THE NORTH TRUNK RAILWAY. TURNING THE FIRST SOD

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 98, 18 April 1885, Page 7

THE NORTH TRUNK RAILWAY. TURNING THE FIRST SOD

The I excursion train for Wnikato, with aoeommpdationJor, 800, Jeft. Auckland ou Wednesday morning /about half .filled;, and took; a<laug« uuinper of passengers at the several stations, bound for Te Awaniutu to witness the turning of the first sod of the new section of the' North Island Main Trunk Railway. When the visitors reached the Te Awamutu township, the Volunteer Cavalry were drawn up, and a cavalcade was then formed, and started for the scene of the ceremony, some two miles away over a villainous cross road,. to the south bank of the Puniu river, where the sod was to be turned on land belonging to Rewi's ancestors. A substantial footbridge had. been placed over the Puniu, and on ascending the opposite bank the site was at once observed by the marquee :md flags and banners inscribed with Maori welcomes* A large semi-circle was formed and kept by the Te Awamutu Cavalrjmen under Major Jackson nnd Captain Rutherford. About 1500 persons, natives and Europeans, were upon the ground, and amongst those present with Mr Sfout were Wahanui, Taonut, Rewi, Hopa Te Ranqianini, and other chiefs, Colonel Fraser (Jil.ii.R.), Messrs Whyte, Lake, and Thompson (M.'sII.R.), Patrick Dignan (M.L.C.), Messrs Blair (Assistant Engineer-in-Chief), Isaac Coates (the contractor), und Messrs Hursthouse and Beere, while standing around were most of the principal settlers of the surrounding districts. The barrow used in the ceremony was the same which Sir George Grey used at Shortland when turning the fir^t sod of the Waikato-Thames Railway Mr G. T. Wilkinson acted as interpreter. Mr W. H. Hales (District Engineer; said : Wahanni, as engineer having local charge of public works, I am deputed to ask you, on behalf of the native people, to commence the great work today, and the construction of this railway by turning the first sod. Wahanui took off his coat, dug out three sods, and placed thnm in the barrow, the Maoris counting each sod in audible tone. The operation was completed amidst loud cheers. Rewi Maniapoto then called upon Mr Stout to wheel the so* ls. Mr Stout took off his coat and wheeled the sods alons* some plank? laid for the purpose, an>l tipped the barrow et the end, throwing the sods on the ground amidst loud cheers, the Te Awamutu band striking up the National Anthem, the spectators meanwhile remaining uncovered. Mr W. R. Waddell, Mayor of Auckland, then called f or three cheers for Her Majesty the Queen, which were heartily given by Maoris and Europeans alike, The Premier then addressed the assemblage of natives and Europeans, and after Wahanui and other chiefs had replied, the assemblage dispersed and the excursionists returned to the city* In compliance with the request of the natives, the new section is to be called "Turongo," a corruption of the English words " too long."