Tauranga the Mecca

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 316, 29 March 1928, Page 14

Tauranga the Mecca

EAST COAST’S NEW RAILHEAD Pakeha and Maori Celebrate Opening (SUN’S Special Reporter.) TALRANGA, To-day. VERY* few people could have been at home in the Bay of Plenty yesterday. Tanranga was their Mecca. There was held the official opening of the Waihi—Tauranga section of the East Coast Main Trunk Railway, and the epoch-marking occasion was celebrated with characteristic East Coast enthusiasm.

AT an early hour settlers and residents from nearby towns in the Bay commenced to arrive. Special trains afforded free transport over the Public Works Department lines and the privilege was freely availed of. The fact that passengers in many instances had to travel in trucks was no deterrent. It was a day out for the district. Shortly after 11 o’clock, when the official train from Frankton conveying the Prime Minister arrived, a crowd of approximately 15,000 had gathered on the Strand facing the line. A large number of these included Maoris from all parts of the district, and they entered into the festive spirit of the occasion in true Maori fashion. OFFICIAL TRAIN ARRIVES The arrival of the official train was the signal for an outburst of cheering. As Mr. Coates mounted the dais there was a further enthusiastic demonstration, the cheering of the Europeans being intermingled with an inspiring haka of welcome from a large band of Ngaitirangi warriors, led by Chief Tatau Ngatai. Accompanying the Prime Minister were the Hon. K. S. Williams, .Minister of Public Works, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, Mr. C. E. Macmillan, M.P. for Tauranga, Mr. F. F. Hockly, M.P. for Rotorua, Mr. A. M. Samuel, M.P. for Ohinemuri, Mr. W. Lee Martin, M.P. for Raglan, Mr. H. Holland, M.P. for Christchurch North, and Messrs. B. Dive, Mayor of Tauranga, A. W. Isles, deputy-Mayor, R. Rutter, president of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, B. C. Robbins, secretary of the Celebration Committee, D. Grant, chairman of the Tauranga Harbour Board, T. Lockhead, chairman of the Tauranga ElectricPower Board, and the Mayors and chairmen of surrounding boroughs and town boards; also representatives of other local bodies. The official party was then welcomed by Mr. C. E. Macmillan, member of Parliament for Tauranga, Mr. R. King, chairman of the Celebration Committee, and Reweti Ngatai, the latter on behalf of the native race. THE EARLY TOILERS “Because of Its beautiful setting and historical interest, Tauranga has alwrays appealed to me.” stated the Prime Minister, “and I found it no hard task to make the trip.” He reminded them that the day was also one in which tney should remember with gratitude the work done by the pioneers, who had found so many difficulties to overcome before making the district what it was to-day. Referring to the construction of the line, he said he remembered when, in 1920, the need for the continuation of the line was strongly urged by the late Sir William Herries, whose name should be revered by all in the district. He believed that, as Minister of Public Works at the time, he had earned some measure of unpopularity because he had asked the people of the coast to leave the question of the

railway in his hands to deal with in accordance with his policy of linking up certain non-paying lines. Under that policy the work at Tauranga had to be stopped temporarily. However, the work was now completed according to programme, and he felt sure that for whatever delay was necessary at the time, they would now be fully recompensed by the service provided. The Prime Minister concluded by impressing on the settlers the necessity of supporting their railway now it had been given to them and to make it a payable proposition. Mr. Williams expressed confidence that when the railway was getting and giving a good service, vast improvement and development would take place in the Bay of Plenty. He appealed specially to the Maoris to patronise the railway, particularly In the carriage of their maize and kumeras. A ribbon held by Miss Eileen Dive, daughter of the Mayor, and Miss Rangihoaia Ngatohi, was then cut by Mrs. Macmillan and the line declared opened. Included among those present were Mr. D. Rodie, commercial agent, New Zealand Railways, and Mr. C. J. McKenzie, who in the absence of Mr. F. W. Furkert. engineer-in-chief, represented the Public Works Department The locomotive of the official train was aptly named “Matatua,” which, according to Maori tradition, was the name of one of the first canoes that sailed up the Tauranga coast. The official driver was Mr. H. M. Petersen, and the fireman Mr. J. M. Heron. Mr. L. Wright was the guard of the first train. Following the opening ceremony s sports programme for school children was held in the Domain. A procession headed by the Tauranga and Te Puke Brass Bands also traversed the town, providing one of the finest displays ever seen in Tauranga. A swimming carnival in the evening concluded the celebrations.