OPENING OF THE GISBORNE RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12003, 27 June 1902, Page 6

OPENING OF THE GISBORNE RAILWAY.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION-.]

Gzsborxk, Thursday. The opening of the first section of the railway towards Karaka took place to-day. There were crowds of people hi town, and the streets wert beautifully decorated with flags- and evergreens. At half-past nine a.m. a procession-, in which the volunteers took part, was formed and marched through the town to the station, where the school children were entrained. The Hon. J. Carroll, who declared the railway open, was presented with a gold key, and congratulatory speeches were made. A resolution was passed for telegraphing to the Governor conveying the sympathy of the great meeting at the King's illness, and also resolutions of congratulation, to be forwarded to the Ministers for Public Works and Railways. The demonstration at the Park was a great success. Further congratulatory speeches were made, and everything went off without a hitch of any kind. The train ran almost to the minute. Heavy showers set in as the last of the excursionists returned to town. The night was miserably wet, but great crowds of people were in the streets, and the town was more brilliantly illuminated than on any previous occasion. In addition to the decorations for the opening of the railway there were many designs in sympathy with the King.