Progress of the Midland Railway, celebrating the driving of the Arthurs Pass Tunnel, 1918.

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DescriptionThe ceremony on 21 Aug 1918, 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 C W Russell. About 2.30pm 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 and the band played the National Anthem, the crowd cheered and the actual ceremony which lasted about 5 minutes was over.
( As reported in the Weekly Press 28 Aug 1918.)
Photo shows the West Coast people at Arthurs Pass waiting to board coaches back to the Coast.

Kete Selwyn.Date of Photo21 Aug 1918Map^[1]ContributorMaye Dunn

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Location (city or town)Arthurs PassEventCeremony to celebrate the blasting of the divide between East and West Coast, Otira Tunnel

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Category TagCelebrations

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Date Created25th September 2020

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Progress of the Midland Railway, celebrating the driving of the Arthurs Pass Tunnel, 1918.

Editing is temporarily disabled