MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 252, 21 October 1908, Page 4

MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

- - - • ..._..-:,:;,... - BiEGULABi . BEGINS ' "'■'-. '"9L ! ' ""' : ' ' (By< Telesraph;—Own- Correspondent) !*'.-.', 7 this7day. . The. opening .of the regular service on: ; the Northern Trunk railway.-has., been postpbriedyfor a week, till November 9. •The ceremony" already designed of "driving"' the" last" spike" at" Makatote 'will' " tjakeplacc at-Sa.m:on7tlie:7oth'pToximo. ; Or. the evening- of• Monday, November 9 (King's Birthday);.the firat train will leave Wellington,' and on the next evening ■• a' commemoratiyer banquet will be held in Wellington,.'-iafter which an invitation ■* train- is.- timed, to leave for Makatote; That township-will bb reach-' -ed at; 8' a*.m. on Wednesday, and there the.last-' spike- of the railway will be ■driven- and-speeches - made: These» must conclude by to allow-the' trainto reach' Auckland at a.proper time the same? evening. There will be an. early luncheon at Taumaninui, distaht three hours' journey; " - Paesengers by the special, "train from Auckland will leave about the usual time- on- Tuesday;; and; will- spend the night- at Taumaninui. An early start is. to be made. from. Taumarunui in order that the train ■ may.. arrive, at 'Makatote iri-- time for- the official' ceremony at "eight ajri.7 It is .possible that a special train may be arranged ;to leave Auckland on the Tuesday night," and run right through; to Makatote, cbfres T ' ponding, to the. special train, from Wellingtoni but- it is suggested that' apart ffom-the small- expense'- of the night's stay at Taumarunui, travellers from the northern end" will find it much; more .ccnyenieut to start. earlier, and get a good night's rest. , The' announcement - postponing-; the opening of the service, was made..;very suddenly. It is understood-'. that-the Railway Department's, official time-table v was. ready fqr. issue,, giving particulars of the service as from November 2; and that now the alteration can only be .announced by special. inset. Under ■ the•new (arrangements the service will riot commence till after the heavy traffic of the Manawatu show, which takes place on November 4, 5, and 6., Every week additional rolling stock is being completed at' the 'Petbne7 workshop. • . :.---- -7.7-. At a meeting-of ■ the Council of "■ theAuckland- Railways League held" yesterday, it-was settled to<accept;the;Minis•ter's offer to put on a special train A tor' convey those whom the ; Minister invites to Makatote Viaduct to see the last spike driven. It' was- arranged to* con>. fer- with" the Council of the' Auckland Chamber of Commerce' about the banquet, etc., on next Thursday* the chairman, secretary, and' Mr "■ 'Andrew Bell being-appointed a sub-committee. .— - .... -.. .: ,'...