FIFTY YEARS TO-DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1931, Page 1 (Supplement)

FIFTY YEARS TO-DAY

FIRST TRAIN TO HAWERA

Exactly 50 years ago. to-day the first passenger train ran from New Plymouth to Hawera. On August 1, 1881, a special train was run right through from New Plymouth, being the first that had proceeded beyond Normanby. Part of the line between Normanby and Hawera was not then ballasted, and the object of running the train over that part of- the line was for the convenience of visitors from the northern end to attend a. land sale at Hawera.

Special inducements were given to excursionists by the issue of return- tickets at single fares, and about 300 availed themselves of the opportunity to make the journey. There were two engines to tne train, and the arrangements were fairly good, though there was a tedious wait at the Eliot Street station occasioned by the slow process of issuing tickets, and stoppages were frequent. 0 This, it was stated at the time, was of course no fault of the management. Hawera was reached at half-past eleven and the town presented a more lively appearance than probably ou any occasion in its history. The sale was largely attended, and high prices for those days were realised, as is shown by the following return of the results: — Sold: 128 sections at Manaia, for £2038; 125 sections at Opunake for £2499;. 7 suburban sections at Opunake for £864; 22 rural sections, £4967; total £10,368. The average prices realised were: Large rural sections, £3 10s.per acre; small rural - sections, £lO 10s; Opunake suburban sections, £l6 12s per acre. The sections remaining unsold were 24 and 25, block 15; three town sections at Opunake, and a number at Manaia. Section 39, block 3, realised £25 17s 6d per acre. The train reached New. Plymouth at eight o’clock, the passengers being glad to get to their firesides after so cold a ride.

The following is a description written shortly after- the event by one of the passengers on the train: “Feeling somewlrat cold I decided to walk to the New Plymouth shed, where I arrived in time to get a good seat. It is a long time since I saw so many red noses as I then gazed upon, for, be it known, it was a Sharp morning. While I was leisurely surveying my travelling companions (mostly merchant princes with their good ladies), the signal to start was given by the guard, and we experienced a sudden jerk, the ladies giving the customary ejaculation ‘We’re oil!’ I was off in reality, for I had been sitting on the edge of the seat and the smart jerk landed me in a sitting posture on a lady’s lap.

“All went well after, this mishap until we reached Eliot -Street, where a large number of excursionists awaited our arrival. The carriages were well filled on leaving the town, and it seemed to me that “some would have to remain behind. However, after a long delay, which made my toes and nose feel rather frozen, the platform was cleared, and we were preparing for anotliei’ start when an elderly lady pushed open our carriage and slowly waddled in. A space of about' six inches intervened between me and a rather pretty young miss, which the newcomer caught sight of. Bearing down towards us like some ancient Dutch man-of-war,, she smartly ported helm, backed sails and gave us her broadside. The efiect was awful. “Nothing of any consequence happened till we reached Sentry Hill, except that the. terrific rate of four miles an hour made my blood' run cold. At Sentry Hill I poked my nose out of the door to see what improvements had taken place, and was really pleased to see so many new buildings and workshops. The morning air was very keen, and I turned to take, my seat again, but the -old lady had spread herself over the spot, and glared at me so fiercely that. I retreated to the door, which was slammed in my face by a bilious-looking young man. The outcome of it was that I had to stay outside for four solid hours. “On arriving at Inglewood I was joined by a young stranger, who gave me many useful hints about the country and the people we should pass on our way. Host Coldwell brought a smile to my sad countenance while waiting at Inglewood by showing us his racing qualities. The way he scudded across to the train from his hotel with bottled beer was something enlivening. “Shortly after leaving Inglewood my companion pointed opt to me the beauties of tbe country, and I gazed with wonder at the ever-changing panorama. There were big trees and little trees, short stumps and long stumps, the majority of them blackened with fire. The princely mansions of the lords of the soil were also pointed out to me as we sped along—but enough surely has been said to convince the dwellers in town that they have missed the greatest pleasure obtainable in this country, namely, a bushman’s life. “To add to the enjoyment of the scene the engine-drivers caused clouds of steam, intermixed with sulphurous perfumes, to be liberally distributed among those fortunate beings like. myself who had outside places. Occasionally, too, they essayed to play cricket, pieces of coal of from half-ounces to quarterpounds being hurled at our devoted heads. .Next time I travel on this line I intend to take a few sacks with me, borrow Mr. Harris’ bell-topper, and catch and bag all the coal puffed away from the engines. I’m sure it would pay. “While passing over the high level part of the line, about Waipuku, I felt the cold severely, and it was not before Normanby was sighted that I dare feel my nose, as I was afraid it might be frost-bitten. To improve matters my satchel containing a small quantity of provender- —pig’s trotter and a crust of bread —was inside the carriage, under my former seat, and when I attempted to go in for it a black scowl from the old lady made me turn tail without it “Normanby I thought a very pretty place, pleasantly situated, with a magnificent piece of country adjoining. I should have liked to put in an hour ortwo there, but those railway men have no consideration, and wc were slowly jogged along over an unballasted, load to°Hawera. °Oue of the railway officials at Normanby informed me that our train would act as a test over the new bridges and culverts—if we got over safely they were all right; if they broke down and us with them, it would prove they were not fit lo be taken over by the Government, Pleasant for a nervous man, wasn’t it? “The much-talked-of ‘City of the plains,’ however, was reached without any such disaster. As soon as the train stopped I carefully descended and departed in a carriage en route to the town, distant some quarter of a mile or so, where we arrived, in a few minutes.”