TAURANGA’S RAILWAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19204, 21 June 1924, Page 10

TAURANGA’S RAILWAY.

THE OPENING CEREMONY. A RED LETTER DAY. (Peb United Press Association.) TAURANGA, June 20. To-day marked an onooh in the historv of Tauranga wlion the railway into the town was opened by Mr MacMillan, M.P., who read an apology from the Hon. J. G. Goatcs regretting his inability to be present. Tho town was gaily decorated with flags and evergreens and a record crowd was fn (ho streets. The weather was dull and rain commenced to fall a.s the train from the coastal districts conveying about 500 people, arrived. Tho train service has been running for somo years from Maunganui. on the other side of tho harbour, to Matata, but the entry of the railway into Tauranga has. been long delayed, awaiting the completion of the big bridge which was necessary to span the harbour. From to-day a regular service will Ire run to and from the (own. The event will bo celebrated at an official luncheon at which all tho local bodies from the surrounding districts will bo represented. The children ware entertained during the afternoon. At the luncheon in the evening Mr B. Dive presided ,and between 60 and 70 guests were present. Tho Chairman, in proposing tho toast of the Minister of Public Works, expressed the opinion that if ho wore left to carry on his policy it. would bo in the best interests of New Zealand. Mr MacMillan, who replied on behalf of the Minister, said tho finest testimony, to his work was the manner in which the Puhl'e Works (statement was received on all sides of the House. Maior Hawke, representative of Messrs Armstrong, Whitworth, and Co., who have the contract to complete tht remaining link in the railway between Tanranga and Waihi, replying to the toast of the visitors, said ho was confident the work would ha pushed through in contract time—three years.