WAIUKU RAILWAY.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 697, 6 January 1922, Page 5

WAIUKU RAILWAY.

P.ENED BY PRUNE MINISTER. WAIUKU EN FETE. _ . ( # 'ft..?;•, //,; ; ne Prime Minister, the Hon. W. Massey, officially opened the Wai--1 branch railway at Waiuku yesday before a very large concourse people. The proceedings throughwere very enthusiastic, and the rn was gaily decoarted with flags [ greenery. Tie special train from Auckland 5 packed, and as it proceeded ng theYnew branch line enthusiascrowdls packed in until there was rcely even standing room left, hi arrival at Waiuku the train pped, just outside the station* and ( Prime Minister stepped on to the itplate of the locomotive and drove } train through the station, break- : the ribbon held across the line 3 thus opened the railway. The icial party then took their places a raised dias and the ceremony iceeded.

Vfr R. T. Reid, charman of, the wn Board, presided. The official itors consisted of the Prime Miner, Sir Wjftiiam Herries, Sir Wilm Fraser, and the Hon. J. G. ates, representing the Cabinet, the ns. E. W- Alison, G. J. Garland, d J. P. Campbell, members of the gislative Council, and Sir Frederick ng. and Messrs R. F. Bollard (Rag- ), F. F. Hockly (Rotorua), R. A. right (Wellington Suburbs), J. S. ckson (Parnell), M. J. Savage uckland West), A. Harris (WaSteita), and Clutha Mackenzie (Auckld East), of the House of Repreltatives. There were also present icials of the Railway and Public orks Departments and representares of various country districts as r away as Otamatea. Apologies >re received from numbers of peoi, including Sir Francis Bell and the >ns. D. H. Guthrie, C. J. Parr, and J. Anderson. Speeches of welcome were made by sssrs Reid. Merllsop, Barribal, and hers. . i The Prime Minister, in returning anks, referred to the fact that the strict had waited just 40 years for 3 railway. He traced the causes of lay, and. pointed out (that now the ie was completed it was for the ople of Waiuku to see that it juti;d the const met ion. He (then deare&*th? line officially o.pen. Other %‘oisters and members spoke, ■d ufteSjf’ds the who|e party was itertainelr at a banquet. The Ministerial parky left for Puke>he and caught the Main Trunk exess, for Wellington in the evening.