BIG CONTRACT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 November 1924, Page 7

BIG CONTRACT.

RAILWAY WORKS. (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. WAIHI, Nov. 8. In connection with the ceremony of turning the first sod of the railway contract of Armstrong, Whitworth and Co. of a portion of the East Coast Main .Trunk railway, between Taupiro and the Wairoa river, near Tauranga, a party of guests, consisting of the Hon. Mr Coates (who performs the ceremony at 3 o’clock this afternoon), Mr Elmslie (British Trade Commissioner) and his wife, Mr and Mrs Riley, Mr and Mrs Bennett (president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce), Miss Skerrett, Mr McMillan, M.P. .and Miss McMillan, Mr McKenzie (assistant engineer, Public Works Department) and Mr Sterling (assistant general manager of railways) left Wellington by.the Main Trunk yesterday Special carriages containing the Minister and guests were brought on from Erankton to Waihi by special train, the party being joined at Pateroa bv Mr Poland, M.P. On arrival at YVaihi the party were met,by Mr Walnutt (Mayor) and councillors," and entertained to breakfast at the Rob Roy Hotel, special carriages containing the party being run on to Athenree over the public works line, being the first passengers conveyed over that section. At Athenree Armstrong and Co. have motor cars waiting to convey the party to the scene of the ceremony near Tauranga. Colonel Greenhough, the company’s New Zealand representative, meets the party at Athenree. The celebration dinner takes place at Tauranga to-night. The contract is for 18 miles 18 chains of railway, costing about £500,000, and to be completed by about March, 1927. The weather is ideal. Mr Elmslie and the party took the opportunity to pay a brief visit to the Waihi mine.