The Two-Station System.

“Throughout the years since then the increasing traffic has intensified the disadvantages of the two-station system, and the 1907 proposal for a new station fronting Bunny Street was one which envisaged a central passenger station. The following year the Wellington Harbour Board outlined a scheme for new wharves and this included railway access for which extensive reclamation would be necessary to meet both railway and harbour requirements.

“The next stage was reached when a contract was let for the Thorndon sea-wall, and on completion of this work silt was dredged from the harbour into the area behind the wall where there was a depth of thirty feet of water. It was not until 1930 that the completed reclamation was sufficiently consolidated to permit of building construction, but in that year a goods shed of steel and concrete construction, with a length of 500 ft., was built and brought into use in 1931.

“The plans for the present building were first prepared in 1929 by Messrs. Gray, Young, Morton, and Young, architects, the plans including not only station accommodation, but also offices for the headquarters and district staffs of the railways, but the scheme was held in suspense for four years owing to the then existing financial stringency.

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“Since the time that the contractors, the Fletcher Construction Company, Limited, commenced work upon the building in November, 1933, there has been steady progress with the work, which is beyond question an outstanding achievement, reflecting the highest credit on all connected with it.