N.I. MAIN TRUNK JUBILEE
(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 5.
The fiftieth anniversary of the North Island Main Trunk railway will be celebrated on November 6, 1958, the Minister of Railways fMr Moohan) announced today The date commemorated will be that when the last spike was driven in 1908. Mr Moohan said that there were at least three historic events associated with the completion of this railway. On August 7, 1908, the first “through” passenger train (the “Parliamentary Special”) left Wellington for Auckland.
On November 6, 1908, the last spike was driven at Maunganui-O-Te-Ao by the then Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) and the line was officially declared to be completed. On February 15, 1909, the EruaWaiouru section (30| miles) was handed over to the Railways Denartment for operation and regular express train services were inaugurated. All of these events were worthy of commemoration, but this was impracticable and it had beei decided officially to recognise the anniversary of November 6, 1908, the day on which last spike was driven.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28657, 6 August 1958, Page 16
Word Count
171N.I. MAIN TRUNK JUBILEE Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28657, 6 August 1958, Page 16
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