GOOD PROGRESS MADE

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 11

GOOD PROGRESS MADE

SOUTH MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY BUILDING OF CLARENCE BRIDGE (■United Press Association) BLENHEIM, October 15. With mechanization increasingly becoming a feature of the construction of the South Island main trunk railway, the progress of the work after something less than 18 months from the time it recommenced, is generally well in accord with the schedule originally planned. So a Marlborough Express representative ascertained in the course of an inspection of the line. Knowledge of engineering technicalities is not necessary for appreciation of the progress that has been made. More than 450 men are engaged on the section, mostly working under, contract, and using machinery which makes possible a daily rate of achievement which not many years ago would have required the efforts of a substantially greater number. The camps, which are really small towns complete with many modern facilities, are to be seen at various points alone the line from Wharanui to Kaikoura, and the general atmosphere is of purposeful activity which augurs well for the early completion of the great engineering scheme. Most of the work on the northern section is now concentrated south of the Clarence River in country presenting many difficulties, and calling for major cutting, tunnelling, and bridging operations. North of the Clarence River, however, there is still certain work requiring completion before the line will be ready for the final touches.

BRIDGING WORK The bridging work between Wharanui and the Clarence River is well in hand. The total length of the bridges in that section will be something over 1000 ft. At Shades, where there is a fairly large camp, the work of ballasting and forming the permanent way has been practically completed. Sleepers and rails have been received in sufficient quantity to carry out the permanent way from Shades to the Clarence, a distance of about 12 miles, and it is expected that a start will be made with that work at about the end of this month. The building of the Clarence bridge is going ahead well, though late delivery of the steel caused some delay. Three out of 13 cylinders have been sunk. This bridge is one of the major works of the whole line. Including the cost of the bridge and approaches, it is estimated that there will be little left of £lOO,OOO by the time it is completed. Beyond the Clarence, the line traverses sand dune country, where a good deal of formation work was completed previously. This is now being cleared. Three miles beyond the Clarence, the line enters a terrain where heavy construction work is entailed, and in this locality, paiticularly, remarkable progress has been made. The ordinary construction has been practically completed for a distance of about 18 miles. Surveys are in hand with a view to placing the line as near as possible to the township of Kaikoura. At present it is considered that the station yard will be constructed approximately in the position of the present Kaikoura show grounds, within quarter of a mile of the northern end of the town.