In addition to playing competitive cricket the Club participated, during the season, in several friendly games, outstanding among which was the game played at Wanganui for the coveted Hayhow Cup. The Club is now the proud holder of that handsome trophy presented by a gracious donor for competition between teams representing the railwaymen of Wanganui and Wellington.

The final curtain of a successful season was rung down on Saturday, 1st May, when members and supporters of the Club attended a banquet held at the Empire Hotel.

A cordial invitation to join the Club is extended to all members of the Service located in Wellington. Given additional support the coming season can be made an outstanding one in the history of the Club.

Mohaka Viaduct—(Cont. from p. 23)

County Council, Mr. C. C. Smith, acting chairman of the Hawke's Bay Cunty Council, Mr. John Wood, engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department, Mr. A. Dinnie, district engineer, Mr. Newnham, assisting designing engineer, and Mr. G. H. Mackley (General Manager of the New Zealand Railways).

The first item on the programme was a welcome by the school children, the ranks of the Raupunga School being swelled by children from surrounding schools. It took the form of hakas depicting the growth of the bridge and the pleasure its completion gave. These were very well done, and were closely watched and appreciated.

Mr. Semple thanks the Builders.

Mr. Semple, who was greeted with applause, said that he had felt it incumbent upon him to attend, if only to say to the men who had built the viaduct, “Thank you, and well done, faithful servants.” Making special mention of the engineer in charge of the job, Mr. Haskell, he said that here was a case of a young New Zealander, who had never been out of the country, whose work would compare more than favourably with that of older engineers from other parts of the world. Under him there had been no troubles with the men; Mr. Haskell had merely appealed to the men to work with him. “I have come chiefly to thank them for their wonderful achievement,” he continued, “and I also want to express appreciation of the work of Professor Cull, the designing engineer, Mr. Newnham, the assistant designing engineer, Mr. G. A. Lindell, under whose supervision all the fabricating steel for the work was made, and the foreman of works, Mr. T. Robinson. The Chief Engineer of Public Works, Mr. John Wood, has a mighty task in charge of thousands of men. I am personally proud of the type of man associated with the public works of this country.”

Mr. Semple referred to the progress that had been made in the equipment, organisation, accommodation, and the type of work itself, in the last twelve months. In all this Mr. Wood had been the guiding spirit.

Not Profit-making.

Not Profit-making.

Mr. Semple had displayed great genius for organisation, said the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). He was proud of him as a colleague, because of his vigour. With the young men who have gathered round him he had placed New Zealand on the map, from the point of view of the way in which business was carried out. Mr. Sullivan spoke of the new schedules which would be available with the opening of the line.

“There are some people who seem to think that the railways should be run in the same way as any ordinary private business,” said Mr. Sullivan. “We cannot judge the Railway Department on that basis. Railways are necessary for the development of the country, and cannot be looked on from the narrow accountancy sense. If it had been so in the past, the country would not have the population it has to-day. We must look on the railways as a national service. We cannot spend any amount of money on the job. We have to estimate how much we can afford, but we must look on this service as many people do on the education, health, and other services upon which money is spent, as a necessary service, in the production of national wealth.”

Closing Scenes.

The Mayors and heads of the surrounding towns and local bodies having added their quota to the general enthusiasm and appreciation of the occasion, Mr. Semple went out on the bridge, and, being handed a hot rivet from the forge, ran it home with a clattering racket and drove home the last spike in the sleepers, finishing a work manually that he had largely pushed along by his personality and personal interest. He was presented with a silver replica of the spike by Mr. Nolan.

It is interesting to note that the rail-car arrived driven over the viaduct by Mr. Sullivan himself.

(Rly. Publicity photo.)
The railcar which conveyed the Ministerial party for the official opening ceremony, crossing the Mohaka Viaduct.

Extract from “Evening Post,” 1/7/37.