STRATFORD RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1924, Page 8

STRATFORD RAILWAY.

ACTIVITY NEXT YEAR.

HEAVY WORK AHEAD. ’> -f SEVERAL BIG TUNNELS. THE PRELIMINARY WORK (From Our Special Reporter.) » Te Kuiti, Dec. 20. During his tour of inspection over the districts between Whangamomona and Te Kuiti, the Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister for Railways and Public Works) took a keen interest in the views of settlers regarding the value of the Stratford-Okahukura railway, dealing particularly with the uncompleted section between Matiere, or rather Toi Toi, and Tahora.

With a representative of the Taranaki Daily Nows, who accompanied the party, the Minister and the engineers freely discussed the difficulties of railing the Tangarakau Gorge. “I suppose the file dealing with the Tahora-Ohura railway is one of the biggest in New Zealand at the present time,” said the Minister during a discussion upon preference of public works. Mr. Coates was not prepared to discuss the financial side of the work, but hinted that in the completion of the gap there was' no cause for alarm, and the work, once started, would not be hampered in this direction. By transferring the plant and men from the Te Roti-Opunake line when that route neared completion, the department would be saving money, and until the work of laying tram-lines to the face of the first tunnel, and the completion of other preparatory work such as establishing camps was effected, there was really little chance of spending large sums on the Stratford end. even if the money had been voted. FORECAST OF WORK. That the department intends to make every effort to complete the gap in five years is shown by a forecast of the work given by Mr. T. M. Ball (district engineer for the Public Works Department), who will be in charge of the work from Tahora to the Ilaeo River, on the Ohura side of tlie Tangarakau Gorge. This section covers the really difficult country and will necessitate the piercing of four long tunnels and a number of smaller, ones, in all 2f miles of tunnelling. The work presents many engineering difficulties, but Mr. Ball said ‘he had already planned the route and had decided how the construction would proceed. On the whole distance there will be no grade steeper than 1 in 50. Sufficient rails for the light tramway to be pushed onward from the rail-head at Tahora have been ordered to lay three miles, and it is expected that sufficient to cover a further mile and a half to reach the face of the first tunnel will :be forthcoming from the Te Roti line. As men from that work are released towards the end of February, j the work will be pushed vigorously ahead and the first tunnel commenced. The light tramway will then be carried over the hill to the site of the socoifl tunnel, and a hauling engine placed on the top.

Work on the first two tunnels will then proceed simultaneously, while the influx of more men will enable the process of pushing forward the tram-line to be repeated, so that before long the sound of blasting and the ring of pick and crowbar on yielding metal will be heard issuing from all the tunnels on the route. From the Haco River to Ohura, comar atively easy country will be encountered, though certain bridging work will have to be attended to. The steam shovel at present doing such excellent work at Opunake will continue its work on Mr. Ball’s section.

There are three alternative routes from the Haeo River to Ohura. and men have been engaged for the past ten days in carrying out surveys and exploration work to decide upon the most Suitable route. Nothing definite has been decided, but there seems to be a leaning in favour of the line passing through Tatu. AT THE OTHER END. During his short stay at Ohura the opportunity was taken to publicly thank the Minister for pushing on the line to Toi Toi, scarcely two miles from Ohura. The nearing of the rail-head, it was stated, had been a great convenience, and had facilitated the cartage of goods from Taumarunui. Fanners were now eagerly looking forward to the time when their interests would centre round the port of New Plymouth, and all their requirements would be brought in from Stratford.

In reply the Minister said he would do his best to bring the line on to Ohura, and that work would possibly be accomplished within another twelve months.

There are signs of considerable activity at Toi Toi. the rail-head from Okahukura. Ju the construction of advance tramways on the Matiere-Toi Toi section, considerable foresight has been displayed in that, when finished with, the bed, of the tramway will be utilised as a road, giving access to a definite destination for other half-formed and projected roads running back into the rich hinterland. With the exception of one bridge, there are no great engineering difficulties on this section, and the permanent way is being pushed forward rapidly.