Otago railway progresses through Cromwell Gorge

A native band at Aitutaki, Cook Islands, during the visit of the Governor of New Zealand, Lord...
A native band at Aitutaki, Cook Islands, during the visit of the Governor of New Zealand, Lord Liverpool. - Otago Witness, 15.7.1914. Copies of picture available from ODT front office, lower Stuart St, or www.otagoimages.co.nz.
The secretary of the Cromwell Development Company has forwarded to Mr Moritzson particulars of the work that is in progress on the extension of the Otago Central railway from Clyde.

The entrance to the Cromwell Gorge, he says, now presents a scene which should gladden the hearts of all settlers beyond Clyde, and, in fact, all people of the dominion who know the potentialities of the Cromwell and Upper Clutha districts.

There are three gangs of men at work. The first is clearing away the trees, in order that the first section, which will connect with the present line, may be proceeded with. The second and third gangs are busy on formation work.

The point where they are engaged is where the line will first strike the road at the entrance to the gorge, and the work for some little distance will be fairly heavy, as the line follows a bluff of rock for several chains.

There are 32 men at present employed on the formation work, and it is expected that another 30 will be employed in the course of a few days. The men's quarters seem to be comfortable.

The huts are constructed of galvanised iron, and each has a fireplace. Men are at work erecting more of these huts, in order to provide accommodation for more hands.

The trial survey has now been carried seven and a-half miles above Clyde, and the permanent survey is completed for four miles and a-quarter.

The work of laying a railway line through this gorge is a most difficult one, and doubly so in this case, as the engineer in charge has to select a route that will give good grades, gentle curves, and, at the same time, admit of the line being laid at a reasonable cost.

Mr Stewart, who is in charge of this work, is a man, however, who meets difficulties only to overcome them. He is full of resource and initiative, and is evidently weighing every phase of the question as he pushes forward his trial survey.

• On Saturday afternoon Mr and Mrs J. J. Connor celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding, which took place in Dunedin on July 18, 1864.

Yesterday afternoon they were met at their residence in Black's road, North-East Valley, by many old friends.

Mr Connor is a very old member of the printing trade, and earned the esteem of all with whom he came in contact. Arriving in Otago in 1862, Mr Connor met the lady who, in July, 1864, became his wife, and decided to remain in this city.

He was at one time a member of the firm of Jolly, Connor, and Co., who carried on business successfully in the Octagon for seven years.

Along with Bishop Moran, he was the founder of the New Zealand Tablet, which was printed by him for 12 years, and was then handed over to its present proprietary.

On relinquishing the printing trade he took up business in several hotels, but this line of life was not to his liking. The gathering yesterday afternoon was a very cordial one, and the guests were the recipients of many handsome presents, as well as the hearty congratulations of large numbers of friends.

Their home is a comfortable one and nicely suited to their needs now that, as Mr Connor expressed it, ''the birds have flown''. It is situated high up on the eastern slopes of North-East Valley, and has a charming and almost rural outlook.

Mr Connor is 75 years of age, but is still hale and hearty, and his wife is five years his junior. He has a family of four sons and nine daughters, all the latter, with one exception, being married.

During the next four months Mr and Mrs Connor will take a holiday trip through New Zealand, visiting relatives and friends, after which they will probably pay a visit to Australia.

- ODT, 21.7.1914.

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