NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 276, 18 November 1905, Page 6

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

OPENING OF THE KAIPARA FLATS SECTION. SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. The opening of the section of the North Auckland Railway from Woodcocks to Kaipara Flats yesterday was a successful function, though its conclusion was marred by a rain shower which commenced just as tbe l*remier was leaving for town. A gathering of a representative nature, including in all | close upon a thousand people, was prei sent at the function. The usual ribbon was broken by the i train which arrived at 12.30 p.m." The I Premier was welcomed by two Imperial j veterans. Messrs E. G. Clements (Kai- I j para Flats) and R. R Craven (Helensviile). THE PREMIER'S SPEECH. Mr Seddon, who spoke from a platI form beside the goods shed, expressed J bis gratification at the warmth of his rei ception. and went on to say that the i fact that when originally projected the Hclcnsville. Northwards line vas con- : sidered to be one of the main trunk j bnes of the colony was proved by the j history of the line conclusively, j | But like many matters projected in - the "good old days'' certain circumj stances had arisen for which no one was j prepared to take the blame, and it was left to him and the present OovernI ment to complete the line. ! A Voice: -And it has taken you a |[long enough time." (Laughter.) j Mr Seddon continued that when as Minister for Works he first came to see ! the line he found the contractor for the I first tunnel nearly broken hearted. because tbe ground was so wet that it wa.s almost impossible to igo on with the work. He had | experience as an old miner a.t the West Coast, and he told the conj tractor how to get over the difficulty |by sending in a small drive ahead of ! the large one to tap the water and keep j a comparatively dry face in the main drive. The plan was adopted, and the | tunnel went through. j A Voice: "Quite true." I Another Voice: "1 hope this line will jgo right through.'" I Mr Seddon: It is hope that keeps the ' world alive. It is also true that hope i deferred maketh the heart sic-k. No j | doubt the people of Kaipara Flats had f been sick at heart tor some time, hut \ j now their patience had been rewarded. J (The sickness was dispelled so far as the I \ peop\e oi "Kja.'vpar_ flats wave \ cd. and the people ahead must live in j hope. I 1 A Voice: "And die in despair.*" 1 2*he Premier: They will never die so long as we are here. When Minister ! for Works he was told by the people \of the district of Auckland, by some lof the very people who were now crying j out about injustice and the necessity j for further extension, that when the line was taken to Kaipara Flats it I should be left, there. A vok-e: •'Name them." | The Premier: "1 am not here to-day jto make mischief. This is a day of rejoicing, and there should be no heart- ■ burnings. 1 leave those gentlemen to I their consciences, but if they press mc : too hard, 1 may let out the secret.'' PROGRESS OF THE LINK | The Premier went on to say that a | short while ago one mile a year was the | cry, but that was changed, and now two j sections of the bne had been opened I within six months. A voice: "But how long has that been getting done?"' The Premier: "That is not the ques- | tion. The line to Woodcocks was openjed in May, and now we are opening the j line to Kaipara Flats." | Mr. Seddon then read the following {statement compiled by the Public Works I Department: "The construction of the i portion of the Helensville Northwards 'railways which includes the section from • Woodcocks to Kaipara Flats, about j three miles in length, now "about to be , opened, was authorised by the Railways j Authorisation Act. 1901. This section lis practically level, consisting for the jmost part of surface formation, and was i consequently easy of construction. There are two small timber bridges. ! one of throe 20-ft and the other of two ; 20ft spans. It ia worthy of note that I this *ec-tion of three miles has been completed ready for opening only about six months after the previous section to Mood cocks, which was opened for traffic in May last. The expenditure on the railway from Ahuroa onwards, in eluding the cost of permanent, way. has been I about £35,000, the larger part being on the portion between Ahuroa and Wood- [ cocks, where the formation works were i ratheT heavy, rncluding a tunnel of about ■20 chains in length. The total expenditure from Helensville northwards on the railway to date has amounted to i £174.007. The similar expenditure to I March 31, IS9I. amounted to £43,028. j The tot a] mileage of the line open to i date (including the section now to be (opened) is 24 miles. The mileage open to March 81, 1891, was seven miles 42 j chains. The line is authorised to ! '• Maungatapere, a distance of 113 miles] i from Auckland, and is now open for j traffic for a distance of 61 miles. Con- I ! struetion work is still actively in hand, i about 160 men being now employed. I ;The line is fully surveyed to Hoteo. and i !the survey of a further section is about | |to be put in hand." Tlie Premier tan,tinned that we must not live too much lin the past—we must live in the present j ! and provide for the future. The Govern- | ment placed £30.000 on the Estimates for tbe work last year. He did not j ;mind telling them that that amount and as nmeh as could be profitably I expended would be spent as drcum- ; stances warranted it being done. ■ WATER CARRIAGE | The old argument that water carriage was cheaper than • the railway was ex ploded. They must have facilities for getting theh- produce to market by the shortest and quickest route, and on a regular time-table. (Applause.) When in Maungatnroto they had placed facts before him which showed that the line should go straight ahead, and that Auckland had a right to the facilities given in Hawke's Bay, Canterbury, and Otago. The people in Auckland and on the West Coast—(laughter)—had been paying interest on the non-paying railways in other parts of the colony. Where they had land suitable for settlement, and the construction of railways will promote that settlement, they should tie made. Tbey had the railways in the North. A voice: "And the land." Mr. Seddon: "Well, the brad is here, and much of it seems to be alright," PUSHING ON THE LINK The Premier continued that roads were necessary as feeders fox the rail- . "ways, to make the prodnce of tbe settters available for the markets of the T-rld. Tbe vote for railways last y«ar was close upon a nnQion sterling. A voice-. And oxOy £30,000 for ns.

Mr Sfcddaa: Well, there was £300,0001 for the Ebrih Trunk. Before tbe next three years he hoped to travel from Wellington to Auckland by tbat line. They had got £30,000 for their line last year. A voice: Not enough. Mr Seddon: Well, I suppose you will be satisfied if you get more. The surveys were being pushed ahead. The £30,000 would be spent, and he would look forward to opening another section next recess. He was agreeably surprised to sec. the number of Aucklanders present: it proved that they took a deep interest in the line, and the sincerity of their advocacy. ROADING. Regarding roads, tbe Premier said that they must- have meta] to have good roads. He thought that the Government should carry metal at nominal rates for the local bodies, and this might also be extended to farmers. (Applause.) He had seen roads near the creameries which made him wonder how the farmers got- the milk in in the winter time, aud when the farmers had to- make the roads they should have cheap metaJ. (Applause.) Hearty cheers were given for the Premier as he declared the line open, more cheers following at the call of the Premier for the construction officials and workmen.