EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3437, 31 January 1912, Page 5

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

FIFTY MEN TO BE ENCAGED START IMMEDIATELY ON NAPIER END. [.SPECIAL TO TIMES.] NAPIER, Jan. 30. During yesterday’s ceremony at West Shore in connection with turning the first sod of the East Coast Railway Sir Joseph Ward (Prime Minister) announced that the actual work of construction would be commenced within ten days. It is understood that the Undersecretary to the Public Works Department (Mr H. J. H. Blow) has announced that the plans, etc., of the authorised section are so far completed that fifty men will commence work within the time stated by Sir Joseph yesterday. The work will he carried out under the co-operative system, married men being given preference. The construction on the beach should not be difficult work, and should he completed at an early date, but as the work advances past Petane the progress will be less rapid. The route has been pegged out as far as Petane, and the surveyors are actively engaged extending the distance in order to keep well ahead of the actual formation. NAPIER’S ADVANTAGE. DISCUSSED AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The Gisborne-Napier Railway was referred to at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce last evening. Mr. W. F. Cederwall said that he thought the Napier people had got a distinct step in advance of Gisborne in regard to the Napier-Gisborne Railway, but he was inclined to think it was due to their member, Mr. J. VigorBrown. He thought it lay with the Chamber to make further representations on this matter and push the thing on and on. They were represented by ia Minister of the Crown and were taking a back seat compared with their southern friends. The Chamber should leave no stone unturned to push on the opening of the section at this end. Mr. J. Townley thought that a deputation should interview Mr. W. R. Holmes, Engineer-in-Chief, regarding the Gisborne-Napier railway. Mr Holmes was at present inspecting the line and was delayed at Ruakaturi on account of bad weather and would arrive in Gisborne in the course of a few days. He would probably be able to inform the Chamber when a start would be_ made at the Gisborne end. The turning of the first sod at Napier was not detrimental to Gisborne, for it would only urge them to have the work started here as well. It was decided that the President and secretary should arrange for the deputation.