The Ministerial Party.
Caption: The Ministerial Party. Standing: Messrs Henry J. Marriner (Chairman Railway Committee, Canterbury Chamber of Commerce), T. A. Johnston (Assistant Engineer), J. B. Cowing (Assistant Engineer), C. H. Hewlett (President Canterbury Chamber of Commerce), Hon. Jos. Grimmond, M.L.C., Mr H. R. Smith (Town Clerk, Christchurch), Hon. H. L. Michel, M.L.C., Mr A Kaye, Mr H. Quane, Mr A. Dinnie (Engineer-in-Charge). Sitting: Mr R. W. Holmes (Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department), Mr H. Holland (Mayor of Christchurch), Sir Wm. Fraser (Minister of Public Works), Sir James Allen (Acting Premier and Minister of Defence), Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs), Mr J. P. Luke (Mayor of Wellington).
Description: Progress of the Midland Railway: celebrating the driving of the Arthur’s Pass tunnel. The ceremony on August 21st. Close to 300 people travelled from Christchurch by special train including the Acting Prime Minister, Sir James Allen; the Minister of Public works, Sir William Fraser; and the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. G.W. Russell. About 2.30 pm, Sir William Fraser, with others of the party went to the mouth of the tunnel where an electric appliance had been installed to blast a portion of the barrier between East and West Coasts. Sir William pulled down the ratchet, the band played the National Anthem, the crowd cheered, and the actual ceremony which lasted about five minutes was over.
Related information: Photographs connected with the earlier stages of the Arthur’s Pass tunnel are found in The weekly press, 28 August 1918 on p. 25. Further details about the construction of the tunnel are found in The weekly press, 28 August 1918 on p. 28. Further photographs of the ceremony are found The weekly press, 28 August 1918 on p. 28, p. 30 and p. 31.
21 Aug. 1918
Source: The weekly press, 28 Aug. 1918, p. 28
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