GOOD PROGRESS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21449, 13 September 1939, Page 5

GOOD PROGRESS

SOUTH is: ’ND M’.N TRUNK RAILWAY Bv I elegraph Press Association WELLINGTON, Septem’-er 12. Satisfaction with the progress on the South Island Main Tiunk Railway was expressed in the annual statement of the P mister of Public V’orks (the Hon. R. Semple), tabled n the House of Representatives to-day. A large step forward had been made on the northern section from Waranui to Clarence, a distance of about 20 miles. With the exception of the Blue Slip, the section had been completed. Rails h< d been laid and ballasting was well in hand. Station yards had been con trusted at Kekerang l !, Pariknwa and Clarence. The Minister ..air 1 he hoped in arrange with the Itail-.ay 1 )eparlhk nl lor the transport of stock over Un ompieted sectio: during th • (-oi.iiii ; On the sou'hein end. coo: I ruel ion was practically coinpleted to (lie Hundalee station, 11l miles from Parnassus. Rails had ' - « laid, ballasting was almost completed and arrangements ha already been made for the running of a limited amount of trafficover the section. Work was now concentrated on the central section r .nd the majority of grading, apart from tunnelling work had been finished. The 12 remaining tunnels were til under jorstruct!on and were about 50 per cent completed "The -ate of progress has been well maintained.” said the Minister, "and completion ol the South Island Main Trunk Is now definitely in view.” Net expenditure out of the PublicWorks Fund for the improvements and additions to open lines was £2,670,832