STRATFORD DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1927, Page 10

STRATFORD DISTRICT NEWS

Telephone Nos. 552 Office 718 Private

(FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTERS)

Telephone Nos. 552 Office 718 Private

DIFFICULT ENGINEERING. STRATFORD-MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY SECOND TUNNEL STARTED. Despite the handicap of wet weather and all the usual difficulties attendant upon construction works during the late autumn, good progress has been made on the Haeo section of the Tara-naki-Main Trunk railway, and an advance camp of over 45 tents, complete with cookhouse, water service, ablution facilities,, and other conveniences, has been established in the Mangaone valley beyond the second tunnel surveyed. Here chiefly single men have their headquarters within easy distance of tjie work of making several cuttings and clearing the approaches to the eastern end of this tunnel. The piercing of the western end has already been commenced, and all formation work leading from the big cutting near the first tunnel right up to the second face has been completed. This tunnel will be 54 chains in length (the longest in the section), and in order to expedite the excavation work, the engineers have constructed a roadway winding high over the ridge into the Mangaone. Over this road a caterpiller tractor conveys materials and supplies to the camp. It is expected that actual tunnelling operations on the distant end will be commenced in about two months’ time, and from that date the tunnel should grow apace, as work /will be in full swing from both approaches. PROGRESS OF FIRST TUNNEL. Continuous driving in three shifts has resulted in an average of rather more than a chain a month of the first tunnel being pierced and finished with concrete lining. This tunnel has now been completed for a distance of 12 chains. Its total length is 31 chains, and if work is maintained from the one end only, probably eighteen months will be required to see it completed. It is probable, however, that before long the engineers will be in a position to set gangs at work from the other end, and so materially reduce the time estimated. The two 100 h.p. electric locomotives are now in operation. One is engaged in hauling spoil from the working face of the No. 1 tunnel, and the other is at work between Nos. 1 and 2 tunnels. Both locomotives are proving satisfactory, and are considered much more efficient than the previous methods of haulage.

Immediately at the point where thefirst tunnel will emerge,‘-a steep gully over 100 feet in depth necessitated the erection of a towering trestle bridge, from which trucks are now able to deposit the huge amount of spoil being taken from an equally large cutting on the other side of the gully. A unique method has been adopted in working the cutting. A double-head drive was made into the heart of the hill and tram lines laid for a string of trucks to pass in and out. A bore was then sunk from the top of the hill into the drive, and by working at the enlargement of the bore the earth and rocks simply slid down the funnel-shap-ed aperture into the waiting trucks. Meanwhile, another tram line winds round the base of the hill and connects with the permanent way at the other side. Thus, when the first tunnel is pierced, a train will be able to steam right from the main camp at Tangarakau over the trestle bridge and round to the operations of the second tunnel.

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. At a meeting of the committee of the Stratford A. and P. Association on Saturday, when Mr. J. W. Boon presided, the following officers were elected: General committee, Messrs. T. Perry, C. Jackson, A. H. Bowen, N. B. Fletcher, D. K. Malone, L. K. Tarrant, F. Q. Verney, W. Johnson, E. S. Walker, W. Rose, A. D. Walker, J. C. McDowall, B. Richmond, J. Stewart, A. N. Haylock, H. Pittam, H. Addenbrooke; executive committee, Messrs. J. W. Boon, C. Marchant, J. C. Robins, H. Bishop, D. M. Clarke, J. W. Crowe, A. David, H. A. Hunt, H. Johnson, H. C. Johnson, R. V. Kay, E. Linnell, C. Moore, J. Parrish, W. Pettigrew, J. M. Shutter, and C. Mcl. Young. It was decided that all chairman of sections be members of the executive committee. CARD COMPETITIONS. Following are the fixtures for the second round of the card shield competitions: — June 10.—Ngaere v. Triumph, at Radich’s; Hibernians v. Midhirst at Radich’s; Druids v. Toko, at Vela’s. June 17. —Ngaere v. Hibernians at Radich’s; Card Club v. Druids, at Vela’s; Triumph v. Midhirst, at Radich’s; Te Popo v. Toko, to be arranged. June 23. —Te Popo v. Triumph, at Radich’s. June 24.—Ngaere V. Midhirst, at Radich’s; Hibernians v. Druids, at Vela’s; Card. Club v. Toko, at Radich’s. June 29. —Te Popo v. Druids, at Radich’s. July I.—Ngaere v. Card Club, at Radich’s; Triumph v. Hibernians, at Radich’s; Midhirst v. Toko, at Midhirst. July 6.—Ngaere v. Te Popo, at Radich’s. July 8. —Triumph v. Card Club, at Radich’s; Midhirst v. Druids, at Vela’s; Hibernians v. Toko, at Radich’s. July 12.—Te Popo v. Hibernians, at Radich’s. July 15.—Ngaere v. Druids, at Vela’s; Hibernians v. Card Club, at Radich’s; Midhirst v. Te Popo, to be arranged; Ngaere v. Toko, at Radich’s. The following will represent Hibernians against Card Club, at Radich’s rooms to-night: C. C. Johnson, Fitzgerald, W. Casey, G. Marriner, Fitzgerald, O. Tocker, C. Massey, T. Ryan, H. McGarnell, I. Larsen, Frank and C. Pellow. GENEPAL ITEMS. It was reported in Stratford on Saturday that, a lady of Cordelia Street saw' a man dressed in a raincoat, but without boots, throw himself backwards from the Cordelia swung bridge into the flooded Patea River. Subsequently her daughter is said to have seen the man emerge from the river and proceed towards town along Lear Street. The statements were referred to the police by a Daily News reporter, but the matter had not been r.'ported. In fact, one of the constables rvas conversing with the lady on Saturday afternoon, but the topic was not mentioned. A motorist returning home early on Sunday evening was surprised to see one of the black swans from Victoria Park parading Fenton Street in a stately and unconcerned manner. The swanpaced off a length of about 30 feet in the centre of the road and patrolled this beat six or seven times before heading back to the park. The regular-

ity of the swan’s movements and the fac; that it turned each time at the same spot excited the curiosity of the motorist, who threw his lights full on to the bird without causing it the slightest embarrassment in its evening’s stroll. Despite the extremely heavy rain yesterday and the day before, the much discussed drainage system in the sportsground at Victoria Park appears to be coping with the water in a satisfactory manner. When seen yesterday both grounds were reasonably dry, and with the exception of the cricket pitches appeared in a playable condition. Public opinion holds that Stratford is not the place for scanty wearing apparel, nevertheless a Broadway shopkeeper and several bystanders were surprised to see a man clad only in pyjamas strolling about the main street on Saturday morning at about 9 o’clock. The person in question bore an air of total unconcern as he paraded his novel “rig” for the benefit of any chance onlookers. A plain and fancy-dress ball will be held in the Town Hall on Thursday night. The function is being conducted by the Stratford Citizens’ Band. A good orchestra will supply the music for the dances, while an excellent supper is to be provided. On Friday a children’s fancy-dress dance will be held. The committee point out that non-dancing adults will only be required to pay Is. On June 16 the prizes won in the Toko Settlers’ Association root crop competitions will be distributed during the course of the association’s annual ball in the Coronation Hall. Complete arrangements have been made for holding a hard-up social in the Cardiff hall to-night, and given fine weather a huge success is assured. A lengthy musical programme will be presented, and in order to give time for dancing between the items, a start at 7.30 p.m. has been decided upon.’ A free ’bus has been arranged for with Mr. Curd, who will run two trips if necessary, the first ’bus leaving the Stratford Marble Bar at 7.15 p.m. In a report, in yesterday’s issue, of the Stratford v. Old Boys’ football match at New' Plymouth on Saturday, it was stated in error in one place that Morey (Old Boys) was obstructed by Sangster (Stratford). The player causing the obstruction was Collins, as stated in the introduction to the report. PERSONAL ITEMS. Miss Redmond returned to Wellington by the mail train yesterday morning. She has been staying with. her aunt, Mrs. D. J. Malone. Mr. H. Kelly, who has been in Stratford for four days, returned south yesterday morning. Mr. R. L. Kaye, assistant engineer to the Public Works Department, arrived in Stratford on Saturday in order to join the local staff of the Public Works Office. He is taking Mr. C. H. Lawn’s place, as the latter is being transferred to Napier. Messrs. N. Uniacke, M. G. Dwyer, W. Cottier, A. R. Dingwall and M. Kilpatrick returned to college at Wellington yesterday morning. KING’S THEATRE. . A THRILLING WESTERN. Hoot Gibson, the popular Universal Western star, will appear in “Denver Dude,” a real action story surrounded by thrills and romance. Gibson always delivers the goods, and patrons are warned not to 1. fos this one. Pictures and music will comprise this wonderful programme. Seats'may be reserved by dialing 348.