THE LAST SPIKE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19364, 30 June 1937, Page 5

THE LAST SPIKE

VIADUCT AT MOHAKA TO-DAY’S OPENING MEMORABLE GATHERING WAIROA DREAMS REALISED (Special to the Herald.) > MOHAKA, this day. "Link up the Gisborne and East Coast districts with the railway system of the Dominion and you will add another province to New Zealand, declared the late Hon. Robert McNab, Minister of Agriculture in the Ward Government, when on his initial visit to this district. An important link in the longdelayed project of the building ot the Gisborne-Napier section of the East Coast railway was forged to-day when the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, drove the last spike, marking the completion of the Mohaka viaduct. To-day’s memorable event brings a stage closer the realisation ol Mr. McNab’s prediction. Glistening in brilliant sunshine and resplendent in a fresh coat of paint, this huge viaduct, which towered above the Mohaka River, presented a most impressive picture to-day. The weather conditions were auspicious for the memorable occasion. A large crowd, including many representatives of Wairoa local bodies and nearly all the Maori residents of Mohaka, had gathered at the platform on the northern end of the viaduct when the rail car from Napier, containing the Ministerial party and local body officials from Napier, reached the southern end of the structure at 10.45 a.m. Triumph of Workmanship Standing out in its magnificent proportions, the huge steel structure could not fail to make a deep impression. It was a triumph of workmanship that came in for great admiration. Arrangements had been made for the function to take place at the Wairoa end of the viaduct and the spectators were gathered below the platform erected at this point. Here appropriate speeches were delivered and the Minister of Public Works drove a silver spike to commemorate the completion of the great undertaking Marked enthusiasm was displayed in the function and the officials responsible came in for hearty congratulations upon their success. Amongst those present were a number of officers and employees of the Public Works Department who had been employed on the big job and since had been transferred elsewhere. These included Mr, IJ. O. Haskell, who supervised the fabrication of the viaduct as engineer in charge and is now associated with tne Air Board at Wellington. He was warmly greeted by many friends present. Mr. G. Hollewell, who lately has been in charge of the completion of platelaying and the finishing of this portion of the line, shared with Mr. Haskell a prominent place in the official party during the ceremony. The Official Party Mr. Semple was accompanied by Mr. John Wood, engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department, whilst the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. Minister of Railways, was accompanied by Mr. G. H. Mackley, general manager of railways, and Mr. L. J. S'chmitt, superintendent of the Tourist Department. Mr. Harris, engineer of the Public Works Department, Napier, was also included in the official party. The occasion proved a “red letter’’ day to a number of the older residents of Wairoa, Including Mr. Thomas Lambert and others who had advocated the building of the railway over a long period and had seen the realisation of their dreams. Suitable speeches were delivered by the Ministerial visitors and other officials and after a brief ceremony the rail car resumed its journey to Wairoa, where the celebrations were continued.