It comprises 60 new locomotives and 1112 passenger cars and goods waggons. A review of the department's building programme which is contemplated and in hand was given to a Herald reporter by the Minister of Railways (the Hon. A.M. Myers) to-day.
"In the first place," said Mr Myers, "it is intended to place an order for 10 class 'AD' locomotives with Messrs Price (Ltd.) at the Thames, in addition to 10 constituting the order which this firm is executing at present, and which is due to be completed at the end of June 1913. Messrs Price's foundry is well equipped for the manufacture of locomotives.
In the past the firm has invariably secured contracts for locomotive building let by the department inside the Dominion, and it was the only tenderer for the last contract.
Its workshop is equipped with machinery specially adapted for the work, and it has a well trained staff of men, who have been employed in locomotive building only.
This firm has already constructed no less than 42 locomotives for the New Zealand railways exclusive of those now under construction, and all the engines from its shops have given complete satisfaction in every way."
The Minister said that the locomotive building programme provided for the construction of 60 engines, 45 of which were to be allocated to the North Island.
In addition there are five class "X" locomotives in various stages of construction.
In regard to rolling stock, Mr Myers stated that the North Island programme comprised the construction of 41 cars, 14 bogie waggons, and 780 four-wheeled waggons, and for the South Island there were allocated 19 cars, one brake van, 13 bogie waggons, and 244 four-wheeled waggons.
• Mr J.E. MacManus, secretary of the General Labourers Union, reports that some 50 or 60 labourers are at present out of work in Dunedin.
He states that a considerable number of men have left for the North Island, to secure employment on the Napier-Gisborne railway construction works, but that these are mostly single men, married men feeling disinclined to leave their homes.
The labourers are now anxiously awaiting a start being made on the St. Clair esplanade wall, as it is anticipated that a fairly large number of men will be required on this work.
• Mr Thomas Heffernan, for a long time a resident of South Dunedin, passed away on Friday.
He was born at Faulmore, in the County Mayo, 73 years ago, and saw many stirring scenes in his native country.
In common with many others, he left by the ship Young America in 1860, the year of many evictions in Mayo, for Melbourne.
The gold discoveries brought him to Dunedin, and subsequently to the West Coast.
He spent a few years contracting in Auckland, and then came to Dunedin.
He completed several contracts on the Green Island and Mosgiel Main roads, and in 1874 made his permanent home in South Dunedin.
He was one of the first councillors in the old Flat district, and could give many interesting reminiscences of the old days, when it was not an uncommon thing to feed residents through the windows from a boat after a very heavy rain.
For the last 30 years he had the licence of the South Dunedin Hotel.
The deceased leaves a wife, four sons, and five daughters to mourn their loss.
- ODT, 30.4.1912.
