EXTENSION OF THE RAILWAY.

Waipawa Mail, Volume VI, Issue 665, 27 June 1884, Page 2

EXTENSION OF THE RAILWAY.

Another link in, the Main Trunk Line to Wellington was opened on Monday last, when the morning train ran through for the first time to Matamau. Although done very quietly, the event was not without importance, for this additional five miles has cost a large sum of money and months of labour. It is the heaviest piece of work upon the whole line from Napiei to Woodville. Leaving Makatoku, the line goes through rich, swampy land, until nearing the Manga-tewainui stream, on either side of which for some distance the cuttings are very heavy. The stream is crossed by a very fine tressel-bridge, which is 100 feet above the level of the river. This is the fourth of these bridges erected on the line. They are well worth inspecting, and are all close together. From Makatuku to Matamau, the forest appears to have been untouched by the hand of man, and the bush stands in its primeval beauty. The land is much superior to that about Ormondville, and from the appearance of the forest it seems probable that the bush contains valuable timber. Matamau at present is “in its infancy.” It consists of a small flag station and a station-master’s house—looking very pretty with the background of trees. A walk of half-a mile along a good road, to the Matamau Hotel, brings the traveller to the main coach road. Here Macara is busy erecting the stables, &c., which have been removed from Makatuku, where they are no longer required—tho railway compelling the coach to “ move on.” At the Hotel the hungry man was glad to refresh himself—what he is to do if the house is closed when the license expires on the 30th inst, it is hard to say. Certainly with the two most important resting-places closed, travelling through the 70-mile hush will not be the easy’ matter it was. After a

welcome meal we strolled hack to the station, and found that tho business pu t of the day’s proceedings hail been completed—the engineer had handed over his work to the manager, the station-master had delivered his first load of goods, the overseers had taken a look round their new charge, and Watkins had calculated his new fares. In a few months' time the line will be open to Tahoraite, about eight miles further on. The formation is nearly finished, having been pushed on rapidly by the department, who lmd to take over the work from the contractors. Tho line runs through easier country, and is not beset with the difficulties of the section just opened.