EAST COAST RAILWAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16797, 9 November 1928, Page 14

EAST COAST RAILWAY

INVASION OF TUTIRA SUCCESSFUL TRAIN EXCURSION (Herald Correspondent.) A peaceful invasion of Tut ini, 29 miles from Napier, on the route of the East Coast railway, took place on Wednesday, and it may be taken as true that never before in the history of the territory did the Tutira district see such a large “gathering of the clans,” even when the Maoris occupied the land in their thousands, or when hostile forces, bent on slaughter and loot, carried out one of their then customary raids. Last April Mr. J. Mason, member for Napier, made a suggestion to the Government that it would be a good idea to run an excursion up the Napier-Wairoa line as far as a train could be taken with safety in order to give the general public a better idea of the magnitude of the work, the difficulties that had to be overcome and the progress up to date. The Railway Department, which is now operating on truer business lines than in the past, readily took up the suggestion, and the Napier Chamber of Commerce set to work in support of the scheme. A FINE RESPONSE That all parties must have been heartily co-operating was very evident when a train of 17 carriages, drawn by three engines, steamed into Tutira station at 1 p.m. on Wednesday carrying close on 1000 excursionists. All the seating accommodation was fully taken up, and apparently over 100 had to stand in the carriages or on the platforms. Quickly the bulk of the excursionists debarked, and spread themselves over the station area to partake of lunch, a proceeding which was greatly facilitated by an abundant supply of hot water. A few climbed the neighboring hills to get a view of the. picturesque lake lying at their feet, and the hope was generally expressed that before long a full day excursion would be carried out.

Your correspondent was the only member of the Wairoa Chamber of Commerce able to make the trip to junction at Tutira with the official party from the southern end, but lie carried with him an apology from the •president, Mr. C. A. Hyde, which was duly made. All tin 1 way from Waihua down there were, (o be seen evidences of activity on the various sections of the work, in the shape of new permanent way contracts and filling's, whilst from'Mohaka southwards there were also evidences of a stimulus to tlie pastoral industry caused through the near approach of the railway. The crushing of gorse and tractor ploughing was much in evidence. The work of greatest importance to be seen south of Mohaka was the Mutnhourau viaduct, AT miles from Napier. This massive steel structure spans the main .highway, at a height of 215 ft, and is 450 ft long, made up of a centre span of 250 ft, and two each of 00 and 40-foot spans. It had been intended to take a portion of the train as least as close as possible to the viaduct, but the recent bad weather so delayed the construction of the “Sandy Creek’’ bridge, a mile north of Tutira, and about 180 ft long, that the move on was not possible. AT TUTIRA

It was a jolly, satisfied-looking crowd that poured out of the carriages, the coming of which was announced by a “hip, liip, hurrah’’ by one of the engines and the screeching of the jthers, and the invasion of Tutira was an accomplished fact. The official party was met by several leading residents,' and there were many expressions of approval at the clean appearance of the country, which on all sidis appeared “with verdure Clad,” and as one evidence of progress trucks were being loaded up with the CTickle. wood wool. The railway people and others were only too pleased to be of service to the pressmen, of whom there were several present, and though the break in the journey was limited to an hour, a vast amount of information was given regarding the undertaking, not omitting an appeal for an intelligent interest in this form of transport, and greater co-operation in the* matter of service for the people.

A few minutes before the train left on the return journey the assembled excursionists were addressed from the passenger platform, Mr. A. E. Houston, president of the Napier Chamber of Commerce, being the guiding spirit of the function. He said that the trip had been a pleasure to all, due largely to the courtesy and attention given by the Railway Department, and he also congratulated Hawke’s Bay on the fine response. Apologies were noted on behalf of the Hon. J. G. Coates, Prime Minister, Hon. K. R. Williams, Minister of Public Works, Mr. John Mason, M.P., Sir George Hunter, M.P., Mr. Maddison, Mayor of Hastings, Mr. A. E. Jull, chairman of the Napier Harbor Board, and by Mr. T. Lambert from Mr. C. A. Hyde, president of the Wairoa Chamber, of Commerce. TO HELP THE COUNTRY

Mr. IT. M. Campbell, member for Hawke's Bay, was the first speaker, and he stressed his agreement with the Prime Minister that it was impossible without a railway to make profitable light country such as they had about Tutira. Cheap fertilisers, and plenty nr that, were needed, and by their application largely increased production must result. It was true that motor traffic competition had caused the Government some concern, but the present trip showed that the Railway Department was out to supply the needs of the pastoral industry in that respect. He concluded by expressing his pleasure at the manner in which the excursion had been carried out, and thanked the public, for the hearty response. Mr. J. Vigor Brown, Mayor of Napier, said that many present were in; born when the railway was first started at Yhe Napier end, and the sl.iw progress was not the Government’s fiiyUlt. Sir Joseph Ward was in power when a start was made. Then the war came, followed by the after-war problems, and until these had been surmounted the work had not gone on as quickly as most people would have liked. Now, however, it was being prosecuted as fast as possible. Those present had seen some of the difficulties that had to be overcome, and they could bitter understand why the progress had been so slow. He congratulated all concerned on the manner in which the trip had been planned and carried out, and suggested a Sunday excursion to on- 1 able w’orking people to take full advantage of it. WAIROA’S INTEREST Mr. T. Lambert said that as a member of the Chamber of Commerce in Wairoa be had been asked to apologise for the president, Mr. C. A. Hyde. He himself had been for 40 or f)0 years interested in the matter of a Napier-Wairoa railway to open up

the large area on the East Coast between Napier and the Bay of Plenty, and had the Governments of past days proper visions of the latent possibilities in that area the railway would have been started 80 years ago. Even now, the leader of the old Liberal Party, Mr. Forbes, would like to scrap it when half done.

The speaker went, on to say that the country needed fertilisers and lime, and when the railway was finally put through he \vas sure that in 10 or 15 years the East Coast would double its output. Some people said the railway would never pay. Well, why should it, any more than many of the South Island lines? They opened up the country and served the people, and that was enough. The North Island was new paving for the South Island, and it was time we had a cut in. (Laughter.) He said they owed it to the Reform Government, and Mr. Coates, as a Public Works Minister, followed by the Hon. K. S. Williams, that the work had been, so far, carried out. The Wairoa Chamber wished him to say that it. was hoped the work would be hastened so that the iron horse might be quickly stabled at Wairoa. OUT FUR SERVICE. Mr. E. Casey, superintendent of the North Island railway system, apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr. H. 11. Sterling, manager of the New Zealand railways. He expressed his pleasure at meeting so many old Napier friends, and said he was glad to participate in an excursion to enable the people to view the progress of the Napier-Gisborne line as far at Tutira, and to enable them to realise the tremendous importance it possessed for the district. Touching on the policy of the Railway Department, Mr. Casey said it was out to render service and to do that as cheaply as possible. He considered that if the. department’s balance sheet could only be credited with the increased land values, and productivity, which were brought about by the railways, the question of failure to “pay” would never be raised, lie hoped the users would consider the department their friends, as they were that day, and in future not complain to others but go direct to the department, and a remedy would be sought-. When it was realised, continued Mr. Casey, that the Railway Department had invested in it the immense sum of £55.000,000, which meant that every mail, woman and child had to pay about £4O, and that between 18.000 and 19,000 men were being employed thereon, they could no longer ignore the develop mental asset involved, and then there would never he a thought of scrapping. The railway, Mr Casey went on to say, looked to the primary producers for levenue, and would bring the farmers cheaper fertilisers, but wanted the back loads in return. ALL UNDER WAV. / ! Mr. Rodie said lie had witnessed a great deal of country opened up by railways during the 33 years he had been connected with them, and wherever fertilisers had been freely used even iigbl lands were made to blossom as the rose, and this,-plus the advantage of adequate facilities for the conveyance o! stock. The speaker stated that between Tutira and Wairoa tlie line was under construction all the way. There were works of great magnitude to he undertaken, and he estimated that in two years’ time a further 18 miles would be added to the Tutira section. Mr. Me Niell, the commercial agent o'f the de partment, was in charge as far north as Wairoa, and he would only he too pleased to investigate complaint's, oi listen to suggestions for the improve ment- of the service. Mr. Vincent Barry, chairman of the Tutira 'branch of the New' Zealand Farmers’ Union, a worthy son of Constable Barry, who was drowned off the Wairoa bar while fishing, was the. nexi speaker. He tendered a welcome to tin excursionists, and thanked Mr. Trevos Smith, resident engineer of the Public Works Department, for the great jm provement that had been made in the country about Tutira since the opening of the line, even in part. In five years the settlers’ costs had dropped 500 pei cent., and the land could fake IJ, sheep to the acre, instead of half a sheep- as before, and lie expected that in about five years it. would take three sheep to the acre. He concluded by comparing motor traffic and railway traffic, to the advantage of the latter in the matter o! the carriage of stock and fertilisers. Hi hoped to see a whole day excursion, tc

the lake, and said f that Tutira people would - help in any way possible.

ENGINEERING PROBLEMS,

Pleasure was expressed by Mr. Trevoi Smith, Public Works engineer stationed at Wairoa that the trip had been a sue cess. The trip had been plotted out In Mr. Mason and the speaker,, and the former had asked him to apologise fo: bis non-attendance. The speaker then went rapidly over the several points ot interest on the journey up the Esk Valley, referring particularly to the Esk River bridge, 14 miles from Napier, and 360 ft long, and which caused the Public Works Department much concern in 1924jwhen a great flood washed away a good deal of the construction machinery. He cited the Waipunga station embankments as the biggest in the country, one 118 ft high, containing 120,000 cubic yards of filling, and another 105 ft high, with 85,000 yards o' filling The Waikoau viaduct they would see on the way back. It was situated just- a little over 20 miles from Napier. It was 490 ft long and 230 ft, above the stream, and was composed of one span of 250 ft and four of 60ft. The wooden structure to enable the steel girders to be placed in position bad necessitated the use of 16 tons of holts, whilst the round staging piles, if placed end to end, would reach lour miles.

Mr. J. H. Joll, of Havelock North, congratulated tho engineers on their fine work, and said he hoped the further construction would help to improve the country and increase the production.

All the speakers wore well received, and many of (lie humorous savings were greeted with laughter. The return journey was uneventful, but the thousand odd excursionists will not soon forget having taken part in the peaceful invasion of Tutira.