MATIERE RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 120, 23 May 1922, Page 2

MATIERE RAILWAY.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING. A UXIQL'K "TRAIN."' ■... \ (Ej- Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ■\IATIERE. this da\. The official opening in connection with the running of the first Public Works train from Okahukura lo Matiera took pFara at Mutiere to-day. About 30i) people travelled by the 10.20 a.m. train from Taumuruniii to Okahukura. Ou arrival at this junction the pus&enpr-. together with a large number of people who had assembled there, boarded the Public Works train, which consisted of x. light engine and eleven trucks, built up as temporary carriages. The passengers were sheltered by tarpaulins stretched over woodwork attached to the sides i'£ the trucks and planks placed across thf trucks provided seating accommodation in charabanc style. Each carriage, which was filled to its capacity, accommodated, about 40 people, and altogether, between 400 and ">»0 people wire aboard the train. The Ministerial party wore accommodated in an open improvised "carriage' in front ot the engine. The seating accommodation in this truck consisted of ordinary office chairs. A diversion was caused through the train stopping on the Ongarue bridgo jjuct after its departure from Okahukura. j but this was only to allow a photograph of the unique train lo be taken. Th« day was gloriously tine, and the iraiu presented a gain appearance as it entered the long Okahukura tunnel, where men engaged on yallasting gave the crowd a hearty cheer as they steamed j»Hst in the dark. The first stop -was at Mahirakau School, where more passengers were taken aboard. Another stop was made at Endean"> mill, where a portion of three- million feet of timber in the district which is staked ready for removal was seen. A large crowd of passengers hoarded the train here. At Tuhusi a smaller engine replaced the other owing to the line not being ballasted from here and there being only iemporary bridges. The train arrived at 'Matiere at 12.50 p.m., and a great crowd of school children with Hap?, and several hundred people welcomed the advent of the visitors. Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., welcomed the Hon. -I. ft. Coates tn Matiere, and the Minister declared the line ope", mentioning that the cost of thi> line was approximately £33,000 per mile. A banquet is being held this afternoon in the public hall.