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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 5, Issue 8 (February 1, 1931)

Main Trunk Railway

Main Trunk Railway.

Twenty-two years ago, on 6th November, 1908, the last spike on the North Island Main Trunk Railway was driven by the then Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, near the Manganui-o-te-ao viaduct, half-way between Auckland and Wellington (states the New Zealand Herald). The ceremony was witnessed by about 400 people, who arrived in special trains from the two cities. The trains afterwards proceeded to Auckland, where a banquet was held that evening in honour of the event. Earlier in the year the whole length of the line had been traversed by a special train, which took a Parliamentary party to and from Auckland on the occasion of the visit of the American fleet. The completion of the railway ended twenty-three years’ work, the first sod having been turned on 15th April, 1885, on the boundary of the King Country, near Te Awamutu, by the then Premier, Sir Robert Stout.