STRATFORD-ONGARUE LINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3181, 29 March 1911, Page 2

STRATFORD-ONGARUE LINE.

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS MADE.

TO BE FINISHED IN FIVE YEARS

Referring to the work on the Strat-ford-Ongarue railway, Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., who has just been over the line, says that satisfactory progress is being made from the southern end. In the course of an interview with an “Auckland Star” representative, Mr. Jennings said he had recently proceeded from Nihoniho to Whangamomona. Fifteen years ago this journey used to occupy five days in the making. On this occasion Mr. Jennings left Mangaroa at 7 o’clock in the morning and reached Whangamomona at 4 o’clock that afternoon. The greater part of the journey was accomplished by vehicle, so that it is evident good progress has been made with road-making. Mr. Jennings found that great activity is being shown by the Public Works Department in pushing the railway forward. Large gangs of men are now right into Whangamomona, which is 40 miles from Stratford, while surveyors are pushing on their work through Tahora. The greatest engineering difficulty now confronting the Department is some very heavy tunnelling. The Pohnkura tunnel is nearly a mile in length, and is rather an extraordinary one as far as engineering is concerned. Since two shafts, each, over 30ft deep, have to be sunk before a level can be got to take them into 'Wh an gain oin on a. Another engineering difficulty will he to get through the Tangarakau Gorge, and it is understood, that a tunnel a mile and a quarter long will require to be driven. From thence on to Ongarue, through Mangaroa and Matiere, the work of construction will not amount to anything out of the ordinary. As the construction of the line from the Ongarue end would be such an easy matter, Mr. Jennings says it is quite impossible to understand the attitude of the Minister for Public Works in not at once proceeding with the work. The population of this district now totals 2000; and it is prosperous and well settled. About 10 miles from Ongarue it is intended to shortly open up a block of 20,000 acres, and' there is every reason to justify the immediate construction of the railway at this end. “J was delighted with the Prime Minister’s assurance before the end of last session that the Stratford-Ongame line is to he finished in five years, and that when a certain point is reached a start will also be made with tlie construction work from the Ongarue end,” concluded' Mr. Jennings, “and every endeavor will' be used on my part to encourage tlie Government to pursue a progressive policy to this end.”