Gala Day at Kaikohe.

Northern Advocate, 23 April 1914, Page 5

Gala Day at Kaikohe.

CRERMONx PERFORMED BY PREMIER.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT WORK COMPLETED.

OPENING OF RAILWAY SECTION,

WARM WELCOME BY'RESIDENTS

In almost Ideal weather the Premier (Mr W. F. Massey) opened the OtiriaKaikohe se3tion of railway at Kaikohe yesterday. -• _ (

Crowded excursion "trains ran from Whangarei and Kawakawa, while hundreds of setUers were present from all the surrounding districts.

Kaikohe was en fete for the red-let-ter day of the history of the important northern centre. The station was gaily decoiated with bunting and presented a most attractive appearance.

Among those present were Messrs Reed, Mander, and Bradney, M.P.'s, R. Thompson; ex-M.H.R., and Messrs T. Lane, W. Stewart, F. Andrews and W. G. Mackenzie—the chairmen of four,of the Northern county councils. There were also a number of other locafrbody representatives present. On arrival at Kaikohe, the Premier and party were conducted to the spes cial platform erected for the occasion. The first speaker was Mr W. Stewart (chairman of the Bay of Islands .County Council) who welcomed the

Premier to the district. - Mr V. Reed said that it was unnecessary for him to say how pleased he was to be present Three years ago he was present at the opening of the railway^to Kawakawa —a length of 25 miles of line. To-day another 17 miles of railway was being opened, making , in all 42 miles? He considered that I the progress was satisfactory. Personally he had' always advocated railway construction in the North, 'as. he was convinced, that" by railway communication alone the North could be developed. The country was good, the climate was good, and the people, with a fair chance of outlets,' would make headway. Mr Reed said that he hoped that the Whangarei Link Line would speedily be completed, as it would mean that people could go . right through by train from the Bay of Islands to Auckland. North and South would then be brought into direct touch with one another,' and it would mean for the farmer a big influx , of settlers and tourists. At present the

north line had been authorised as far as Hokianga. A few miles, south of Kaikohe was the route of the North Main Trunk line, and the piece of line to Otiria'could be regarded as a small link to connect a system which would eventually extend beyond \Hokianga and possibly to M'angonui. He hoped that the railway would be pushed on to Hokianga with all speed. In" welcoming the visitors I from Whangarei Mr Reed said that the railway had established a community of interest between people with the same aims and ideas. He was also glad to see representatives of Hokianga and Mangonui present. He congratulated the North on the success , in railway construction which had been achieved.

Mr Mander added his congratulations and said.that the Government were anxious to build railways in order to develop the North, and he hoped that the line would' be extended to Victoria Valley- in order that people furthest away from the markets might be afforded every facility to get their produce to the markets. Mr Mander said that he was delighted to be present. H paid a tribute to Mr Reed for the way he had worked to get the present section built. • i

Mr Mas'sey was received with loud applause. He said that he was more than' pleased to be present, as it was a red-letter day in the history of the Bay of Islands. He was pleased to join In the celebrations, as the event was,of the ytmost importance to the whole of the North. His aim was to assist the development of the country: The' present section of railway, had cost £160,000, but is was money well spent, as it would mean increased trade to Whangarei and also all the settlers of the Northern districts, Europeans and Maories alike. In the past the North had been regarded as the Cineredlla of New Zealand, a district y where gum was dug in the swamps and timber grew in the forests. But the idea had changed, and the North, was,- now regarded as one of the best assets of " the Dominion—a territory with good harbours, large tracts of good land, and an industrious and energetic population. The Government believed in a strong forward movement, the building of railways and roads,, the lifting of settlers- out of the mud and the''provision of transit facilities. He intended to open lands for settlement, and to make other lands more productive. Mr Massey said that he was glad to see so many Maoris present, and he trusted that the ,time would come when they would be in the same place, the same level, and" working side by side with the pakeha race.

"Last time I came here," concluded Mr Massey, "I drove here in a buggyafter a difficult journey. To-day I came iby train and hundreds of people came -with me. That is a fact which speaks lor itself."

The engine of the train, No. " 293, then steamed through the ribbon stretched across the line by Mesdames Ludbrook and Edwards, and the Premier's declaration that the OtiriaKaikone section of railway was offi-

cially opened was received with

cheers

Mr Massey then announced that the engine would be christened "Tarawai," this being a request of Mrs Hone Heke (sen.)", the mother of the late member of Parliament of that name. The meaning of.the native word is: "Sea that breaks on the eastern coast."

Mr Massey again congratulated the residents of the district on the imporant work that had been inougurated, and the function ended amid cheers for the Premier and a jubilant shriek from the whistles of the locomotives.

Deputations waited'upon the Premier at different points along the railway line when Mr Massey was on his way. to Kaikobe yesterday.