GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 June 1924, Page 7

GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

BIG DAX BOR TAURANGA. (BY TELEGKAPB —PRESS ASSOCIATION. 5 TAURANGA, June 20. To-day marked an epoch in the history of' Tauranga, when the railway into town was opened by Mr McMillan, M.P.. who read an apology from the Hon. J. G. Coates, regretting his inability to be present. The town was gaily' decorated with flags and evergreens, and a record crowd was in the streets. The weather was dull, and rain commenced to fall as the train from the coastal districts, conveying about 500 people, arrived. The train service has been running for some years from Maunganui, on side of the harbour, to Matata, but the entry of the railway into Tauranga has been long delayed owing to the big bridge necessary to span the harbour. From to-day regular services will be run to and from the town. The event is to be celebrated at an official luncheon, at which all the local bodies from the surrounding districts will be represented. The children are being entertained during the afternoon. DEATH OF MR. DUIGAN. WANGANUI, June 20. The inquest concerning the tragicdeath of Mr. H. V. Duigan disclosed that there was nearly a second tragedy. William John Hartwell, railway porter, Aramoho, who was getting his boat in near Aramoho bridge, heard a cry like “Hey!” further down the river. He answered, and getting no reply, proceeded down the river bank, where he noticed a lantern alight. He searched for a. while,*returned, got his boat, and set off down stream. In the dark he fouled a rope and his boat capsized. Luckily he caught hold of the rope and dragged himself on Mo the deceased’s launch, from which lie was taken in an exhausted condition. Hartnell was unaibie to swim and the river was in heavy flood at the time. A verdict of accidental death was returned, the coroner commending those who assisted on their promptness.