FIRST TRAINS TO HAWERA

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 April 1930, Page 24 (Supplement)

FIRST TRAINS TO HAWERA

TRACK UNFIT FOR HEAVY TRAFFIC On Monday morning (August 1, 1881), at about 11.45, the first passenger train from New Plymouth came into Hawera. The morning, though c-oid, was fiiie, and about 150 people assembled on the Hawera platform to welcome the visitors. The train travelled very slowly between Norman by ami Hawera, but on nearing the station this was accounted for by the fact that' it was made up of two engines and ten carriages filled with passengers. A hearty cheer was given as the carriages stopped.

it was estimated that fully 250. per- -• CUV qa.’.p.e down lup train, among them being, a number ot Norman by settlers. The district manager remarked that the unballasted portion, of the line was still very rough and certainly not fit for heavy traffic in its present state. A fear was expressed by some lest this informal opening ceremony might tend to interfere with the real opening for general traffic on October 21.

Although the event is fraught with importance to the whole district, we regret that the opening of another section of the railway line along this coast was allowed to pass off very quietly. Really there was no attempt at celebration and the holiday proclaimed at the last moment only seemed to make the township duller than usual, so far as the Hawera people were concerned. The agricultural" show at Wanganui '.had taken many people a wav and those who remained simply wandered listlessly about breaking the monotony by visiting the station when trains were due, and grumbling at the mismanagement of New Plymouth railway officials who had given them no chance of a ride by rail. “ . . . . the trains left on the homeward journey at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. respectively, and the travellers stated that they were very much pleased’wjtn the line, the carriages- having run very smoothly.—“Hawera and Normanby Star,” October 21, ISSI.