OHAI RAILWAY BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 21580, 18 December 1931, Page 12

OHAI RAILWAY BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. (From Our Correspondent.) The monthly meeting of the Ohai Railway Board was held at Wairio on Wednesday, and was attended by the following members: Messrs G. S. Edie (chairman), J. B. Birtles, D. D. Macdonald, E. Davis, L. S. Edmond, W. J. A. McGregor and W. Exccll. The general and traffic managers were also in attendance. Mr McGregor took the opportunity of thanking the members for the expression of sympathy in his recent accident and the chairman welcomed him back to the board table. General Manager’s Report. The general manager (Mr A. W. Rodger) submitted the following report: Comparing the output of coal for the expired portion of the current financial year with the similar period of the previous year, there is a decrease of 31,955 tons. When I last reported to the board the figure was 27,450 tons. The new gear box- for the Leyland locomotive has been delivered in Invercargill, and is apparently a very fine piece of work. Prices for fixing the gear box in position will be obtained as speedily as possible for submission to the board. In view of the fact that the Benoni engine will have to undergo repairs during February, it will be necessary to have the work on the Leyland locomotive carried out during the previous month. The report was adopted. Traffic Manager’s Report. Mr Donnelly, the traffic manager, submitted the following report: The boiler tubes of No. 3 locomotive require renewing about the middle of February, 1932, and other fittings requiring attention should be put in order while this engine is idle during the slack coal period. Test holes put down at the foot of the embankment near the 10 mile peg proved that the sandstone was further from the surface than was anticipated, and in consequence it was decided to drive iron rails into the solid foundation and in addition cut a wide trench as a base to build up a supporting stone wall to hold the weak part of the embankment. This part of the work is now finished and it only requires about ten truck loads of material to complete the job. The general manager reported that with reference to No. 3 engine an inspection had been made and the inspector had prohibited the use of the locomotive until it had been put in order. The report was adopted. General Business. The general manager reported that in 1924 an agreement had been arrived at with the Railway Department regarding the supply of water for pumping purposes, and a meter had been installed, but this method had not proved very satisfactory. A fresh arrangement had been made with the department to pay £5 per annum for the privilege, and after discussion it was resolved that the supplementary agreement be duly signed and the board’s seal affixed thereto. The chairman said a number of inquiries hail been made with regard to a special train to Warip on the occasion of the sports meeting on January 9, 1932, and the matter was left in the hands of the traffic manager. Mr McGregor inquired whether the line at the Birchwood end would be in a fit state for the handling of the wool and other traffic, and in reply the general manager said that an inspection would have to be carried out first, but every endeavour would be made to meet with the requirements of fanners and others if it was within the capacity of the Leyland. The chairman said as this was the last meeting of the year he desired to wish members, the staff and the Press the compliments of the season. He hoped things would brighten up during the coming year and thus make them forget the depression. Messrs McGregor, on behalf of the members, and Mr Rodger, on behalf of the staff, reciprocated the remarks made.