NEW RAILWAY OPENED.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 65, 23 April 1914, Page 9

NEW RAILWAY OPENED.

Press Association. OHAEWAI, April 22. The Prime Minister opened the Kaikohe branch railway of seventeen miles at Kaikolie to-day in the presence of a large gathering of Europeans and Maoris. Mr Massey said the line was of the greatest importance to the development of the north, as it would ultimately link the Whangarei-Kawa-kawa section of the railway with the North Auckland Main Trunk line. He also spoke of the need of railways to fully develop the north, which in the past had been looked upon as the Cinderella of New Zealand, but was now realised to be a productive area suitable for close settlement.

Mr Vernon Reed, M.P., said that in the past three years forty-two miles of railway had been opened in the Bay of Islands County. An address was presented to the Prime Minister by the Natives.

Mr Massey attended a conference of Reform branch delegates at Ohaewai in the afternoon to select a Reform candidate for the Bay" of Islands seat. The meeting was divided in its opinion between the choice of Mr Vernon Reed, sitting member, and Mr G. Wilkinson, Reform candidate at last election. No selection was made. Mr Massey addressed a large audience at Ohaewai in the evening.