Ministerial Party.

There is a great hinterland, even in this one part of the district which the line will serve, and there were some 100 cars parked on the Wairoa side where the ceremony was held. Many came afoot and the large Maori population was well represented. The big wooden tower on this side built to support the travelling cables across the gorge, used to build the piers, was left for the occasion as offering a convenient arrangement for the official platform. From 10 a.m. onwards there was a growing crowd looking for the railcar bringing the Ministerial party from Napier. It made the run in an hour and fifty minutes, including a stop at Putorino, and the party was soon in position.

Mr. E. L. Cullen, M.P. for Hawke's Bay, presided, and welcomed the visitors, who included the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) and Mrs. Sullivan, the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) and Mrs. Semple, the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Mr. W. E. Barnard), Mr. E. P. Meachen, M.P. for Wairau, and co-opted with the Minister of Public Works, the Mayor of Napier (Mr. C. O. Morse), the Mayor of Wairoa (Mr. H. L. Harker), Mr. A. G. Nolan, chairman of the Wairoa

(Continued on page 41)

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