OUR RAILWAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 16, 19 April 1884, Page 7

OUR RAILWAY.

By the above we mean that porlion of the line computed in Messrs iinnfc nmi "White's contract, and extending from Aroha to Morrinsville. A few particulars respecting this will, we are sure, prove acceptable to onr readers. Generally speaking this contract is nownearh completed. All the bridges and culverts have been made, and a lew weeks will see the oaenwork aUo finished, as little remains to he done, except connecting portions Ixre ami there along 1 the line. The fencing is also well in hand ; at present it is not the intention of Government to fence more than the stations, and such portions of the line as pass through private property. Starting from Morrinsville end the first station is distant abo it one and a half miles, and is situated opposite Mr Murray's property at Piako. It will, no doubt, be called Piako Station. Here (as at all the other stations) the site has been levelled and completed as far as Hunt and White are concerned. The second station is about four m h^froin Morrins ville, and is known as " Waiharakiki." The third is two miles further on and is known as '<W::i(oa" st-ition. Fourth is situiiled pi biM'k of \vai 1011 township, and is termed •' rirauiiui- (Station/ the

distance 'r.-m M< rrhisvillc ■ eang about nine nu es. A? our renders are n^.iro anof'.cr station site lias been formed on the west sule of the Waihou rivor, but owing to representations made to the Minister of Public Works, fresh orders have been issued, and the Aroba station will now be on this si<!e, riyht in t e Imv"«hip, 0=! <stnt»d in a reront i<?siv», wlv^n pirHrulars vroye «-iver!. T'^rewil! therefore be no station between Pirannui (or Wainoti) and Aroha. j\tessi\s Linn' and Wivte's eonir.K'l ends about !<' chains Iron) the now bridge acioss the river now in course of erection. With romped to the station sites, we may sn t al they are simply enormous with u view to all present requirements, or foi years to come. The Go\ eminent liave certainly erred on the safe side in this matter ; some ot the sites cover 15 aer<\» of ground, and the sin dlest is 0 acres vix , hie last one on Hunt, and White's contract, just across the river. We behelieve tiio reason so much groii ul has been set apart for station purposes is that in several districts w.iich have since quickly home settled, and in which fraftio rapidly mci eased ; when additional spac* was required for station •.Mounds the Government had to pa\ such liii»h prices for t ie lan i, that th'»y have adopted of Lite a new principle altogether, and at first lay off -utrieient land to probably suilice for all alter requirements. I lav ng t .us i>rie(ly refcire 1 to Mentation sites, we will now mention fie bii !^es. These are ei_;ht in number, the priiu-ipal on" is th.it crossing the I'iako river abu\e t.<io present traffic bridge Jn length this one is 122 ft, corns meted" in one 4v)!'t. two oOft, and two lift spans. It is cou&L acted on the undcr-strut principle. Its greatest h.'in:a is 40u auove water level. The fetcond bridge crosses Waiharakiki stream, and is built in three spans ot 20fr. Tlie third crosses a smaller braiuh of same stream, an 1 eons^s of tince spms or loft each. Uiid^o iiuinber ~L k> that at Wiiilon, crossing the W litoa ii\er. It i> 111 ft in lem-.tn, built in Hve .spans of '2i)\h each and one <>f 1 lit-- A little- hirtuer on we com.> to nuniber o, situated in Waitoa bush, across the flood channel of the river just referred to ; it consists of three spans of 20ft. Bridge number b' is known as the Waihekau stroam. bridge, and is 111 ft long, live spans of 20ft each and one lift. An embankment of about 10 chains in length had to be funned through swamp as an approach tv this bridge from the Morrintsville. side. Tho next is at the junction of Waiwhero and Piranui streams, built in four 20it spans ; in this instance also some 10 chains of earthwork approach through swamp was necessary. The last bridge is a small one crossing the outfall drain made by the contractors near Te Aroha. Cutt ings : The heaviest was that through Mr Lark worthy's property, here there was a long k * lead " of soni" 85 chains. The second is close to Mornnsville. Wit n these two exceptions the formation of the line was practically drains and banks. The principal embankment being at Waihekau. On the whole, the constiuction of this line has been singularly free of obstacles ot any magnitude. The heaviest work indeed has been experienced in the formation of the station grounds, which, unfuitunately, were mostly in swamps, and one heavy day's rain often sufficed to stop work on same for a week. The scarcity of Libour and wet weather has extended the completion of this contract by at least a couple of months, but a great push has been made of late to make up tor lost time ; Mr Hunt having taken up his abode temporarily at Te Aroh i in order to be on the spot, and a large body of men aie engaged on the work, which will probably be completed in May. Whilst on the s-üb-j.'ct of our i.uUay we would icuiark that a g'lp of say 10 chains, more or less, e.\ibi.s Ictv.een the end of Messrs Hunt an I White*:- contiact and* the c >mmeiicement of Mr lieul's brinure contiact. Tue place reteired to is swamp, and will | requite "oni • 2<>,owo vu'ds ol earthwork to torin an cub, in \ment approach to the lud^e. The filling up ot this? gap is not arranged lor as yet, and as far as we know, no steps Live been taken for the Kiting of a coiitiacfc ior same. Wo f-it u'nly think our Al ember shoul 1 -see to it, whil-t thi' contractors and t'leii plant aic on the ground. The whole line will he utterly useless until (his connection is made, and it were surely a matter of importance that this work bhould be c.mied out aa soon as possible, so tnai it may have plenty of tint 1 to thoioughly settle down be! ore the ballasting contiact is let. We certainly think tnis matter should be seen to, and a contuct let at onc\ Practically the large ami expensive bridge now in course of construction will be useless for eit.ier ordinary traffic or railway purposes until this is done The Government have Jaid oil', as a reserve close by Perauui station, a knoll of some 15 acres, from which to obtain earth for the forming of this embankment, but there is not the least necessity for waiting for the completion of the line to this spot, and then bringing earth four miles distant, as quite sufficient can be obtained on the high ground on the south side of the new road which has been made to the station site close by. The land referred to, as well os that on both sides of the line to Waihou, belong to Government.

Sheridan one day meeeting two Royal Dukes walking up St. Jame's-.strcet, the younger t'ms Uippantly adtli eased him, " I say, Sherry, we have just been discussing whether you are agi eater i'ocl or rogue; what is your own opinion, my hoy V" Mi. Sh< ridnn, having bowed and smiled at the compliment, took each oil them l>\ tho nrm, and institntly lepjied, " vVliy, 'faith, 1 bulievc 1 aju botwecn liutii !"