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Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 59, 1 July 1914, Page 5

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RAiL TO WHANGAMOMONA *- OPENED BY MINISTER. A SERIES OF CELEBRATIONS AT THE TOWNSHIP. Whangamomona has every reason jto be joyful to-daj'j, and there can bo no doubt that the residents of the I township will celebrate the opening jof the railway to their settlement with all the heartiness characteristic of them. The people of the township and district have certainly in the pas*t had more than a fair share of muddy roads and difficult commum!cation, and they will be glad to pass on to Kohuratahi, Hurimoana, Tajhora and other more easterly settlements the task of stating and frequently repeating to the Public Works Department and the Railway Department the oft-heard advice: "Hurry up," though the departments named, no doubt, always make the best possible speed under the circumstances.

THIS YEAR AND YEARS AGO. After the line was opened to To Wera in 1910 there was a lapse of two years before the train ran through to Pohokura, the initial passenger !train reaching that station on August Ist, 1912, the length of line then opened being 8 miles 55 chains. Now, after a further wait of twenty-three months, a regular service has been instituted over the 6 miles 13 chains between Pohokura and ' Whangamomona. It is true that for some time passengers to Whangamomona have been able to travel from Pohokura on the Public Works Department's trains, but the benefit of a regular service right to tho township will be greatly appreciated by residents and visitors alike. Visitors will especially appreciate the fact that on Tuesdays and Saturdays a stay of about an hour can be made at Whangamomona, the visitor leaving Stratford at 9.30 a.m. and arriving back at 3.30 p.m. OH! LET US BE JOYFUL. Naturally, Whangamomona's joy is Stratford's joy, Stratford being the natural distributing centre for Whangamomona and' the' district further east, and among the number who journeyed out to-day to be present at the celebrations were the Mayor of Stratford, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, mjembers of that body and gentlemen representative of all the activities of the town.

The Minister for Railways, the Hon. W. H. Herries arrived in Stratford by last night's mail train. There was no lack of thoroughness in the arrangements for the celebrations. The formal opening took place soon after the arrival, of the special train from Stratford, a luncheon followed, and the day will be rounded off with a social and dance in the evening. Nobody could be expected to more completely fill a day with celebrations, and probably if the day could be stretched out to forty-eight hours the people of the town would further vent their joy in wood-chopping, football, cricket and tennis matches. However, the functions provided should suffice for all practical purposes and for those whose joy is liable to last longer, well, Thursday is not touched yet. The station yard at Whangamomona is a good one and was prepared with some trouble, a good deal of excavation having to be done. The buildings are up-to-date and convenient, and tlie township will henceforth have its share of the bustle appertaining to a railway town.

THE SPECIAL TRAIN.

Despite the rain, which was falling steadily, the opening ceremony, which means so much to the settlers eastward of Stratford, was sufficient to cause such a number to join in the excursion that additional carriages had to he put on to the special at the last moment. The Hon. W. H. Hemes was accompanied by Mr Leod Johnson (pidvate secretary), Mr-W. P. Kirkwood (Mayor; of Stratford), Colonel Malone, Mr Armstrong (District Traffic Manager) and many leading residents and representative men from New Plymouth and Stratford. That the day was not a better one is regrettable, for many ladies were prevented by the rain from venturing abroad. At Toko, Mr J. B. Hine (member for Stratford), Mrs Hine and Mrs D. Bayly joined the train. At Pohokura the Reception Committee came on board, headed by the Chairman, Mr T. A. Bradley, and wero introduced to the Minister.

WHANCA'S GREETING. The train steamed into Whanga, to the accompaniment of whistle-blowing and cheering from the crowd. Everybody turned out and welcomed tho visitors. On the Station platform, Mr Bradley duly welcomed the Hon. W. H. TTerries and all those who had come out to take part in the ceremony. He extended a cordial welcome to everybody to lunch at the Hotel or boarding house, where there would bo a free house. The visitors got some idea of what the mud is like in Whangamoinona. It was an eye-opener. People who were sceptical of tales of lost buggies, buried bullocks, and barrels of beer lost for ever in the mud on the main road turned converts on the spot. At one p.m the great fuuction

took place, the ribbon was cut and the line declared open. "A HEAVY PIECE OF WORK." The Minister expressed his great pleasure at being present to perform the ceremony, and his appreciation of the reception given him. Referring to the railway, Mr Herries said the secti6n now being opened for regular traffic was for a total of 37 miles 53 chains. The construction of the section had involved a particularly heavy piece of work, especially for the last three and a half miles from the tunnel through tho main' ridge, into the township. Repeated slips in the heavy cutting had retarded the completion of the section, and added appreciably to the cost; tho tunnel through the ridge". was 30£ chains in length and between it and the new terminus, there was no less than seven substantial bridges over the same stream. Pending the completion of these bridges, a temporary tramway was laid from the tunnel' exit into Whangamomona. It was used for nearly two years to convey heavy material for the construction works ahead, besides, being of great service for the conveyance inward of the supplies .and stores for settlers in the locality, and the haulage of their produce ,to the rail head, at a time when the means of exit by road were far from satisfactory. Tho tramway has been pushed up to the Tahora tunnel and is still serving the same useful purpose up to that point. The completion and opening of the line to Whangamomona would bo a boon to the numerous settlers of tho Whangamomona, Mangarei, and Prospect Roads, and Whangamomona folk would no longer have to face the long and heavy pull over the Whanga Saddle. The construction of the section being opened had involved an expenditure of approximately £141,000. Beyond the present terminus work was in hand for a distance of seven miles, and further on there was a stretch of extremely difficult country to be negotiated before a junction could bo effected with the line in course of construction from the Main Trunk lino at Okahukura. The works from tho eastern end were in hand for a length of about six miles, and as tlie distance between Whangamomona and Okahu-' kura by the selected route was approximately 58 miles, there was a stretch of country on which construction had not been commenced, measuring approximately 45 miles. Very little of this length is easy to traverse, and tho construction of the remainder of tlie through line would involve more than the average expenditure per mile.

ENTERTAINED AT LUNCH. The Minister also made reference to some oilier matters and was subsequently entertained at lunch at the Whangamomona Hotel, a large number of guests also sitting down with the Minister. Mr Herries will return to Stratford by the special train this afternoon, being unable to remain at Whangamoinona owing to pressure of Parliamentary duties. The Whangamomona folk, and those visitors who are able to stay, will wind up the day with a big social gathering.