LAST SPIKE

Northern Advocate, 7 November 1932, Page 7

LAST SPIKE

STRATFORD RAILWAY LINK WITH MAIN TRUNK. AFTER no YEARS’ EFFORT. MR FORBES OFFICIATES. (Special to "Northern Advocate."! STRATFORD, This Day. The Stratford-Main Trunk Railway is completed after over 30 years of effort on the part of the settlers in the district and the Public Works Department. The ceremony of driving the ' last spike took place at Haeo today, being performed by the Prime Minister, tho Rt. Hon. Or. W. Forbes, with whom were associated the Rt. Hon, J. G. Coates and the Hon. R. Masters. Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., Leader of tho Opposition, was also in attendance, as were Mr W. J. Poison, M.P., the member for tho district, and -several other members of Parliament, who made tho journey through front Wellington last night.

The majority of the Parliamentarians spent the night at Tanmarnmii. This morning a special train, the first to make the through journey, left Taumarunui. It was well filled with citizens and representatives of local bodies and other organisations. As the journey progressed public men and others joined the train at various points, particularly at Ohnra and Mafic re.

Another train carrying the Taranaki delegation left Stratford at 8 a.m. with people from Stratford, New Plymouth, Hawcra, Eltham, and other towns, and the total was swelled at the intermediate stations. The two trains met at Haco, where the last spike was driven by the Prime Minister. Engineering Epic. To those who travelled by train the magnitude of the task that lay before the engineers was made apparent. The country for the most part is wild and rugged and covered with thick forest. There are huge hills through which tunnels have been bored, deep cuttings and ravines spanned by high bridges. Although work of railway construction has been going on for over 30 years from the Stratford end, it was not until 1911 that it was begun from the eastern end at Okahukura and gradually the line progressed to Ohura. Haeo, where the spike-driving ceremony took place today, is not the spot at which the two ends of the line actually met, but it is near where the last, of the big tunnels was pierced, and is near the boundary of the Ohura County, and the nearest spot where it was possible to stage a half-way gathering. It is 31 miles from Okahukura and OS miles from Stratford. It is also in the section where the most difficult part of the construction work was carried out. Numerous Tunnels. The country in this area is very rugged, and much time and trouble had to be expended in finding the most suitable route. In 221 aniles there are no fewer than 14 tunnels and in the five miles between Tabora • and Tangarakau there are four, in addition to every kind of railway feature except a viaduct. From a scenic point of view the lint passes through really magnificent country, and it is thought that the trip will have much attraction for tourists. Mountain Motor Road. After the spike-driving ceremony both trains came to Tangarakau, where luncheon was partaken of, and several addresses delivered. Many of those present from the eastern end then left on their return to Taumarnnui and stations on route, ■while the remainder joined the Stratford train to take part in the official opening of the motor road to the Plateau on the Stratford side of Mount Egmont, which runs to a height of 4000 feet, providing one of ihe finest motor drives in the Dominion, This ceremony will .be performed late in the afternoon by Hon. R. Masters.

A banquet is to be bold at Stratford tins evening - .