What the official opening of the Mohaka Viaduct and the through railway line from Napier to Gis-borne meant to the people in a huge district could not fail to impress itself upon those visitors who attended the ceremony on 1st July, 1937. Isolation has been the blight of a very fine agricultural and pastoral expanse of New Zealand, and the carriage of tock, fertilisers, and farm implements has cost a good deal of money. Now, with concessions on through freights, settlers will have an easier time, and will be nearer the centres. The section of line opened on 1st July, is a direct link with the outside world, and was welcomed by the people concerned with the greatest enthusiasm.

Inspiring Structure.

The great spidery-looking structure of the viaduct is only a link in the line, but it is an engineering work which compels admiration, if not awe.

Seen from the road crossing down stream the huge engineering achievement robs the shaggy gorge of its dignity. It is only when nearing the viaduct from below that the great gash worn by the river in the sandstone during the centuries assumes its true proportions, and the eye, taking in the height of the structure, drives home to the mind the relative width of the bridged chasm. Wearing its bright reddish preliminary coat for the most part, with a few girders painted the final chocolate colour, the viaduct strikes the visitor's attention immediately, and the suddenness with which ++ springs into view and rivets the attention from either road or rail is arresting. To the rail traveller it is merely a continuation of the track, but the gorge below gives it its true importance. Looking up from underneath through the maze of girders and braces, he planks of the windscreen on the parapet look like a fringe of stubble, and everybody who walks up the riverbed to look upwards “stays put” until a stiff neck ends his absorption.

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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