NAPIER-GISBORNE RAIL

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1933, Page 11

NAPIER-GISBORNE RAIL

STATE OF CONSTRUCTION EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE. DETAILS 'OF EXPENDITURE. Four sections of line go to make up the uncompleted East Coast railway between Napier and Gisborne. They are Napier to Putorino, Putorino to Wairoa, Wairoa to Waikokopu, and Waikokopu to Gisborne. The total distance involved is 132 miles 8 chains. With the exception of one or two partly-finished jobs it was essential to complete, the last work done on any part of the line was in October, 1931. In that month Parliament adopted the report of the Government Railways Board, which had expressed the opinion that the construction of the Napier-Gis-borne line was not justified and recommended that where work was then proceeding it should be stopped. The section from Napier to Putorino, which is 38 miles 61 chains long, is an open line, having been already handedover to the Railway Department,. but at present it is unworkable as a result of damage caused by the Hawke’s Bay earthquake on Feburary 3, 1931. The first sub-section of this line, Napier to Eskdale, was opened for traffic in. 1923, and the remaining portion, Eskdale -to Putorino, was* added on October 6, 1930. This line was so badly damaged by the earthquake that in some parts it has been completely obliterated, and before it can be used again will have ’ to be practically re-located and, reconstructed. In its report the Railways Board gives the capital cost of the Napier-Putorino line at March 31,- 1931, at £1,039,000, and the estimated cost of repairs as £45,000, making a total cost of £1,084,000. ALL FORMATION FINISHED. - Relatively little remains io be don» to complete the section from Putorino to Wairoa, a distance of 33 miles 32 chains. Work on this section was proceeded with expeditiously u; to earjy in October, 1931, when Parliament decided, in accordance with the Government Railway Board’s report, that construction should cease. At that time the formation was finished, and with the exception of a gap of approximately 7 miles, for which rails and sleepers were in hand, the permanent way had ■been laid. The only large works which remained to be completed were the Kotemaori tunnel and the Mohaka viaduct. -When general construction work came to a standstill steps were taken to complete the Kotemaori tunnel, with the exception of the portal at the south end, the reason for this being that the ground was wet and unsatisfactory and collapse would have occurred if excavation had been left uncompleted. Only the foundations of the Mohaka viaduct have been constructed.

In its report to the Government the board estimated that at the rate of progress being made before the cessation of work, it should be possible'to complete the line in about twelve months. The latest Public Works Estimates available, those for the year ended March, 1933, give the estimated cost of this line when authorised as £1,238,603. The expenditure to March 21, 1932, is shown as £1,335,573, and the estimated cost to complete as £147,462. The figures include administration and loan charges. WAIROA TO -WAIKOKOPU. From Waroa to Waikokopu, a distance of 24 miles 35 chains, is practically completed. The line, however, is still under the control of the Public Works Department. The latest Public Works Statement available states that for the year ended June 30, 1932, the Wairoa-Waikokopu section had been maintained to a sufficient. standard •to allow goods traffic to be continued. The revenue, however, being small, it had been necessary to several} curtail the number of maintenance men employed so that it had not been possible to keep the track in the usual fir -class order. Weeds grew prolifically on the section and blackberries were a serious menace. An attempt was being made to control them by spraying. A goods service had been maintained throughout the year which returned a surplus over working expenses. This, it is understood, represents the position as it exists on that line to-day. The latest Public -Works Estimates show that the estimated cost of continuation of the . Wairoa-Waiko-kopu section, when authorised was £574,959, the total expended, to March 31. 1932, was £626,713, and it was then estimated that £25,716 would ’be needed to complete the line. Administration and loan charges are represented in these figures. Construction work on the Waj!:o-kopu-Gisbome section commenced in April, 1929, and stopped on January 14, 1931. The distance betweenWaikokopu and Gisborne is 35 miles 40 chains, and little more has been done than a little formation work , at each end of the section. The Public Works Estimates for the year ended March 31, 1933, give .the estimated qost'of the work before a permanent line 'survey was made as £1,488,375. The total expended to March 31, 1932, is shown at £704,499 (includes Frasertown , section, £20,684, and Ngatapa southwards, £118,958). The estimaated cost to. complete the line is given at £1,193,309. These figures include administration and loan charges.