THE FINAL SPIKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22769, 1 July 1937, Page 12

THE FINAL SPIKE

MOHAKA VIADUCT

OFFICIAL COMPLETION

MINISTERS PERFORM CEREMONY

RAILCAR ACROSS STRUCTURE

[BY TELEGRAPHI—OWN 1 —OWN CORRESPONDENT ]]

NAPIER. Wednesday

The final spike in the Mohaka viaduct was driven by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, shortly after noon to-day. The official party journeyed from Napier this morning in a railcar, and after the ceremony at jMohaka proceeded to Wairoa, where they will embark by ,car upon an inspection of the remainder of the East Const line. Less than three hours was the time taken on the trip to Mohaka by the smooth-running railcar, which maintained an average of almost 130 miles an hour for the major portion of its running time. At every station and house along the route a small knot of 'people gathered to wave friendly greeting to those pioneering the route of the reconstructed railway between Napier and Wairoa. Mr. Sullivan at Controls A short distance from Mohaka, the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, called the attention of the passengers to the high wooden tower at the southern end of the viaduct and a few minutes later the vivid orangepainted steelwork bridge itself came into sight to the accompaniment of tuneful blasts on the horn of the railcar.

Mr. Sullivan took the controls and ■proceeded slowly over the viaduct 310 ft. above the surface of the Mohaka River ancl separated from it by a veritable network of intricately fabricated steel. Following a haka of welcome and poi dance by the children of the Ruapunga Native School, the ceremony of welcome was opened by Mr. E. L. Cullen, M.P. for the district. He was followed by other speakers, including the two Ministers. Token of Gratitude On behalf of the local bodies of Wairoa, Mr. A. G. Nolan, chairman, of the Wairoa County Council, presented Mr. Scmple with a silver replica of the last spike as a token of gratitude for his work in the interests oj the district in pushing ahead with the railway.

An interested crowd of workmen, farmers and school children gathered at various vantage points to watch Mr. Semple complete the work of his department in the construction of the viaduct. To the clatter of the riveting machine and cheers from the crowd the last rivet was then driven. ARRANGING TRAIN SERVICES TENTATIVE PROPOSALS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*} WAIROA, Wednesday At the ceremony of driving the last spike of the Mohaka Viaduct, the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, sa>d the viaduct should be an inspiration in the lives of the children. In bringing the Napier-Wairoa portion of the railway into operation it was the' desire of the Government that the train services should be so arranged as to give the most convenient connections for residents throughout the area. The department had drawn up tentative schedules both for a temporary service, until such time as the necessary railcars were available, and also for a full service.

It was desired in the meantime to give an express train connection from Wairoa to Wellington, a distance of 270 miles, in about 11$ hours, and from Wellington to Wairoa in the same time. There would be a motor service to Gisborne, making the through time from Wellington to Gisborne 14 hours for a total distance of 328 miles. The time of the expresses between Wairoa and Napier would be about 3} hours. Daily goods trains would also be provided each way between Napier, Wairoa and Waikokopu. When rail cars were available, probably early in the new year, the trip between Gisborne and Wellington could be done in 13 hours. The tentative proposals also provided for a night passenger service between Wairoa and Wellington.