On the 9th of January 1906 the West Coast Times carried coverage of the opening of the railway line between Hokitika and Lake Mahinapua on the 8th of January 1906. This first section of the line between Hokitika and Ross also the 5/8 mile long bridge over the Hokitika River
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| Advertising the opening in the West Coast Times, 8 January 1906 |
Opening of the Extension to Lake Mahinapua
Right Hon the Premier performs the Ceremony
Hon Minister of Lands Present
A Large and Imposing Gathering
Brilliantly Successful Function
The veriest King's weather prevailed yesterday for the ceremony of the opening of the first section of the Hokitika - Ross railway, the elements for once propitious. The joining of the important southern district by a further length of railway made the event of exceptional importance, and the population from north as far as Reefton, from Greymouth, Kumara, and intermediate stations, and from south including Ross and farther South, assembled in vast numbers to do honour to the occasion. It was especially a day for rejoicing, the inauguration of the opening length of the steel band which will eventually bring South Westlanders in the distant South within daily communication with their fellow settlers in the northern part of the County, and as such it. was recognised and celebrated. The Northern train arrived in Hokitika about 1.30 p.m. bringing the Right Hon the Premier, Mrs Seddon, and their party, the Hon T. Y. Duncan, Minister of Lands, Hon A. R. Guinness, M. H. R. Hon James Marshall, M.L.C., the Mayor of Greymouth (James Petrie, Esq), Mayor of Kumara, (J Murdoch, Esq), and an immense gathering from the northern district, the train which was crowded being a very long one.
On arrival at Hokitika the Premier and the Ministerial Party were again met by a great concourse of people, the whole population of Hokitika and the surrounding district turning out for the function. The Volunteer and Citizens Bands were .present and accompanied the excursion to the lake, and here it may be mentioned that Hokitika was en fete for the occasion, the town displaying bunting at all flag poles, while Mr F. King, of the Exchange Hotel, extended an arch of flags in Revell Street from his hotel to the opposite side of the street.
The reception of the Premier at the Hokitika railway station was informal, and a start was made immediately for the southern excursion to open the line.
The Route
The route of the line to the Lake is the start of one of the most picturesque journeys in New Zealand. Crossing the Hokitika River by that fine structure, the Hokitika River Railway Bridge, the line continues through an exceedingly pretty piece of bush, crossing Fisherman's Creek and thence Mahinapua Creek at a point near McIntosh's farm. The railway then continues along to. the lake between Mahinapua Creek and the sea until Lake Mahinapua is reached. The whole length completed, is approximately between six and seven miles, or nearly half the distance by rail to Ross, the present intended terminus. The changing views from the dense bush to the seaside, with a glimpse of the beautiful Mahinapua Creek in passing, called forth general admiration from all present yesterday. The Public Works Department had the line in good order, it being permanently laid to within a mile of the Lake Road station, which is the Mahinapua terminus. The following officers of the Public Works Department, which is responsible for the construction of the line, and Railway Department, which will take the line over, were present yesterday, and it was due to their preparation and the care exercised that the excursion passed off so successfully, without a hitch. Messrs Thomson, resident engineer, and McGlashan, assistant engineer Public Works Department, were present, and Messrs Ashley. Traffic Manager, and Widdop, District Railway Engineer, of the Railway Department.
The Opening Ceremony
On arrival at the Lake Road Station, the people having disembarked from the train and assembled, the ceremony of cutting the ribbons (red, white and blue) which crossed the line, was performed.
The Mayor of Hokitika (Mr Mandl) in a few appropriate words asked Mrs Seddon to perform this ceremony, and the Premier to declare the line open. The Camera Fiends were very much in evidence, and secured many pictures which will ultimately possess historic value. The photographs having been taken the party then proceeded a short distance to the left of the line, where a solid platform of silver pine sleepers had been erected, and from there the addresses were given.
Declaring The Line Open
The Mayor of Hokitika said the pleasantest duty he had to perform that day took them back many years to the opening of the Grey-Hoka railway, but there was a difference that the Hoka-Grey line took fourteen years to finish. The then Government kept £100,000 lying dormant on that line for about ten years, but that was in the time of the stagnation Government. That Government would neither allow them to finish the line themselves nor would they finish it. If the Liberal Government had not got into power, they would not, he believed, have got the Hoka-Grey line finished now. (Applause.) When Mr Seddon got in first he said he would have the Hoka-Grey line finished or burst. (Laughter and applause) He had finished the line as he said he would. (Applause) The speaker referred to the splendid prospects the Hoka-Ross line had of paying of which they had plenty of evidence. Despite the drawbacks in the construction of the Grey-Hokitika line, and the fact that they had been told it would not pay for grease for the wheels, it had proved one of the best paying lines, in the colony, (applause) and he confidently predicted that the extension of that line to Ross would prove equally payable (Appluase). He called on Mr Bruce, Mayor of Ross to address them.
Mr Bruce said it was a source of the utmost satisfaction to him as it was to all present, to have the first half of the line opened on the present occasion. The Government bad been twitted by the Opposition to their extra large expenditure in the Premier's constituency, but what were the facts? Out of the 2374 miles of railway made in the colony, there were only 21 miles constructed in Westland. (applause). He thanked the Government for what they had done for the people of Westland in the construction, but they had not done half enough. (Laughter and applause). The first sod of the line had been turned on February 6th 1902 and the Premier had promised they should have the line completed to Ross in two years (applause). That was nearly four years ago, and be hoped the progress of the rest of the line would not be at the same pace (applause). He drew attention to the fact that the contract time for the Totara bridges, was thirteen months, and thought that that time was much too long. He concluded by hoping that within a year from the present time, the line would be opened at Ross, (applause).
Mr McGuigan, County Chairman of Westland, was gratified to see such a large gathering, and especially for the cause of it. There was not a greater coloniser in any country than railway construction, and the Hokitika-Grey railway furnished a notable instance of that fact He fully agreed with all that had been said as to the necessity of pushing on the construction of the line to Ross, and hoped it would not be long before they had the Premier with them again to perform the function (Applause)
Mr Murdoch, Mayor of Kumara heartily endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers, and especially agreed with Mr Bruce that the line should be made to Ross within 12 months. He congratulated the people of the district on the establishment of this connecting link between north and south, and hoped it would not be many years before it was extended to Otago, (Applause). He was pleased to see railway construction going ahead on the Coast, as when their electric line was established to Kumara, it would also bring them into still closer touch with the south (Applause).
The Major of Hokitika (Mr Mandl) here asked leave to refer to something which he had forgotten and wished to ask the Premier for information as to when the contract would be let for the summit tunnel on the Midland railway. As they were extending communication southwards it was equally necessary that they should be establishing their connection with Canterbury. (Applause).
The Premier’s Speech.
The Right Hon the Premier said this day was indeed one ever to be remembered with pleasure and would be looked on as one of the first steps in the development of the valuable resources of South Westland. (Applause). In 1870 the Vogel Public Works policy was inaugurated and in the year 1878 the first sod on the Hokitika Grey railway was turned. They would remember how for years afterwards the rails rusted and the sleepers rotted, but he would not enlarge on the injustices down by anyone in the past as he did not desire to put blame on anyone on such an auspicious occasion. What they had to do was to see that there should be no injustices to anyone in the future. It was quite true that out of nearly 3,000 miles of line in the colony there were about 21 miles in the Westland constituency. They had to have roads to make the country habitable, but, as a matter of fact, Westland and the West Coast were for years making up for the losses being made by railways all over the colony (Applause). He referred to the great advantage the Hokitika-Grey line had afforded in developing the district and said he had never been one to agree with those who said that if they had shipping connection it was all that was necessary. The immense crowd who had travelled to the opening of the line that day showed the benefit railway communication had been. The Premier here read a telegram of congratulation to the people of Westland on the opening of the line from Sir Joseph Ward (Applause). He expressed regret at the unavoidable absence of the Minister of Public Works, Hon Hall-Jones, who, though absent in body was present in spirit. (Applause). He introduced the Hon T. Y. Duncan; Minister of Lands, who got a highly popular reception. Mt Seddon, continuing said he would hark back to the Hokitika River bridge, when he said he hoped he would be present at the opening of the line. Well, he was there to open it that day and they had got it half through, and he hoped with health and strength to be there when it was finished and that Mr Bruce (Mayor of Ross) would also be present oh that occasion. Mr Bruce bad expressed impatience that the line was not now finished to Ross, but the Minister of Public Works and the Public Works Department had done really well for them. However, he knew that Mr Bruce’s remarks were not intended as a reproach to the Department, but rather as an answer to those who said Westland got more than its share of public expenditure. (Applause.) Mr Bruce had referred to the great value of the country of South Westland, and the speaker enlarged on the splendid prospects before South Westland in the timber, flax, and mineral industries, coal, gold, silver, and other valuable minerals which would yet be of enormous value to the colony. The railway would yet serve a vast population residing between the Hokitika River and Jackson's Bay. (Applause.) The Premier here made a statement showing the length of line finished, cost of construction, etc as follows:—
Authorised 1901 : Length, 15 miles. Length by road Hokitika to Ross, 22 miles. Bridge over Hokitika River for railway and road traffic, cost £30,636, and was completed 26th October 1904. Length, 2,800 feet, constructed of iron bark timber and steel girders.
Portion about to be opened to Lake Mahinapua, about six miles, with two bridges over Fishermen's Creek and Mahinapua Creek costing £1,749, completed 21st September, 1905.
Thomas Dillon, of Greymouth was the contractor for three bridges. Tenders are invited for the following bridges: Rocky Greek, Camp Creek, Teal Creek, Granity Creek, Cockabully Creek, and Totara River. Tenders close on the 31st January, 1906. Cost of these bridges estimated at £9000.
Seven bridges will have to be built on this portion, the largest being over the Totara River, for which tenders are due on the 31st January.
Formation works are in progress six miles further on, and 117 men employed.
Expenditure to the 31st December was £61,837, and the vote for the current year ending 31st March is £20,000, and the engineer's instructions are to see that this expended by the 31st March.
The sum of £7000 is available for expenditure to 31st March next.
Total cost £61,837
Bridges £32,425
Formation, etc. £29,412
Continuing, Mr Seddon referred to , the mention Mr Bruce had made as to the contract time for the Totara bridges, and said the time stated, 13 months, was much too long, and he would that day telegraph to the Minister of Public Works to have it shortened. (Applanse.) He was going to refute a charge made by the Opposition before the elections that more monies were appropriated and spent in Westland than in Canterbury. He would show them from a table he had bad compiled that the percentage of monies appropriated but not spent in Westland was not more but less than in Canterbury. The figures quoted were as follows : —
Ross Hokitika Railway.
Year. Appropriation. Expended.
£ £
1901-02 2,000 350
1902-03 10,000 7,245
1003-04 10,000 25,063
1904-05 15,000 17,174
Total Vote to March 31 last £37,000
Total expenditure 49,837
For 1905 06 20,000 13,000
Unexpended 7,000
As regards the profitable nature of the line they were opening that day, the vast crowd present was the fullest guarantee of it. He did not see as large crowds present at railways be had opened on the other side of the ranges, and although the public were very enthusiastic in Otago when be opened the Lawrence-Roxburgh line the other day, there was not the vast crowd around him that was present that day. There was nothing further for him to say, but to declare the line duly open between Hokitika and Mahinapua. He had been told it would be impossible to have the line open for the present summer tourist season, but he had declared that nothing was impossible, and he was there to open it. (Applause) Referring to the scenery surrounding them, he said he would telegraph to Sir Joseph Ward, asking him to send Mr Donne down at once, as the scene treasures which they possessed were not being made the most of (Applause). He was going South on Thursday and would see the country for himself. What they wanted was to have the Wanganui and Wataroa rivers bridged. He was glad to be able to open the railway that day and gave them all an invitation to be present at the opening of the completed section to Ross. The Premier concluded amidst continued applause.
Cheers were here given for the Premier, Mrs Seddon, the Hons Sir Joseph Ward, Hall-Jones, T. Y. Duncan, and the Liberal Government as a whole, at the call of the Mayor, and at the invitation, of the Premier, for the Mayors of Hokitika, Ross, Kumara, Greymouth, and the County Chairman.
The Hon the Minister of Lands being invited to address them, expressed the pleasure it gave him to be present that day. He had often heard of the intelligence of the West Coast people, but he did not need to be told that as from the earliest days they had selected in the Premier the best and most able representative south of the line. (Applause) This was the first time he had got to Westland, and now he had come there he said it would repay anyone to come to see the magnificent scenery through which they had passed. lf there were no more possibilities than what he saw from the top of the range, it was worth putting the "Hole in the Hill" in. (Applause). He advised everyone to as soon as they could seize a piece of land, as when that "hole in the hill" was put through, there would be a rush for their cultivable land such as was experienced in the early days of the Coast. He intended to have a look over the district and see for himself its possibilities, as in view of the demand there would be for land it was necessary to prepare what remained for selection. The Minister heartily congratulated this district on the opening of the line which, from what he had heard that day, he was convinced would greatly enhance the splendid possibilities of their very valuable country (Applause).
The Hon Jas Holmes said he was very happy to see such a large lot of people present, he believed one of the largest gatherings ever held in Westland. He referred to the Hoka-Grey railway of which he saw the turning of the first sod, and believed the sleepers and culverts had to be renewed three times. Referring to the Premier it was impossible for them to get a better representative, and it was due to his unwearying efforts that they had such an advantage as the opening of the line that day would give them. (Applause)
The Hon Mr Guinness expressed his gratification at being present to witness the ceremony, and to show that his constituents were in sympathy, in accord and in full approbation of the extension as far south of this line as possible, it was only necessary for him to mention that 1200 of the Grey people were present that day, and now he saw another train arriving as the first could not bring them all. (Applause) He referred to the splendid prospects the West Coast length of railway lines had of paying by reason of the timber, flax and coal, and said the construction of a harbour at Point Elizabeth would be the crowning point to make all their lines profitable. He congratulated the people of Westland on the consummation of their hopes and wishes with regard to the Hoka-Ross railway a line which when finished would be of invaluable service to the district. (Applause)
The Luncheon
The Ministerial Party then adjourned for luncheon to tables set out near the line, numbers of the visitors also joining them. Most of the people present, however adjourned to retreats in the neighbourhood and opened their own picnic hampers, an exceedingly pleasant afternoon being spent.
At the lunch the Premier's health was toasted by the Mayor of Hokitika, and was drunk with musical honours, Mr Seddon briefly replying. Afterwards many of the party took a stroll through to the lake, which is about a mile distant from the railway through a very pleasant glade.
Shortly after 5 p m., the first train returned home, the second reaching Hokitika soon after 6 o'clock, and at 7 o'clock the northern visitors left for home well pleased with their day's outing, a day which will be remembered as a red letter day in Westland for many years to come.
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| The arrival of the train from Hokitika at Lake Mahinapua and the Premier on 8 January 1906 |
While goods trains were running to Ruatapu from September 1906 regular passenger traffic on the line began on the 10th of November, 1906.
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| West Coast Times, 14 September 1906 |
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West Coast Times, 9 November 1906 |
Lake Mahinapua station had a loop siding capable of holding 28 x 4-wheel wagons. It's main traffic, however was picnic traffic and for this an 80 foot long station with brick chimneys and all other conveniences, was built along with a long platform.
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Excursion trains to Lake Mahinapua for King's Birthday.
West Coast Times, 8 November 1906 |
The West Coast Times of the 3rd of February 1908 reported on the Greymouth Railway and Foundry picnic. Saturday was an ideal day for picnicers and Lake Mahinapua, as all are aware, affords the most delightful picnic grounds. It goes without saying, therefore, that the annual combined excursion of the Greymouth Railway and Foundry employees held there on Saturday, was a pronounced success. The special train bringing the excursionists to the number of about 2,000, arrived at the Lake shortly before noon, and a very pleasant day was spent sports of all kinds being indulged in. The Greymouth Battalion Band accompanied the picnicers, and greatly enlivened the proceedings.
By mid-1909 the Tourist Department had completed the erection of seats at intervals on each side of the avenue leading from Lake Mahinapua railway station to the Lake. The Department also made improvements to the tourist cottage at the Lake including a verandah and renovated interior.
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West Coast Times, 24 December 1910 |
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| A picnic party at Lake Mahinapua station in 1925. I would imagine that what can be seen is only half the station, the rest being to the left. |
Until 1930 there was no road access to Lake Mahinapua with the Grey River Argus reporting on the 23rd of March 1950 that recently a new road via Ruatapu to Mahinapua Station was completed, giving access by motor. To travel from Hokitika to the lake would entail driving south on the old State Highway via Kaniere and Rimu to Ruatapu and thence north up to the Lake Mahinapua railway station. With the number of picnic passengers to the lake the Grey River Argus reported on the 17th of December 1930 that The Railway Department is about to erect a shelter for boiling water near Mahinapua Station.
On the 23rd of March 1950 the Greymouth Evening Star reported that the Hokitika Progress League had decided to make representation to the district engineer to repair and paint the railway station at Mahinapua as the condition of the building “was a disgrace.” The Greymouth Evening Star later reported on the 31st of August 1950 that the Hokitika Progress League were unhappy with a letter from the Resident Engineer of New Zealand Railways in connection, with repairs to Lake Mahinapua Station as evasive and unsatisfactory. It was decided to take the matter up again and if the result was not more satisfactory to go further with the request.
On the 26th of July 1959 a fire in the Lake Mahinapua station building led to its being replaced by a new shelter.
Lake Mahinapua was closed for goods traffic on the 20th of February 1961 and presumably this is when the loop was removed.
Picnic excursion trains were the feature of Lake Mahinapua station's history with regular "picnic season" excursion trains being run to Lake Mahinapua during the summer months. The Vol 3, No 10 of The Express reported of the 1966 Runanga Mines picnic. The Runanga Mines picnic train ran from Dunollie to Ross recently. The picnic was held at Lake Mahinapua and the train was 14-total. Ab 610 was used on the outward journey and Ab 755 on the return. After the running of the children's races the men at such picnics invariably retired to the Lake Mahinapua Hotel, opposite the station, to await the the return service.
On the 10th of May 1965 Lake Mahinapua was closed as a station but remained open as a request stop for passengers. One of my earliest memories was going to a picnic at Lake Mahinapua taking the morning Ross-bound mixed goods from Hokitika to Lake Mahinapua and then walking into the lake and returning on the afternoon northbound railcar.
On the 30th of June 1967 Lake Mahinapua station was closed to parcels and small lots of goods traffic but remained open for passengers only. Mixed trains ended on the West Coast on the 11th of September 1967 before all rail passenger services ended with the withdrawal of railcar services on the Ross line on the 9th of October 1972.
Lake Mahinapua was finally closed to all traffic on the 30th of September 1973.
I have a feeling the original station burnt down??? Has anyone any details??? Please email me at westland831@gmail.com
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