THE RAILWAY OPENING.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1062, 28 January 1879, Page 3

THE RAILWAY OPENING.

Tbe following ia the ' Mataura Ensign's ' ac count of the above : —

On Wednesday the long looked for opening of through communication with Dunedin took place, or more pr<p rly speaking tbe completion of tbe Amherly- Bluff section of the great trunk line was formally pronounced an established fact. The weather was beautiful, all nature smiling on the demonstration, and it appeared tbat nottinK was wanting to mnke the opening a thorough success ; Imt it vi .f»rtunat«.Jy happened that a sad event occurred to mar the wboleaff iir just at a time when the passengers by the train were within a comparatively speaking Bhort distance of the end cf their journey.

THE TRIP FROM r UUEDIN,

The excursionists from Canterbury, including many of the foremost citizans, together with a number of the Dunedin leading men snd other notables, left tbe capital of the Otago Provincial District punctual to the time appointed for departure. The train, consisting of fourteen carriages and three break vans, was drawn by two American engines, which on a level inn niuke good time but wh-jn ascending an incline are found wanting in power. Milton was the first stopping place, whers the train arrived a little late. A fair number of those invited availed themselves of the opportunity to see the great southern country. At Balclutha, the next stopping place, the train was still later. The number who were taken aboard at this station was something surprising ; half of the town appeared to have been invited. At first the invites were confined solely to a number of friends of an individual who is ever careful to see his followers taken care of to the gross neglect of men occupying positions of importance. On representations being made to the proper quarter the matter waa rectified. Here we may remark that great indignation was freely expressed by the residents at Clinton and those of the Mataura at the great injustice done them through not more than half-a-dozen invitations having been issued to people between Clinton and Invercargill. There can he no doubt it was a gross piece of neglect on the part of some one. The Mataura, Clinton, and ether southern residents are equally interested in the opening of the line as the Balclutha people ; in fact more so, as it will confer % greater benefit on the district from Clinton southwards than northwards ; yet the former are favored to the detriment of the latter. Clinton was reached twenty minutes late. A good stoppage wasmade at this station. Messrs Arthur General Manager of the Southland section, and Hanney, Secretary to the Commissioner were the only personages who came from Invercargill to meet the northeners.y- Up to this poiat the visitors bad been exceedingly well satisfied with the country, but afterwards their praise became unbounded. At length the train was again in motion. The beautif al land in the Popotunoa was greatly admired ; the rippling streams, the clear sparkling Waipahi river attracted a good deal <>f attention. On sped the crowd of excursionists all eager to see the country — all going as merry as a . mandate bell. Mr Ollivier, of Christchurch, at this stage went th-ough-the whole length of the .train collecting subscriptions for the purpose of presenting Mr Conyers with a memento of the occasion, which it was proposed should be presented at the banquet in Invercargill. The collection made amounted to £40. Tbis had hardly been finished when the train approached Gore. Here, when Otago was about to be left behind and Southland— tbe place where Mr Cnnyers resided some time and was sir* well and justly appreciated for his sterling worthentered, occurred the only blot on the whole proceedings, the true particulars of which are not accurately known and concerning which

several conflicting accounts have been published, one of which we at first thought to be correct. However, from what we saw at the time, - and subsequent enquiries and examination of the 1 place, we are in possession of what we believe to be the true facts of the case. Mr Conyers was standing on the first engine as the train was approaching East Gore. When Within thirty "yards of Messrs Proudfoot and Mackay's water tank, at the gravel pit, a dog ran under the engine and was cut in two, squealing loudly at the time. Mr Conyers, to' had out what was wrong, looked under the engine ; as he stood up and was in the act of turning round he was. Bfcruck a severe blow on the forehead, close to" the right temple, his head having come in con-. tact with the pipe of the water tank. He apparently held oh for a second or two and then fell backwards on some stones thirty yards from the' •tank. Those on the; first engine did not see the occurrence at all. fhe stoker on 'the' second engine observed Mr Conyers' head the tank, and then saw him fall. The train was palled up witbin a hundred and fifty yards, only, two or three being aware of thei cause of the j stoppage. . Even when it was known that a man had fallen' off it was not thought the matter was so serious, but wben it was announced that it was Mr 'onvers Ahe whole of., the .passengers left the train and great waa the sorrow expressed , on its becomine known, how serious the case was. Doctors Skae (Wellington)', J:' G. SMth ( Ralclutha), Murphy and Professor MacGregor (DunediD) were in attendance at once/ A bed ; was procured from Mm Hughes and Mr Con-' yers placed on ib. jand. put in the guard's van. The train then proceeded to the railway station. - After applying a few. restoratives and sewing "p tbe wound the doctors decided to. leave Mr Conyers at Gore. A stretchea was obtained,- on : which was placed a mattrass, and the unfortunate gentleman was then taken to Green's hetel. Dr Macaffer, together wifch Doctors Smith and Kkae. wlo remained, were left in attendance on Mr Conyers. Several of his friends, some of whom are members of the railway department, also stayed behind. After a long delay tbe train proceeded, the passengers feeLng in anything but good spirits. A short stoppage took place at Mataura Bridge: and again at Edendale . Afc every station along the line numbers were on the platforms to see ,the train. Flags were displayed, and lusty cheers greeted the excursionists. The magnificent country between Gore and Edendale was the theme of general admiration ; the "passengers, especially those from Canterbury, being larish in their enconiums on the several portions of the intervening country. The vast expanse of magnificent land up the Waimea Plains, Chatton and Obama, the Mataura Falls, the verdant appearance of the Tuturau, and the grand appearance of the country in and around Wyndham, the superb and extensive paddocks on the far famed Edendale Estate with the magnificent herds of all classes of the bovine race on it were all spoken of in terms of the warmest and most undeniably just approval, ifc being admitted that the country far excelled tbat of the north. Invercargill was reached at 6.30 p.m., or two hours late, the arrival of the train being announced by a salvos by the Invercargill Artillery Company. INVERCARGULL. The town was decked with bunting and decorations as it Lad never been ornamented before. The whole population turned out to meet and heartily welcome the visitors, who met with a right royal reception. The enthusiasm of the whole populace was almost unbounded, but it was quite apparent the news of the unfortunate accident had cast a damper en the people. .Everyone asked " How's Conyers," aud eagerly -was every Lit o£ information sought for. The visitors dispersed in all directions. to tbe several hotels, where the best possible entertainment was givenjto all.^and general expressions of satisfaction were given. THE BANQUET. | This was a great success, and was attended by fully 250 people. Mr Lumsden, Mayor, was in the chair, with the Hon Mr Ballance, M.H.R.. and the Mayor of Dunedin on his right and Mr Feldwick, xvI.H.K., and the Mayor of Christchurch on his left. Messrs Shanks, M.H.R., and J. W. Mitchell were in tbe vice chairs. Several members of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives were present. Tbe catering reflected great credit on Mr Powell. The best speeches were tho»e delivered by the Hon Mr Ballance and Mr Waksfield, the latter iv tsponse to a general demand replying to the toast of " Tbe Parliament of New Zealand." The Artillery Band were accorded well merited applause for the selections rendered. The Hon Col. Brett taid the band was perfection. THE ILLUMINATIONS Were really beyond all expectations, the gas leing i articularjy brilliant and far supeiior to I u'tdin. The Fire. Brigade torch light procession wns excellent. The celebration of the opening of the main trunk line is a red letter for Invercargill and Southland generally.