RAILWAY EXTENSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 288, 2 December 1905, Page 7

RAILWAY EXTENSION.

jjjTO? LINE OPENED BY THE PREMIER, .. (B; Telegraph-—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Friday. special train, with the Premier, .-members 6i the Otago League; and others, left Dunedin this morning, for jatfrence, to take part in the ceremony o f turning the first sod of the extension of-tbe railway from Lawrence to lioxvnrgh- On reaching Lawrerce the town tfas found to be gaily decorated, sind a jkrg* crowd assembled. The members ■joj Lawrence and Bruce, the county ionncillors, and the Mayors of Lawjence and Roxburgh were present. The jlayor of Lawrence welcomed the Prejnier and Mrs Scddon. The Premier then turned the first sod of the line, mi was presented by the Railway Leaj-, e with a suitably-inscribed golden made as a souvenir of the occasion. The Premier then delivered a speechl ge referred to the patience which had •keen difiplayd by the settlers. He wished to lay down as a cardinal point of poljqy that each and evcr> part of the jofony should be served as time progressed by railway' connection, so that tbe products of the various parts of jjfce colony might be brought in at reasonable rates and under favourable conffitioDß. The people in each part of the elony found the money spent on the jsiiways, ard unless each in turn had a share hi its expenditure there would be concentration and serious injury. The total cost of the line would be •iboot £200,000. He prognosticated that a large area of land now regarded v purely pastoral would eventually be talcon up for fruit growing, and support thousands of families. With runs ent up for closer settlement, and Central Otagd effectively irrigated, the country was capable of maintaining a fcrge population. There would be practically three loops, one connecting with Invercaigill, via ClarksvUle, another connecting Roxburgh with Alexandra, (tnd there would be direct connection Mfitli imnedin. The party were, enterteißcd at luncheon by tho towi-speople of Lawrence, and in the evening at a social.

i Tomorrow the Premier sprjaks at Waihola, and in the evening proceeds to Stirling. His movements aiterwards ;are uncertain, but the report that he intends visiting Auckland again is incorrect.