NEW BRANCH RAILWAY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13393, 29 May 1914, Page 7

NEW BRANCH RAILWAY.

JUBILATION AT OPUNAKE

(Per Press Association.)

HAWERA, this day. Yesterday was a red-letter day for Opunake, when the ceremony of turning the first sod of the railway, which is to connect with the main lino at Te lloti was performed by the Hon. W. Fraser, m glorious weather, and m the presence of a large attendance of settlers from all parts of the province. The Minister, who had turned the sod amidst enthusiasm, apologised for the unavoidable absence of the Premier. He said the line was one of the most important m the Dominion and he recognised that it was of enormous importance to settlers of tho district. He would do what he could to havo the line finished within a reasonable time, but the progress made would depend ■ .upon the amount voted by Parliament. Tlie Minister was presented n with a beautiful silver inkstand m commemoration of the occasion. Subsequently Mr Fraser was tendered a complimentary luncheon m the Town Hall, when there was a representative gathering present. Congratulatory sneeches were made by Mr O. Dudlv (chairman of the Oprnake Railway League), Taranaki memberri of Parliament, many prominent settlers, and representatives of local bodies. The health of the Minister was enthusiastically honored. Afterwards the Minister motored to Kltham. where he was the guest of the citizens last night. - i ELTHAM, this day. A comnlimentarv banquet was tendered to the Minister for Pnblic Work 1 * here last evenincr. Among those nersent were MensTs Okev and' Wilkinson. M.'sP. The function proved most successful.