THE WAIMEA PLAINS RAILWAY.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1084, 4 February 1879, Page 3

THE WAIMEA PLAINS RAIL WAY.

(From the Mataura Eus'gn.) JWRKQTCt THE FIKST SOD. This event has been looked forward to with interest for some time past, but on' account of the accident to Mr Conyera it was feared that the vroi\ would have to be commenced without any formalities. To have dona bo would hiva been a matter for regret, as the construction of the line and its commencement are indicative of and mark a new era in the railways of the colony. The Mataura district can claim the honour of having had. commenced within its, hounds the first railway under, the District Kail ways Act, and which railway under ordinary circumstances will be the first completed under that Act. The country through which the line will pass is really equal to anything if not superior to a great deal in Southland, and it is a matter of the greatest moment, and a circumstance that cannot fee too «i l ely circulated, that this lipd— tbe Wairnea Plains and some adjacent to it — will sborlly be out up and offered for sale. The length of tbe line and general configuration of the'country haß previously been referred to in our columns. On Saturday evening last a telegram was received from the Chairman of the Company intimating that the first aod would be turned on Monday by 1 he Hon Mr Ballanc?,and that Mr Bastings, M.H.R., *vouldalso be present. Instructions were also given to make the necessary preparations. A meeting was held at 10 p in. that evening, when it was decided to wire Messrs H. Feldwick, M.H.K., Eumsden, and Hatch, requesting those gentremen to be good enough to invite some 100 gentlemen of luvercargill — the names being telegraphed, but- carte blaache being given to invite any others whose names were omitted, and to do anything that would assist, in making the affair a success. The interest taken by vfr Feldwick resulted in bi* obtaining a special train, having wired to the Hon Mr Ballance on the subject, and by this means some forty gentlemen came from luvercargill to witness the ceremony. No doubt, had more time been given the attendance would have been considerably larger. The Hon Mr Ballance, M.H.R., Mr Bastings, M.H.E., G. M. Bell, Esq. Chairman of the Wai mea Plains Railway Company, and P. K. MacCaughan, Esq, one of the Directors, arrived by the express train from Dunedin, and the Inv-r---cargill visitors at 3.20 p.m. Several residents of Mataura Bridge rode up. Everything have been got in reaiiness, the crowd assembled at a spot nearly, opposite Green's Railway Hotel. THE CEKEMONY. The contractor came forward and announced that the Hon Mr Ballance was about to turn tbe first sod of the Waimea Plains Railway. Mr Btllance then took the spade in his hand, and in response to the calla of son of the soil took <ff his coat, which elicited much arp'ause. Having liftedfour sodsintotbe barrow, wheeiingitalonga plank he cat sized the contents, and then return ed to the starting point. Three hearty cheers were then given. I The Hon Mr Ballance said he had great Dleasure in declaring the Waimea Plains Railway formally commenced. From what he bad heard although he had not yet been able to go over tbe [ country he felt quite sure that no part of New Zealand offered more encouraging prospects for a | railway in every sense than the Waimea Plains. In tbe first place it was likely to be exceedingly succfs^ful from a reproductive pi int of view, the land being excellent in quality an-! expansive in area ; every circumstance combined in hi» mind to render the railway, when completed, a great commercial success. A railway, to be thoroughly successful, must combine certain elements. la the first place, it ought to be profitable to the owners of tbe land through which it passes ; it must be profi able to tnose who have invented their capital in the concern, and it must be profitable to the colony at large. He believed the Waitnea Plains Railway combined ; in itself all these essential elements, and that it must be an unqualified success. The Government of tbe day earnestly desired that railways of the ki'*i? should be constructed by private enterprise, as an auxiliary to the work the Government are doing iv constructing with Government money, borrowed in the English marker, colonial linps of railway. Although constructed in the first plaoe by private enterprise, he hoped the time would come, and that int very far distant, when tbe Government would be prepared to take over this aud similar railways as part of the general system . TLis being the first railway in the colony constructed under the District Railways Act would draw attention to and creatr a good deal of additional inttrrst in the Gore township, which, from its central position, must be an itnpoitant junction. It would also have the < ffact of opening a large extent of important country, and largely increasing the Vilue of propei ty. He wi?bed the railway the greatest possible success, and hop^d that aU who hal staked their capital in the enterprisa would receive a handsome reward. It should be remern bered, too, that we ought not to be jealous cf capitalists ; they are necessary to the welfare of the country, and therefore wheD, ns in this case, their enterprise tends in a direction so beneficial to the country at large, we should wish them every success. — (Cheers.) Mr G. M. Bell said he should like to say a word or two before terminating the proceedings so kindly inaugurated by Mr Bal'aace' He referred to the previous attempts made to carry out the project which bad been brought forward. The company had met with many difficulties. Tbey had in the first place to me t opposition to the particular route proposed ; then there were difficulties in raising the money, and finally they had to comply with the formalities of the Act. The present company was not the first in the field. Several others hid been started before, a«d were unsuccessful. The present promoters, therefore, had some reason to he proud of their success, which, at the same time, he must say was mainly due to Mr Horace Bastings, their indefatigable secretary. Before obtaining his services they had worked to very little adi vantage ; therefore the result was a triumph for his pet severance, as they were in a position to say that they had commenced the first district railway ia New Zealand. He had, however, commenced to speak with another object altogether — to congratulate the company, and a'l interested in the work they had inaugurated that day, on the engagement of Mr Whitakei as the contractor who would construct the railway. This was greeted with three cheers for Messrs j Whitaker and Bastings, followed by calls for the latter. Mr Bastings said he had not done any more than his duty in the part he had taken. He was asked to undertake the management of the concern, and he did so, putting forward all the energy he possessed into the work before Mm. He thought, however, the company had great reason t'> congratulate themaelvts when tbey thought it was orly a matter of six months since this line was projected, and in a comparatively short time hence — if the con ractorhad. ordinary luck — they would have the i-on horse running through country which at present was little better 7 than a dfsert. He had never hesitated to say that it was a monstrous shame to see those vast plains orjly occupied by sheep, whilst they were capable of supporting a large and prosperous population. — (Applause ) On. the invitation of the Chsirnan of the Company (Mr BelJ) the visitors were invited to partake of some LUNCBEON, which had been provided by Host Green at a very short notice, and set out in his hall, the spread beinsr an excellent one, and giving convincing proof of what " mine host" can do under the most unfavourable circumstances. The chair was occupied by Mr G. M. Bell, supported on his right by the Colonial Treasurer and Mets a F'lil wick and Bastings, M.H.R.'s, and on his left by Mr Shanks, M.H.R., aud Mr Whitaker. Mr P. K. M'Caughan occupied the vije-ciiair. Amongst the large number present we observed

Messrs J. Turnbnll, W. H. Pearson, Macrorie, A. M'Nab, T. Watson, Cuthbertson, Cleave, Curie, Cars well, Btastian, Osborne, Wilson, Todd, Perkins, Reade, Drs Macatfer and M'Clure and the Rev. Mr Davidson. The good things having been discussed, the toa ta of the " Queen " and " Governor " were formally proposed. Brevity was observed in al> the speeches, but we regret pressure on our 8] ace compels us to further abbreviate. Th« Chairman gave the " Min»try " in a very complimentary speech, and in ftuooiatiag with i: the came of Mr Ballance tftid it-was pleaaiog to fiad that that gentleman had formed a very Ms;k opinion of Gore and the surrounding country. The owners of land adjacent to the railway purposed cutting up their properties and putting it in the market.— (Applause.) The toast was then drunk most enthusiastically. Mr Billanc.e, in returning thanks, expressed ] himself as being highly nattered at the hearty | manner in uhioti the toast bad been received, i He had felt great treasure in being preseat. He was a member of a Ministry attached to progress, aod the great symbol of progress in New Zealand was the prosecu ion and comyletion of the railway system. He had been informed that this railway was in one respect exceptional, inasmuch as it passed through a country more* fertile in character and greater in extent than perhaps any other rai way in the colony of the same length, and that it held out the brightest; prospects to the promoters. He took particular interest in the progress of small townships, which he viewed as the handmaids of civilisation. It there was one thing that assisted progress more than another it was to bo found in townships with institutions of a literary and practical character, and he was proud to see ap much of this and of mateii*! prosperity around the place. The company who bad undertaken this railway line deserved every support and encouragement, as they had begun a &reat work avid shown infinitely more enterprise than was generally shown by companies. He concluded by propos in^ the toast " Success to the vVairaea Haii'S Railway," coupled with the name of Mr Bell, who had taken such, an active iutereso in the matter. Mr Bell, who was most enthusiastically received, replied in a very neat speech. Mr Whitaker said he would do his utmost to push ahead with the work. Mi H. Feldwick propo.-el the health of Mr B-ißtiugs iv a very flattering manner. Mr Bastings responded, and said he believed more grai i would in a few years be sent from the Bluff than from any port in the clmy. He was pleased to hear the large land owneis were going to cut up their proper i-ss. 'I he colony c-uld support the whole of the population now tufikriog frcm waut in the manufacturing die ui-ifcH ac home. Mr Cuthberts >n propo'ed '! JTiggioson,'' tbe engineer to the company. The snort of the iron horse was the deatti kaell of land monopoly. Mr J. Black, C.E., repled to the toast. 'V'r Sharks proposed " the Contractor," and Mr Wbitaker replied. Mr M'Caughau proposed "the Visitors," and Mr iVlacrorie responded. Tbe toast of " the Cua'rman" concluded the programme, and the procKedings terminated. Toe Sdon Mr Ballance proceeded to Waimea with Mr Bell, and the luvercirgill visitors left for town shortly after five o'clock.