STRATFORD-TAUMARURUI RAILWAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18562, 24 May 1922, Page 5

STRATFORD-TAUMARURUI RAILWAY

#' * | A SECTION OPENED. a U (Ps» Usited Pbebs Assoounoir.) MATTERS, '?■ The first public works passengertrwii ran from Qkahukura to Matieri to-day 'la % connection with the morning trahj trota; Taumarunui. It marked the completido w of the first section of the east end of tba.. Stratford main trunk line. The first •od 1 was turned at the Stratford end in March, ~ 1901, by the Hon. W. Hall-Jonea (now; Sir - William Ball-Jones). The first sod «H ;J turned at Taumarunui in November, I9H, by Sir Joseph Ward, who was then Prims Minister. The line was first completed at' ) the Stratford end, 47 miles to Tahora. A s section is now completed to Taomaronny and 10 miles from the main trank line. The M connecting link between Matiere andTahogh i is 31 miles. The Hon. J. G. 3 his last Public Works Statement, hoped the line would reach Ohura .within 12.5 months. When that was completed' an | hour’s run in a motor car would temporarily g connect thei end of the line and gii* a | through passage, from New Plymou&.tiriv Auckland. « Settlers in Chura and Matiere have.waited )] 20 years for a railway, contending with b|o i roads without metal. , ... j- Jj The early completion,of this section j Mr Coates became Minister was .duo. to lltt 5 coricentration of men at this entT.wite'.'thpS object of opening up rich and country. To do this expeditiously tedh-jg porary bridges were built while the PjfrJ manent work was proceeding. is completed over more than half the and a temporary station has been' at Matieri. .. ’ ...-j; The first part of. the journey, miles from the main trank line, i» : a tunnel nearly 4 mile in length. -After ’Hwf; there are four shorter tunnels to The train/held about 400 paatengew,- WM»i| wee conveyed in open trucks. The iouttly was safely made in two bours, the arriving at 12.35 p.m. A large waiting at Matiere to welcome the . train, 1 . .'£< Mr W. T. Jennings. M.P., member Jar \ the district,- welcomed the Hon, J. Coatee, and the Minister then declared toe jg line open, mentioning that It cad noil 1 approximately £33,000 per mile. ’ '