RAILWAY LINE OPENED

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1932, Page 5

RAILWAY LINE OPENED

EAST AND WEST INTERMINGLE

POPULAR CEREMONY AT HEAO

MINISTERS OF THE CROWN PRESENT

before did Heao and Tangarakau, on tlie Stratford-Okahu-kura railway, enjoy such popular public attention as yesterday, when the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon, G. W. Forbes, performed the official opening of the new railway in the presence of nearly 2000 people from western Taranaki, Ohura and Taumarunui. *

The trains from western Taranaki arrived a few minutes before the train from Taumarunui with the official party. Addresses appropriate to the occasion were delivered, and with the driving of a silver spike by the Prime Minister Stratford was formally linked by rail with Ohura and the Main Trunk. Thus was forged a connecting link to which settlers in Taranaki’s hinterland have been looking forward since the line was commenced at Stratford in 1901. After the’Heao ceremony most people repaired to Tangarakau Flat, where dinner was provided and more speeches were delivered. Activity was next transferred to Stratford, where waiting cars met the train and took a large number of people to the Stratford mountain house for the official opening of the new scenic road to the plateau. The day’s festivities terminated with a dinner at Strata ford last night.

TARANAKI’S CONTINGENT

CEREMONY AT HEAO PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH. ' DRIVING OF THE LAST SPIKE. As soon as the train bringing the Ministerial party had discharged its complement of passengers and moved off, Messrs W. K. Williams and G Ryan, two of the oldest settlers in the Ohura district, set to work with the ceremonial augur, an elongated braca equipped with a shining new bit, bore a suitable hole, m the new teals sleeper, for setting the last “On behalf of the people of th© Ohura district I desire to tender to the Prune. Minister, his colleagues of the Cabinet, members of 'Parliament and other visit tors a most hearty welcome to tins opening ceremony,” said Mr. George Dennison, chairman of the Ohura Counvy Council, in opening the proceedings. f; We have waited over 30 years for thia event. ‘I can assure you all that the district thoroughly appreciates all that this line will mean.” Mr. Dennison paid a tribute to Public Works Department and the men who had made the line possible. He also thanked Mt. F. Langstone, M.P. ton Waimarino, for the great interest n« had shown in having the work com-, pleted. , . Mr. Dennison’s welcome was echoed by Mr. Langstone. The member, said, he was convinced that the railway! would become what he described as a circulating line of extreme value to both centres, connecting Taranaki, Taui marunui, Waikato and Auckland. It would eave many miles, would cub down the barriers of distance and foster trade. In short, it was a most important line of communication, and ion that reason people had teen looking .forward for years to the completion of this great connecting link between two great provinces and two great trunk

TRAINS ’PACKED WITH PEOPLE. i I NUMBERS LEFT BEHIND. ! Two trains went from Taranaki. The first left Stratford, taking Stratford people and picking up passengers at intermediate points. Not one station failed to contribute its quota to this train. The second train started from' New Plymouth and stopped at Stratford for passengers from the 6.50 a.m. train from Hawera. Despite the fact that the second train was advertised to take passengers only from Hawera and New Plymouth and from intermediate stations as far as 'Stratford, a. large number of local residents gathered at the Stratford station and strove to secure seats. Some of them were successful but the train was quickly filled and there were many disappointed faces to watch the train pull out. The journey as far as Douglas was familiar to a good proportion of the ■passengers, while others who had not •been east of Stratford before saw little difference in the rolling farm lands from other rural areas of the province. After Douglas, however, passengers began to display greater interest in the country through which the trains were passing. The "succession of ridges and valleys, the hills covered with . scrub and second growth above the area where the land had been cleared for grazing constituted an aspect of Taranaki that was new to many. Then came the first tunnel a few miles east of Huiroa, and there again a new experience was imparted, especially to children, to whom the passage of the train through the tunnel was an event to 'be acclaimed.

At all the stations en route could be seen the cars and gigs in which farmers had driven to catch the first train, while settlers who were deprived by some force of circumstance from, travelling watched the largest passenger trains ever seen on the line. To. them as much as those who attended the ceremonies was vouchsafed the realisation that at last their dreams of a through railway with prospects of regular passenger and goods trains ■were fulfilled.

lines. Mr. Langstone proceeded to compare the value of railway transport with the value of road transport to -show ■how valuable the f ormer really W He 'concluded by remarking that 40 per tent, of the Cabinet was present at the. function and no-one was more pleased than himself to see the Government so well represented. TRIBUTE TO BUILDERS. “At this important occasion one’s , mind goes back beyond the accomplish* •ed part of this important railway to •review the difficulties that had. to be overcome in the making, ’ eaid Mr. ■Forbes in paying a tribute to the work of administration, to the engineers who laid out the line and to 'the men who carried it out. Mr. Forbes expressed his pleasure at. the splendid weather, and at seeing so ■large and enthusiastic a concourse- of people interested in the line. No doubt. ! 'since the first sod was turned at Strati ford and the work commenced in 1902, 'great changes had taken place, but it was important to note that the New 'Zealand system of rail transport did. not lag behind other system's through* out the world in efficiency and ■He believed the public realised this facta 'and that the means would be placed in the hands of those responsible to harry on the service with increased effi-i ciency. In New Zealand the railways had a definite objective—to get produce to markets as quickly and as cheaply as possible. In this connection he re* marked that competition on the world’s markets was becoming keener and keener and everything that could be done to bring producers nearer the port. New Zealand, continued the Prime Minister, was facing a time of great difficulty, and just as the line had now come through its difficult period, so also - would the country emerge to a brighten and more prosperous era. That was certain, but before that could be brought about a great deal of hard, work was necessary. Energy, determination and initiative had to be. displayed, but (Mr. Forbes was satisfied that the spirit of the men who pioneered the country, made roads and built railways would see the country through. His Government recognised the difficulties of the times and was doing all it could, but’it remembered that private citizens were also experiencing their own acute difficulties. All were well aware of the position of public finance. The Government was facing a deficit, but intended to do the best that was possible with the money at its disposal. He was well aware that there were differences of views, but he could assure all present that the Government was earnestly and sincerely endeavour* ing to eolve its problems.

COLOURFUL SCENE. The scene at Heao was a colourful one when the trains, which were handled expeditiously, had disgorged their ■human freight. The platform for the speakers was gaily decked with flags, and bunting was suspended across the line. The platform quickly became the centre of interest for the majority. Others, preferring a panoramic view, Clustered on the hillsides rising from ■the line. Rugs .and coate were soon spread and the function was witnessed in comfort, the 'brilliant sunshine being, tempered by a breeze that drifted down the valley on to the flat on which Heao, consisting of a cluster of workmen’s huts, is situated. While the ceremony was in progress the Taranaki trains were run down the •line to the siding, where the engines were changed round in preparation for the run to Tangarakau. The silver spike, driven by the Prime Minister, was presented to him by the Mayoress of Stratford, Mrs. P. Thomson, while a silver-mounted hammer with which to drive it was presented by the Mayoress of Taumarunui, Mrs. C. A. Boles. The ceremony was very well organised and indicated the careful forethought which was given to it by the eastern committee. At Tangarakau the luncheon and refreshment rooms were rushed and were rapidly packed to capacity. Anyone who sold anything in the nature of pies, ices and soft drinks was very popular. Those who had brought their lunches with them sought suitable spots, patronised the copper of boiling water and picnicked. Some, in addition to the official party, gained admission to the luncheon.

The Taumarunui Boys’ Band of 39 players gavv selections at Heao and Tangarakau, giving a gala air to the proceedings. The three trains were packed and carriage platforms w.re pressed into service by passengers who were unable to secure seats. They had an unenviable time during passage through tunnels. The first train from Stratford consisted of 16 cars, two engines and SOO passengers. The. second had 15 cars, '2 engines and 653 passengers. The Taumarunui train had 13 cars, two engines and 600 passenger*.

ADDRESS BY MRe FORBES

SPIRIT OF DETERMINATION

advantage of dominion

other ministers speak

..-Mr. Forbes Said he believed a spirit of determination was abroad. that day thdt would bring the country back to prosperity. New Zealand had at least one important factor in its favour its line climate. It provided its producers with a natural advantage and gave them -a'definite advantage when it came to competing on the worlds markets. He believed the quality _oi the Dominion’s produce would be mam'*tained at a very high standard. It was realised that in this direction a big effort was needed because New Zealand had established a high reputation in. Britain due to the quality of its produce and to its name for honest trading. These" were assets of the people, and when the people Wero facing their problems of to-day such assets were most valuable. All he, ns Prime ? ister, asked of the people was that they do their best‘and .carry on.. In times of low prices it was sometimes discouraging to be asked to carry on, but he emphasised that the solution of the country’s difficulties depended upon •the people doing just that-doing their best and carrying on. Mt. Forbes thanked the previous (speakers for the invitation to be present. He had no doubt that November >7, 19&2, would mark a very definite date in the history of Taranaki, of the King Country and of the whole of New Zealand. His mind W6iit foack to the day when Si* JdS6f>h Ward turned the first so-d. at Okahukura and when Sir William Hall-Jones performed a similar ceremony at" Stratford. Unfortunately, few William was not able to attend, the pre-senfi-xserem ony, and Sir Joseph . had gone to his long rest, leaving behind a. reputation of which hie friends might ■ well be proud. f •Mrs. Percy Thomson, Mayoress of Stratford, presented the Prime Minister with the silver epike as a memento of the occasion, and Mrs. G. A. Boles, Mayoress of Taumarunui, followed to present a spike-driving hammer. (With Mr. Jim Kelso, Public Works Department plumber, who had followed his fortune working on the line, for 23 years, taking’ the weight of the sleeper on a crowbar, Mr. Forbes well and truly drove the spike, taking .12 strokes and “missing” only once. Mesdames Thomson and Boles were •then, given each an end. of a long hluo ribbon printed in repetition with the .words -“’Stratford-Taumarunui railway. This they held across the last sleeper .while the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates drove the first train over the last Standing on the-cow-catcher, Mr. F. Wu 'Furkert, until, recently Engineer-m--i Chief of the Public Works Department, 'cut the ribbon as the engine slid past and the band from. Taumarunui play-, ed appropriate music. At this Stage, the Hon. R. Masters, M.L.C., handed to the Prime Minister a, ticket issued lor the first train to run over the line from Stratford. The ticket was a souvenir, saved 'by Mrs. Margaret Porter, Stratford.

> MR. COATES’ ADDRESS/

If New Zealand was experiencing at prepent a very difficult time on account of ike depression it had to be remembered that similar effects were causing difficulties in other parts of the world also, said the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, the next speaker. People, he said, had to keep one main idea in view. That was the. general dependence upomjhe industry of farmers and L/primary products. In fact, the whole efforts Of those responsible for the future of the country, from both the economic and the financial aspect, lay in developing means of raising the price level of primary produce. He therefore urged that it be a defined and accepted policy to say to the man on the land “You carry on.’ It was the duty of the country to see that farmers maintained production, for no worse fate could befall New Zealand at this juncture than ’a fall in production. Meanwhile the producer, - the industrialist ar)d the wage earner had to trust io the Empire and those guiding; its destiny io show the way by which the level of primary prices could most, satisfactorily be Raised to a remunerative ' level. . “Let us keep production up and keep quality high, paid the speaker. Turning to the main business of the Hay Mr. Coates stated that 900,000 rails and 265,000 sleepers went to make up the Btratford-Main Trunk railway, and it had B ost £2,900,000. The first sod was turned in 1901. by Sir William Hall-Jones at Stratford, and at the other end Sir Joseph Ward turned the first sod at Okahukura in 1911. Mr. Coogan was the man who wheeled away the first sod, and he was still alive and in sound health. In men-, tioniag Mr. Coogan’s name it was interesting*- said Mr. Coates, to see present at the celebrations yesterday, Jim ' Kelso, after serving for nearly 25 years on the line. The main object of the line was to give Access between .the Auckland and Taranaki provinces, as well as to serve the country in between. The line had had a chequered . career, like many others in . New Zealand. The war had interfered seriously, but by k 1925 active constructions work was again in progress between Matiere and Tahora. “When the Public Works decides to go fehead with a job it: sees it through,” said the Minister. The line had been well built, and he congratulated the engineers, the foremen, the clerks of works, and the men topon its satisfactory completion. A lot ®f men would go off the work now it was finished, and the Government would have to do its best for them. “Let me remind rfiese men,” he continued, “of . the possibilities of small farms. I want to impress upon you all that this depression is not going to remain but only in such manner as you tackle the job, so will the time go forward towards that flood of prosperity to which we all look so hopefully.”

MR. MASTERS SPEAKS.

The Hon. R. Masters, M.L.C., Minister fcf Education, described the occasion , of the celebrations as one of the most important events in the history of the provinces of Auckland and Taranaki. Yesterday they had linked up two great provinces, provinces that had made a measure O f progress and development. unequalled in any other part of the Dominion. When one took into consideration that work on to many Other lines of importance had been - stopped, one- realised how pleased the oeople of Stratford and Taumarunui were. And not without reason.. The Government had expressed its faith in the line, and it mow remained for the people of the provinces to express their faith by sending their goods and produce by no other means mf transport except the railway. «r «ay the Government has no right to / fee called upon to pay £1,300,000 out of gibe Consolidated Fund to meet the. railway deficit when the people can assist so •materially by putting their goods, over the their money has built, continued Mr.

Masters. The Railway Board was doing its best to bring down the cost of running its trains, and it was satisfactory to note that since 1931 the cost of railway expenses per mile had fallen from Ils 4d to 10s. People could thus see that every effort was being made to meet the times. It was now up to the people to do the rest.