe supervision of the Government oflScers, On this part of the line there have been constantly at work from 70 to 80 men, who applied to tho Government for work as unemployed. The line is now being ballasted, and can be finished within two months. It appears probable that the next section, the Clinton contract, will retard the opening of the line. Only about ICO men are engaged upon a work which should be undertaken with four times that number. The local papers have expressed their opinion that the progress of the work is not satisfactory. Until the contract is finished the line to Invercargill cannot be opened, so that ita progress is a matter of public interest, Tho work should be prosecuted with all possible despatch.