Story: Railways

Silver spike

Prime Minister Joseph Ward drove the last spike into the North Island main trunk line at Manganuioteao on 6 November 1908. To commemorate the event he was presented with this sterling silver spike, made by Christchurch silversmith George Thomas White. It is now part of the permanent collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, gifted by Myrcine Tripp (née Ward) and family in 1995.

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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: GH004700

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How to cite this page:

Neill Atkinson, 'Railways - Main trunk lines', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/21384/silver-spike (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Neill Atkinson, published 11 Mar 2010, reviewed & revised 11 Mar 2016