Valley Railway Works Progress.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XVII, Issue 5945, 16 December 1887, Page 2

Valley Railway Works Progress.

. . <♦> : — HIKUTAIAiPAEROA CONTRACT, ' SWAMP FIRE APPREHENSIONS, We learn that on the re-let contract, the Hikutaia-Paeroa section ot the valley railway works, are once more in full swing. Although it is considered the job has been got at a low figure, the general impression is it will be carried out successful. The design of the contractors is to execute the work as far as possible, by means of subcontracts. Already three of these have been taken up. viz,, one for outfall drainage work, one for swamps, and another for general formations; the latter being let to a party of Paeroa men. These are said to be, undertaken at rates uniform with the price paid, for the work as a whole, Consequent on the drought occasioned by the water carried away by outfall drains, the swamp formations on Lirkin's contract, have subsided very considerably; in some places, we are told, as much as four feet. Besides the direct loss occasioned thereby, fears are entertained for its safety from fire. The light peat stuff, to which the surrounding 1 swamp lands have been reduced, consequent 1 upon the drainage referred to, makes the i country one huge mass of combustible : matter which, if properly fired, during hot i dry weather, ; would defy every possible ' effort at extinguishment, until the entire i mass had burned out, and serious if not | irreparable loss occasioned to the railway j and other works, That we believe is a danger that may be seriously apprehended," ' and in view thereof, the railway authorities , ought to adopt every possible precaution. Lastsuumer, while the work was still at the 3 risk of the contractors, the utmost ■ vigileoce had to be taken, and despite 1 thereof, the swamp, muoh less combustible J than it has now become, very narrowly , escaped *uore than one conflagration. So n long as the weather remains moist as at b present, the danger is not so very great, but r so soon as it sets in hot and dry, no time g should be lost in adopting the precautionary measures we have indicated.