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and fairly extensive work in the Kotemaori and Raupunga Station Yards. In all, some 16,000 cubic yards were handled. This was made up as follows : — Cubic yards Kotemaori and Raupunga Station Yards .. .. .. .. 6,000 Reforming weak banks and cuttings .. .. .. .. .. 4,500 Clearing slip material (maintenance) .. .. .. .. .. 5,500 16,000 In addition, a start has been made in clearing up the April flood-damage, and some 5,000 cubic yards of slip material has been removed and some 3,000 cubic yards of washouts filled. The south portal of Kotemaori Tunnel was completed by a straight-face wall into solid papa on either side. All tunnels have been ballasted and completed. The Waikare Viaduct at 38 m. 15 ch. was spot-painted with red lead and given one coat of red-oxide paint. A 3 ft. flat-top culvert was put in at 42 m. 13-10 ch. leading into side drive. Painting of Mohaka Viaduct with red lead was completed, and a final coat of red-oxide paint given to the whole structure. Washout pipes were fitted to the main river legs and connections for a 2 in. hose. Spot-painting of the Maungaturanga Viaduct with red lead was carried out, and a coat of red-oxide paint was given to the whole structure. The holding-down bolts to the towers were all withdrawn and painted and restored. These will all be concreted in in the near future. At the south portal of the Mohaka Tunnel an 18 in. culvert 40 ft. long was placed below the right-hand water-table to drain off all water coming over the tunnel portal. At the north end 90 ft. of 18 in. pipe was similarly placed and a concrete box built at the inlet. During the period 250 ch. of new fence was erected mainly in station-yards and 657 ch. of repairs carried out. Fencing is now quite complete except for flood-damaged sections and alterations required for private crossing-gates. Formation for private crossings has been carried out at 38 m. 76-50 ch., 39 m. 66-50 ch., and 46 m. 53 ch., and gates are set out ready for erection. All this work, which was interrupted by the flood, will be shortly completed. Cattle-stops have been placed at Kotemaori Yard 43 m. 24 ch. and 25 ch. and at Raupunga Yard 50 m. 50 ch. and 51 ch. The telephone-line was re-aligned and relocated throughout with new material where required by the New Zealand Railway's own gang of linesmen. Both Kotemaori and Raupunga Yards were considerably enlarged, and the platelaying for these yards was all carried out. These yards now consist of main line, main siding, and two other loops together with a back-shunt at one end and a double back-shunt at the other to work the stock-yards. Maungaturanga Viaduct was redecked in permanent sleepers and relaid with new rails. Guardrails were completed on Waikare Viaduct, on the overbridge at 44 m. 32 ch., Mohaka Viaduct, and Maungaturanga Viaduct. All platelaying was completed in October. Ballast has been obtained from four sources during the period —viz., Bay View, Mohaka Pit, Narrow River, and Mohaka River —and a total quantity of 33,900 cubic yards was used. In addition to above ballast, 2,500 cubic yards of red metal was used in both Raupunga and Kotemaori Yards. This metal was obtained from Kakariki Pit and Raupunga Pit respectively. The Bay View Ballast (beach shingle) was all used in Kotemaori Yard back-shunt. Mohaka ballast pit crashed and washed red metal with fines screened out was used exclusively between 41 m. 70 ch. and the Mohaka Viaduct, 39 m. 25 ch. The Mohaka River ballast (shingle) was used almost exclusively in Kotemaori and Raupunga Station Yards. The Wairoa River ballast (unscreened) shingle was used principally north of the Mohaka Viaduct, though about 3,000 cubic yards were used to complete the ballasting from Putorino (37 m. 20 eh.) to Kotemaori Tunnel 41 m. 70 ch. All tunnels were blinded and curves built up with Wairoa ballast. All ballast was completed at the end of March. The third lift throughout was completed in January of this year, but very extensive fettling and general maintenance was required from then on to maintain the track at high standard. This was due to the very heavy traffic the line was carrying and there is no doubt heavy maintenance for six months is necessary to ensure a really good and well-consolidated track. Curves of 7\ ch. radius were particularly difficult, as all traffic was slow and heavy and curves dropped on the inner rail. At Putorino (37 m. 20 ch.) a new Stationmaster's residence was erected and was practically completed at the end of the period. Also erected at Putorino were an Inspector's quarters and single-men's quarters ; these were completed in June of this year. At Raupunga (50 m. 30 ch.), previously known as Mohaka, single-men's quarters were completed late in June of this year. This completes all accommodation in this area. Kotemaori Station Yard (43 m. 10 ch.). —This yard has been greatly extended in size during the year, involving 15,000 cubic yards of earthwork and the extending of the side drive on left of 43 m. 2 ch. and cutting of new side drain some 12 ch. long. The main points were shifted farther apart and two loops added to the yard, giving a capacity of forty-five trucks in first loop and twenty-one in each of the second and third loops. Also twenty-five in the south end back-shunt and two twenty-five's and an eight-wagon capacity in the north back-shunt leading past the cattle yards.

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