THE ROTORUA RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 290, 5 December 1894, Page 8

THE ROTORUA RAILWAY.

/ ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE

OPENING

The principal objecb of the Premier's visit to Auckland is to formally open the through railway to Rotorua, completing a distance of some 180 miles. On Saturday morning next two eitraordinary brains will leave here for Rotorua, one at 7.30 a.m. and bhe other at 8 a.m., arriving ab Rotorua terminus ab 3.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. The ordinary train will be run at 9.30 a.m. as usual. A Dumber of invitations will be issued by bhe Premier to gentlemen ■ holding public positions to take parb in the ceremonial. On arrival ab the station at the new township of Rotorua, the Promier I will be received by the representatives of the European population of the districb, and by a large number of natives of the local tribes.

A " powhiri " or dance of welcome will be given by the Maoris, -and the assemblage, headed by the local band, will then march down to the sanatorium. The banqueb is bo take place in the evening ab Brent's. Invitations to be presenb bave been senb bo Mr P. D. Fenton, who was instrumental in getting from the natives the land for tho new townehip, to Dr. Campbell, who was chairman of directors of the Rotorua Railway Company, and to a number of other Auckland gentleman. Ab Rotorua tho Maori Committees have picked three hundred men from the various nabive hapus to take part in the dance of welcome. Every man is to be dressed in old native style, and is to be armed with a gun. A large quantity ot food has been ordered for the Maori gathering, which is expected to be a largo one.

Tickets for the railway excursion will be issued for the train on Saturday, ab 30s first-..class and -20a second-class, available from Saturday till Monday. The Railway Department.advise intending passengers to get their tickets on Friday. The brains will leave Roborua on Monday morning ab 9 and 9.;30 o'clock. On Saburday afbernoon visitors will be able to . visib bhe springs and obher sights of Rotorua, \\ hakarewarewa, and elsewhere in tho vicinity, and on the Sunday Waiobapjt and Tikibere can be reached and-in-spected. No doubt,'tho excursion trains will be crowded with passengers on this importanb occasion.