RED-LETTER DAY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 78, 24 December 1937, Page 6

RED-LETTER DAY

Our Own Correspondent.)

First Excursion Train Leaves Wairoa LARGE CROWD PRESENT

(From

WA1KUA, Uast JNlgnt. There was a large crowd present at the railway station on. Wednesday night. when the first excursion train left Wairoa for Napier and Wellington. It was a worlcers' train at fares which are to prevail when the regular service is instituted and your correspondent had the privilege of inspeeting the llrst single ticket to Napier at 6/6, and the first to Wellington at 24/-. The train eomprised eight carriages and two vans, drawn by two W.F. engines, and was made up at Waikokopu, where 90 boolced, 45 at Nuhaka, a few at Whakaki, and 30 at Wairoa, making a total of 168, but other worlcers were to be picked up en route at Waihua and Raupunga, etc. It was expected Wellington wonld be reached at 9 a.m. on Thursday. The crowd on board was very gocdhumoured and orderly as the first excursion train steamed out of Wairoa, and though she left without a cheer, she carried the good wishes of many of the pioneers of old Wairoa, who reealled the days of old, when Wairoa was eat off from the civilisation then existing, both by sea and by land. Though there was nothing in the shape of an ofiicial function, there were present Mr A. G. Harris, assistant wngineer of the Public Works Department. Mr Denz, traffic inspector, Wellington, and Mr Thomas, the stationmaster. Pained at the plight of the people, almost stunned by the absence of progress four men niet over 50 years ago in privafe conclave, and made a mental vow to start an agitation for railway connection with Napier — the railway southwards then onl.v ran to Pakipaki They, in point of fact, appointed themselves Wairoa 's first railway committee. They were Mr Thomas Carroll, brother of the late Sir James Carroll. Mr William Forster Shaw, chairman and afterwards clerk to the Wairoai County Council, Major Jolrn Thompson Large, the proprietor of the first Wairoa Guardian, and' his sub-editor. Mr T. Lambert. All except the last-named have gone to tliat bourne from whicli no travellej- returns, and -the departure of Wairoa 's first excursion train for Napier was indeed a realisation of the work they carried on for many years against the apathy oi: people in certain quarters.