THE CEREMONY AT NAPIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3438, 1 February 1912, Page 5

THE CEREMONY AT NAPIER.

MR. PETTIE GIVES HIS IMPRESSIONS. “WORK TO COMMENCE AT THIS END AT AN EARLY DATE ” The Mayor and Mr J. R. Kirk, who represented the Borough Council. and ■the Chamber of Commerce respectively at the turning of the first sod of tne East Coast railway at Napier on Monday, returned to Gisborne yesterday morning by tlie Mokoia. In conversation with a representative of the “Gisborne Times” last evening, Mr Pettie said that their trip had been a most pleasant one, and the .Napier people had treated them right ■royally. They were met on arrival by representatives of the Napier Citizens Executive and heartily welcomed. They then had a look round the town, which was gaily decorated with bunting for the event. Later the Mayor of Napier waited on them and informed them of the programme that had been outlined for the day. After the official luncheon they journeyed out to West Shore, -where the function was held. The ceremony was very .successful, and everything went off without the slightest hitch. Sir Joseph Ward pointed out that the railway would mean a great deal net only to the Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay districts, but to the Dominion as a whole. He also stated that the actual work would be commenced within, ten days or so, and they could look forward to the railway being pushed' on as rapidly as possible. Speaking on behalf of the Gisborne people he (the Mayor) congratulated Napier on the fact of this important day having arrived. The people of Gisborne were equally as anxious as the Napier people to see the railway constructed, and he asked them to work shoulder to shoulder in order to have it carried out as expeditiouslv as possible. He hoped that before long they would he able to meet half way between Napier and Gisborne and congratulate each other on the fact that the line was an accomplished fact. “When in Napier/’ said the Mayor, “I tried to get an expression of opinion as to the probable date we. might expect to turn the sod at the Gisborne end. So far as I can gather, the date -will be an early one. 1 heartily invited the Mayor of Napier and the Mayor of Hastings to attend the ceremony when it did come off, and I also hoped that Sir Joseph and- Lady. Ward and the Minister for Public V orks would also honor us with their presence.” The Mayor said that Sir Jas. Carroll had informed him that he was doing all he canid to get a start made at the Gisborne end. Sir James was to leave for Gisborne when the Prime Minister returned to Wellington, and) it was thought that the ceremony would perhaps he performed while he was m the district. The Napier people seemed 'to be quite in accord with the desire of Gisborne that the work should be commenced here as -well as at Napier. Regarding the remarks of Mr J. R. Kirk “that Gisborne people were just as well satisfied as if the railway had been commenced at Gisborne,” the Mayor said that the meaning had been somewhat misconstrued, and it was not fair to Mr. Kirk. The remarks were meant to imply that Gislxime was pleased the work had been actually commenced. Mr- Kirk emphasised the importance of the railway to Gisborne just as much as he (the Mayor) did. In conclusion- the Mayor said that prior to his departure he had been conducted over the town by the Mayor of Napier, and had viewed the various municipal undertakings with great- interest.