Auckland Railways.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3757, 14 April 1908, Page 2

Auckland Railways.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night.

Mr R. W. Holmes, the Engineer in Chief of the Public Works Department, and Mr J. A. Wilson, district engineer, arrived in Auckland on Saturday morning from a tour of inspection of the North Auckland railways.

Mr Holmes, in the course of an interview, with a Press representative stated that he first went over the railway works from Helensville to Te Haua. Ho anticipated that the section from Tauhoa to Wayby would be completed and handed over to the Railway Department in about three weeks' time. The principal work which yet required to be done was the completion of the ballasting. This, Mr Holmes said, was a slow process, owing to the fact that the ballast had to be conveyed from Mt. Albert. The Engineer in Chief added that the completion of the next section, from Wayby to Wellsford, would be considerably delayed owing to extensive slips in cuttings and embankments, and for this reason it would probably be six months before it was finished. Works were in hand at Te Haua, about three miles from Wellsford. Mr Holmes stated that he had a look into the question of routes through the district around Maungaturoto and gave instructions regarding some trial surveys to be made before the final decision as to the route was arrived at.

The Engineer in Chief went on from there to Cape Brett, for the purpose of satisfying himself, as marine engineer, of the stability of the site chosen for the lighthouse. The site was selected by Mr Wilson, and his action met with the approval of Mr Holmes. After leaving Cape Brett Mr Holmes looked into several matters in connection with the railway lines between Grahamtown and Kawakawa, particularly with reference to the completion of the line to Grahamtown and the wharf there.

The Engineer in Chief stated that on his way up from Wellington he looked over the works of the Main Trunk Uine, and was well satisfied with the progress being and that every effort was being put forth to have the rails connected through early in the ensuing spring. "This, of course," continued Mr Holmes, "will entirely depend on the weather during the winter. Although the rails will be connected, it will take some time longer to finally complete the line to enable the express service to be commenced. The Makatote viaduct will be completed within about three months. The railhead will reach the viaduct from the north about the end of the current month. The rail head at the south is also advancing, and it is anticipated that about the end of the month the gap willjje reduced to about nine miles."