LOCAL AND GENERAL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4803, 28 June 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

When the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce excursion rail-car to Taumarunui on Saturday reached the point near Haeo where the last spike was driven in the permanent way when the two sections of railway line met there, a short stoi) was made and Mr. P. Thomson, Mayor of Stratford, explained the circumstances of that occasion. He said that the Hon. G. Forbes, who was then Minister of Railways, drove the last spike, and as a memento of the occasion he was presented with a silver spike. And some wag in the party asked: “Has he had the sjoike ever since?”

“Some of these tourists think they are the only ones in God’s own country.” This comment was made by the secretary of the Greymouth branch of the Automobile Association (Canterbury) at the Association’s monthly meeting when a bitter complaint was received from an overseas tourist. The tourist said that when he was held up by a wash-out on the Tetaho-Wataroa (South Westland) road on May 23, the Public Works men had not helped him to get over the washout. “You all know those South Westland rivers,” Mr. Harley said. “When they are in flood, only a fool would try to cross. This man left his car and went on to Chritschurch. It cost him about £lO to recover the car, which was sent on to him. The Public Works men did all in their power to open the road as quickly as possible. They worked particularly hard.” “That chap’s funeral expenses would have cost him more than £10,” Dr. W. McKay said, amid laughter.