OPENING OF THE NORTHERN RAILWAY TO KAIAPOI.

Press, Volume XIX, Issue 2806, 30 April 1872, Page 3

OPENING OF THE NORTHERN RAILWAY TO KAIAPOI.

[BY OUB SPECIAL BEPOBTEB.] I believe on occasions of this kiiid it is the usual—may I say the correct —thing to open a flowery description of the event with a dissertation on the weather, the bright rays of Phoebus, and all that sort of thing; bat I may as well at once say that I do not intend to inflict anything of this kind upon your readers, bat will simply remark ftat on this auspicious day the sun rose in its accustomed quarter of the compass, and I \j&sre within a few minutes of the time appoiated by those veracious chroniclers, the almanacs: therefore, so far as natural events are concerned, there was no outward and visible signe of the great ceremony which was about to take place. " His Honor the Superintendent requests the pleasure of your company on the occasion of the opening of the Northern Railway, and also to the luncheon thereafter." Sneh was the purport of an invitation I recsived, and in compliance therewith, I made my appearance on the platform of the Christchurch Bailway Station, and took a slight glance around at the. group who were to be my travelling companions in the perilous venture. I think I may say, without exaggeration, that every class in the community its representative ; in fact so general a gathering of persons notable in general, provincial, and local politics, I have never seen congregated together. There, as representing the province, and acting in the capacity of host on the occasion, was his Honor the Superintendent, and in close attendance, the representatives of the next estate in this small realm—with all due deference be it spoken —the members of the Executive Council, headed by the Secretary for Public- Works. Then, as representing fee larger and more important section of the Government, the General, there were present fts hon. the Minister for the Middle Island ad his secretary. Then came the high judicial tribunals, worthily represented by ha Honor the Judge and the Resident Magistrate. The Parliament of the colony :*as most fittingly represented by Mr Staffed. Coming nearer home, there were the representatives of the people in our mimic House of Commons, under the leadership of ftdi Speaker, and the City Council with the %or and Town Clerk at their head, who if-the way had great difficulty in subI tog -within proper bounds the exu- ! terance of jollity on the part of the I k&ere of the city. Then too, amid the group where laugh and joke reigned most ■ triumphant, was to be seen the jovial face $ the Provincial Auditor, beaming with safes as his wont, full of quips and cranks, i crinkling of the mercantile interest and I &c engineering staff completed the number i of these assembled. I The train, consisting of four carriages, » newly varnished and got up specially for i &c occasion, soon drew up alongside of the ; pUtform, the engine being decorated very , nicely -with bunches of flowers, and having ?B«ach side of it, proudly waving in the r* one of those banners which, as an fioaoighie and gallant gentleman subsejpeatly informed us, has braved the breeze 1 «s exactly one thousand years, thus adding ■ testimony, if it were necessary, to - «a accuracy of the statement of the author i ??Popular lyric on the same subject. A " *™g difficulty in the shape of a ,„ factory member of the City Council 3 *j»fceTing the orders of hie superior r*j[ c!S ®?, the Mayor, for which contumacy his "4 W4S immediately taken down by the *i *°*n Clerk with a view, I suppose, to ulte- ■± a« proceedings dark and direful, the J 4 *»thy Manager of Railways, with smiles % i **» evidently having for this day at least, -M ?™&U cares as to goods and passengers, H If 086116 rainß and tne like » to the vrindß, Jβ te? *^ c signal to enter the carriages, which H S* with the utmost alacrity; and all H seated, the whistle sounded, and M S**— 1 was about to write loud cheers— |i ** rach was not the case —the M ?«a moved off. The imposing array of H SK 4 *" 68 of all kinds - lar s e and p was far too much for the remH JJ of the British public left on the v| P«tona, and we started amid an awestruck ■v: V^ 2 * , far as outsiders were concerned. A t»*' bowev er» with the occupants of the •2* next to - myself, comprising a de- '" oft of the Cifc 7 Council, and a few *~ iwi iC% spirits. At every slight detta** 1011 alon S the line > su^n two or - gjf* yoaagsters perched upon the rails of "Sh CDeerin g the passing train, their tb^ 81 * 6111 xva3 unbounded: three timts *fas nothing to them, and during the t«Btofl 10 ° nicy their efforts in tnis line con " ecu without the slightest diminution. A fisTj llll of a few minutes brought us to Ad--3 .%srth On,wllere the Northern line joins the % 'Petf' 1 y a ds ght enrve, and here the 4. t^a^ 8 Bla somewhat to allow of : Ttifj a higher up being got over. i BjtofT^ , we had a straight run before '$ get v Ksc <»rton station. This passed, we i •*"?» mra^se& of some very pretty 3 hst scenery ne ar the mill, the wil--1 ats , aro ?ping over into the water, 1 a P rett 7 picture, very t h± ij* monotony of the Southern I ' »«wseo this station and the Fendall-

town road we cross three bridges over the Avon, the lengths being respectively 33ft, 99ft, «nd 66ft. All these bridges are on the same plan as that across the Styx. Without stopping at the Riccarton station we push on, and here the engine slackens speed somewhat, for we are at the steepest gradient in the whole line, viz., 1 in 250. which occurs between Fendalltown and the Papanui station. From this point a very pretty view is obtained. Close below us is the Avon fringed with trees, and iv the distance the villa residences on the Kiccarton road with their trim gardens. Beyond this again we get glimpses of Christchurch with the numerous plantations, making it appear almost like a bush, with here and there a white house or two peeping out. Presently the station at Papanui is in sight, gaily decorated with flags and evergreens, and on the platform is seen a goodly number of persons waiting to welcome our arrival, and we hear that there is to be a PRESENTATION OF AN ADDBESS AT PAPANUI. As we run in the station, a cheer of welcome is raised, and then we note that the school children are drawn up in great force on the platform. As the train stops, the j Rev Lorenzo Moore, with the inevitable address in his hand, scans each carriage to discover in which is seated his Honor the Superintendent. Having made the discovery, his honor alights, and the Rev Lorenzo Moore, on behalf of the inhabitants of Papanui, presents the following address— "To His Honor William Rolleston, Esq., Superintendent of Canterbury. " Sir, —Allow mc, on behalf of the inhabitants of Papanui, to congratulate your Honor on this auspicious occasion of your passing through this important and rising township' in opening the Great Northern railway. "Well assured that the work so happily begun, and carried forward with so much ability and zeal, will, with the blessing of Almighty God, prove an efficient means of aiding the development of the resources of our fertile plains, and thus add to the material prosperity of the country. We heartily wish your Honor every success in prosecuting the extension of this line, and the undertaking of similar works throughout the province. (i We also trust that in establishing this railway line, your Honor will use your influence to have preserved to us the Sabbath quiet, and freedom from public traffic on that day, which we have hitherto enjoyed, " I am, &c, " lour Honor's faithful servant, " LOBENZO MOOBE, M.A., " Incumbent of Papanui. " April 29, 1872." His Honor then made the following reply: —Mr Moore, and gentlemen, I can assure you it gives mc the greatest pleasure to meet you here this day on the occasion of the opening of the Great Northern Railway. There is present with mc on this occasion a member of the Colonial Government, to whom you are largely indebted for the pushing forward and completion of this means of communication, and to whom the fact of our being present this day on so interesting a ceremony, is largely due. I can assure you it gives mc the very greatest pleasure to be met by such a goodly gathering at Papanui, and I have every confidence that the railways will shortly he still further extended, and that they will prove a blessing to the country. I again thank you for the very kind address with which you have presented mc. This ceremony concluded, the children strike up the National Anthem, and then, amid a salvo of cheers, we are once more on the wing. We now draw near to the first of the large works on the line, viz., the Styx viaduct, which is thrown across the river of that name just below the mill. It is 297 feet long, being composed of nine spans of thirtythree feet each, and we cross steadily and smoothly; in fact, the line from the beginning to the end is exceedingly smooth to travel over—a fact which, when it is remembered we have had ten days or a fortnight of heavy rains, speaks volumes in favor of the solidity of its construction. From this point to Kaiapoi the line passes through a series of sandhills, the resistance of which has been the cause of serious annoyance to the engineers during the progress of the works, from the blowing on to the line of the loose sand. It will become necessary to plant on each side of the line, trees, in order to obviate this, and it can easily be done., there being five chains on each side of the fence. During the construction of the works it has been found necessary to erect temporary breakwinds of manuka scrub, but these have proved ineffectual, and a good deal has drifted on to the line. So much has thia been the case on the western side that the post and rail fence in one part has been completely covered. This sort of country prevails for about three miles of the journey, and does not present a very inviting prospect, to the eye. As we rattle along we catch sight here and there of the Waimakariri, which is at present somewhat in flood, owing to the late rains, and we go ahead at a good pace until a slackening of speed warns us that we have arrived at THE WAIMAKARIRI RAILWAY BRIDGE. The width of the present stream at low water is about 350 ft, and the length of the bridge 627 from end to end. It is built from a design furnished by Mr G. Thornton, C.E., approved of by Mr Bray, the General Government engineer. The contractor for the work is Mr William Stocks, of Dunedin. During the progress of the work, it was superintended by Mr Thornton, the railway engineer, and Mr E. A. Lock. The bridge works were begun in June last. Iron girders and joists of the same metal form the superstructure, the piles being Australian iron-bark. The material was found for the contractor by the Provincial Government, he taking delivery of it at the Christchurch railway station, namely, eighty piles, fifteen inches in diameter, seventy-eight large iron girders, 33ft in length, individually weighing about five tons, 210 joists or bearers for the railway metals, and the bed plates on which the large girders rest. The work of pile-driving was commenced from the north bank, a steam engine working a driving ram weighing twenty hundredweight being used for the purpose. When the first pier of four piles was driven, the steam engine with the monkey frame, was placed upon the girders. Then as the work proceeded, the girders were connected continuously to each other, and with the assistance of small iron rollers affixed on the capsils of the piles, were drawn by the aid of the engine to their proper positions, the work being accomplished with the greatest ease in this way. The driving apparatus, thus always at the furthermost end-of the girders, had only to be placed over the position inteaded for the following row of piles, and when they j were rammed, haul itself and the girders along again, and so on till the whole had been completed. Each pile was fitted with an iron shoe of twenty-eight pounds. Four piles were driven in each pier, two of them vertically, and two battered at an inclination of one in six ; they are placed directly under the girders, one vertical, and the outside one of each pair battered. In the first ten piers the piles are thirty-five feet in length, in the remaining ten they are forty feet long. The bridge contains nineteen spans of about thirty-five feet each span. All the under and timber work is exceedingly strong, the piles being braced up and down stream as well as twice from the girders to the low water level. On taking away the rollers which assisted them in travelling to their places, the girders are fitted into cast iron bed plates fitted on the capsils, and to these they aTe then firmly bolted. The cross girders or joists to carry the rails are stoutly bolted to the principal girders upon which they rest. Additional strength is given to the main girders by their being all connected by cover plates, bolted over every part where they join. At both ends of the bridge wooden wings have been made to protect the railway earthworks from tfie scour of the river were it likely at any time to occur. The contract price for the bridge, including some small culverts, was £1799, and the work altogether is of a most substantial kind. The river was slightly in fresh as we passed over, and the water of that peculiar muddy tinge, which is noticeable after heavy rains, rushed through the spans in considerable volume. At three points on the bridge a small landing stage juts out to afford a

standing place for the men engaged on the line whilst the train is passing. Once over the bridge, the enthusiasm of the inhabitants of Kaiapoi on the occasion is manifest by small group 3 being visible dotted about here and there on the sandhills, looking curiously at the train as it sweeps round. By-and-by, the appearance of houses in the distance, and a gay display of bunting, denote that we are close to the rising borough, and in a few minutes a crowd of spectators congregated on the platform denote our ARRIVAL AT KAIAPOI. There must be something especially conducive to calm and philosophic views of things in general in the atmosphere of Kaiapoi, as we glide into the station without even a cheer being raised, and draw up alongside the platform, which is crowded with spectators, amongst whom I note a number of Maoris, calmly puffing at their pipes, and, seemingly, taking little or no interest in the affair. It not being generally known that His "Worship of Kaiapoi, who is a passenger with us, is going to welcome His Honor on his arrival, the greater part of our party proceed towards the town ; but His Worship, on His Honor's alighting, in a few words expresses the gratification he feels at welcoming him to Kaiapoi on that auspicious occasion. To which His Honor returns a suitable reply. No formal r.d dress is presented, and the affair does not occupy more than two or three minutes. The Kaiapoi station, which is being built by Messrs Smith and Wright, is 50 feet by 15, with 11 feet studs, the roof being of corrugated iron. A verandah runs along the eastern side 7 feet wide, and on one side is the booking office and geutlemen's waiting rooms, the left hand side being occupied by the ladies' waiting rooms. At the end of the station is a luggage room and a goods department, all of which rooms are. well finished, and when complete, the station will be fully equal to any on the line. The platform on the line side will be 100 ft long by 10ft wide. The station will, I understand, be in charge of Mr Silk, who has for some years been connected with the Christchurch station. After a short interchange of greetings, a general move was made towards the Mechanics' Institute, where preparations were made for THE DEJEUNER. The catering for this important part of the day's proceedings was placed in the hands of Mr Burnip, who discharged the onerous duty in a highly creditable manner. The number of guests attending was greatly in excess of the accommodation, and some difficulty was experienced in seating them. About 100 gentlemen sat down, the chair being occupied by his Honor the Superintendent, who was supported on the right by the Hon. the Resident Minister for the Middle Island (W. Reeves, Esq.), the Hon. I E. W. Stafford, and Dr. Dudley; and on the left by his Honor the Judge, his Worship the Mayor of Kaiapoi, and the Rev. W. W. Willock. In addition to the guests who had come by train, our numbers were further augmented by the members of the Kaiapoi Borough Council, the Rev. R. Bavin (Wesleyan Minister at Kaiapoi), and the Rev. W. M'Gregor (Presbyterian Minister.) The vice-chairs were filled respectively by the Provincial Engineer (G. Thornton, Esq.), and W. Hutchinson, Esq. Ample justice having been done to the repast, His HONOR rose and gave the usual loyal toasts, which, together with the health of his Excellency the Governor, who, his Honor mentioned, became a connecting link—and a very stout one—between the colonists and the mother country, were enthusiastically drunk. His Honor then rose and said—Gentlemen, the next toast I have to propose is that to which every Englishman will respond most enthusiastically. It is that of " The Army and Navy," coupled with the name of a gentleman who I am sure we all respect —that gentleman's name I am sure will be received by you most warmly—it is that of the Hon. Colonel Brett. [Loud cheers.] Gentlemen, I give you " The Army and Navy, coupled with the name of Colonel Brett." [Loud and continued cheers.] The Hon. Colonel Brett, who on rising was loudly cheered, returned thanks in a most humorous speech, inculcating the necessity of being prepared for any event which might arise out of the complication of affairs in Europe, and also stating that in future he did not intend to say one word against the volunteers, believing that by judicious management much good might result from the movement. His Honor the Superintendent then rose and said : Gentlemen, I have now a toast to propose, which. I feel sure, you will all agree with mc, is one to which we all should do every possible honor; it is that of the health of the Colonial Ministry. [Cheers.] My political character is well known, I having the honor to be one of her Majesty's Opposition— [langhterj— but I am sure that we here in Canterbury, whatever our shade of political feeling may be, will drink th» health of a body of gentlemen who have taken upon themselves the task of initiating the great business of colonising the country, and who have set themselves earnestly and heartily to the work. [Cheers.] We have amongst us this day a member of that Ministry, who is more intimately connected with us, and whose appointment is significant of changes, which sooner or later will take place in the constitution of the colony. I allude of course to my honorable friend on my right (the Hon. Wm. Reeves) — [cheers] —aud whose name, I am sure, as connected with this toast, you will receive with every mark of satisfaction. [Cheers.] There is no doubt in my mind at all that there are signs to be noticed of a change in the constitution as regards this island, and I have no doubt but that great changes are at hand, but I am not here to say what those changes are. I am not here to give advice, my business is, as Superintendent of this Province, to take advice and act upon it generally. [Cheers and laughter], It is not for mc, as I have said, to advise particularly when I see before mc a body of gentlemen representing all classes of the community, who must be fully aware of all the circumstances quite as well if not better than myself, but I should like to tell you to make the best of your opportunity now at this time—the best time you could do so. You have amongst you a gentleman as Resident- Minister with large powers, almost unlimited powers, and I say to you use him—[laughter]—use him ; and I think he will take it kindly, but do not abuse him. [Cheers and laughter.] Since Mr Reeves has been in the position he now holds he has devoted himself most assiduously to forwarding the works, the completion of which we this day celebrate, and since it has been in his hands he has done everything in his power to work in conjunction with the Provincial Government in forwarding the works in progress. [Hear, hear.] Gentlemen, I now give yon li The Health of the Colonial Ministry," coupled with the name of the Hon. Wm. Reeves. [Cheers.] j The toast was drunk with loud cheers. j The hon. Wm. Reeves, who was loudly cheered on rising, said —Your Honor and gentlemen, I should indeed be insensible did I not feel very deeply the flattering terms in which my name has been alluded to on the present occasion, and the cordial, nay, enthusiastic manner in which the toast has been received. It is with no small amount of satisfaction that I find myself here this day. As an old settler of the provincs I look upon the opening of this railway as a significant fact of the progress made by us in colonisation. As a member of the Colonial Ministry I rejoice at so striking a proof of the successful initiation of a policy which the people have inaugurated. If so much satisfaction is evinced by the people at the completion of these twelve miles of railway as shown by the congratulations offered to his Honor the Superintendent at various points on the route, how much more will be evinced when the scheme of which this only forms a small portion, is fully completed, and the lines carried from one end of the island to the other. I must ask you to bear with mc a little, while I enter into an explanation. I cannot call it a defence, for tthat it does not want, of the conduct of the Government with regard to

these railways. I wish it to be distinctly understood, that in what I am about to say I am not in any way wishing to glorify what we have done, I simply want to put the matter before the public in its true light. I need not tell you, gentlemen, you who from your intimate connection with general and local politics, are fully conversant with the progress of political affairs, that the Government felt it to be no easy task to meet the Assembly atsoshort an interval as six months after the close of the session, -when there was really no tangible results to show for the work. It was felt that the natural impatience of the public would recoil upon them when there was nothing tangible to show them, but only preliminary works. This has turned out to be correct, and I took the earliest opportunity to tell my constituents that the danger arose from the impatience of the public. [Hear, hear.] We have, this day, passed along this well made line of railway, in extent some twelve miles, and it has taken the whole Government and a good Government —I laughter]—to make this line in twenty months. Ido not wish to detract at all for one moment from the ability and energy shown in this matter ; indeed I believe those gentlemen who had to do with it, have done their work well ; —[cheers] —but we are 16.000 miles away from the place from whence the materials have to be brought, and therefore necessarily delays have taken place. It is well made, and in point of time will compare favorably with railways similarly circumstanced, in any part of the world, although no doubt, what has taken twenty months to do here, would have been done on the Pacific railway in six weeks ; but what I want to point out is, that if it has taken twenty months of energetic efforts to make thi's twelve miles of railway, how long should it take, when I tell you we have in contemplation 250 miles of heavy railways, in addition to 150 miles of lighter lines now in course of survey, and the preliminary surveys of which are not yet completed. You will thus see the unreasonableness of the charge of undue delay which has been brought against us. Then, again, we are told that we have blundered, and that we have bungled in our dealings with the contractors. Gentlemen, you caunot expect mc to go into the dealings of the Government j with Messrs Brogden, but I say that it is only right for the people of New Zealand to give their confidence to the Government, and believe that they are, so far as in their power, doing their best by the couutry. If there have been difficulties in the way— and I do not say there has been—then the Government of New Zealand have every reason to submit with confidence to the people of the country that it has been through impatience on their part, impatience which is unfounded, because they have not known the facts of the case. Gentlemen, we have undertaken the construction of the large number of miles of railway, not over plains as level as a billiard table, but in parts of the country where there are engineering difficulties of no ordinary magnitude to be overcome, and, therefore it is, that I say again that the charge of undue delay made against us is unfounded. I can reciprocate most cordially all that has been said by his Honor the Superintendent relative to the good feeling between us, and I can say that if he has had reason to be satisfied with mc I have more so to be with him —(cheers) — and this be it remembered when I came down here in a position which must be considered to be in some degree inimical to a Superintendent, and when I was placed in the peculiar and delicate position of taking from him large and extensive powers. [Cheers.] The Superintendent has on this, as on former occasions when I have heard him speak, spoken of changes which he seems to think are immiment in the constitution of the colony. In what lam about to say I wish it to be distinctly understood that I am not stating the mind of the Ministry, but simply as a private representative of the people, expressing my own opinion. I do not believe that such changes are imminently hanging over the colony. If I understood his Honor aright. I gather from his speech that bethinks changes of a constitutional nature hang over the colony, but if he thinks so I beg to say Ido Lot. It is a maxim of constitutional Government not to go a-head of public opinion, and I fail to see that there is any expression at present of public "opinion on the matter. Before the Government came to any opinion on the matter, the public must have done so, and that is not the case. Take the first halfdozen you meet, and they are in favor of sweeping away the provinces wholly; while the next half-dozen are in favor of increasing their powers; and a third half-dozen are in favor of a modification of their powers. Therefore I say it cannot be asserted that public opinion is formed, and that being the case, we cannot go ahead of public opinion, and therefore I differ from his Honor in saying that there is at present indications of a change in the constitution. Until the opinion of the public is fully made up on this matter, you cannot take any steps in it. I will not longer detain you, but will simply return you mj sincere thanks for the kind and cordial manner in which you have drunk the toast coupled with my name. [Loud cheers.] Hit* Worship the Mayor of Kaiapoi then rose to propose the next toast. He said — Your Honor and Gentlemen —The toast I have to propose is one I am certain you will receive with fully as much enthusiasm as the ones preceding it. It is " His Honor the Superintendent of Canterbury and the Executive Council." [Cheers.] We have met to-day to celebrate the opening of the Northern railway, and you all know that it is to his Honor the Superintendent that the credit is due. Though differences have occurred between his Honor and the Executive Council, yet we must give his Honor credit for having acted for the best in the matter. I am glad to bear from the Hon. W. Reeves that he is of opinion that provincial institutions will lot be swept away just at present, as they have left their impress for good in the Province of Canterbury. I will not detain you longer, but ask you to drink with all the honors the health of .his Honor the Superintendent and the Executive Council. [Cheers.] The toast was drunk with three times three and musical honors. His Honor the Superintendent, who on rising was loudly cheered, said—Gentlemen: I have to thank you very cordially for the j hearty manner with which you have drank my health and that of the Executive Council of Canterbury. Ido not intend to make a j long speech, as there are are several other most interesting speeches yet to come. All that I can say is that we wish to advance the best interests of the colony; all parties must sink private differences and work for the common good. With regard to changes in the Constitution of the colony. I would say that there is much in the province of Canterbury more than could be taken over by the General Government. There is the waste lands revenue, which I feel sure the people of Canterbury would not be prepared to see leaye their hands. [Cheers.] Then there is much to be done in the matter of roads, to facilitate settlement, whatever may be done by the General Government in the matter of railways. There is much to be done by the provinces yet, and I do not see that they can be broken up yet, because they form a community of interest —which commu nity aids materially in the development of the natural resources, and it must never be lost sight of that we have large natural resources, the wealth of which at present we arc unaware. Communication must be established between the coal and mineral producing districts of the province, because, unless I read the reports appearing from time to time in a wrong light, there is much to be derived from our resources in the West Coast. [Cheers.] There is a large amount of reef digging opening up there, and I would desire to impress upon yon very strongly the fact that we cannot isolate ourselves; "and the railway we have this day inaugurated will bring us through its extension, well on to the opening up of communication with these large and valuable goldfields. This, it appears to mc, should be our aim, to push forward our communication, and thus utilise the large resources placed at our command, I have again to thank you

most heartily for the manner in which you received the "toast of myself and the Executive Council. [Cheers.] Mr Kennaway, who was , •■! l!y c >■-.] "or, said—Your Honor and G-htU-m-V.: I ;•.:i--:s 1 y expected to be called upon to "speak to this toast, more especially as his Honor !i:ul so fully spoken on it. However. I most heartily thank yon for the manner in which you have responded to the toast, aud will take this opportunity of bearing my testimony to the energy and* skill with which the. engineering portion of the railway has been carried out. I allude more especially to our Provincial Engineer. Mr Thor.:to7-.,'who has been untiring in his cfTort.s to cany out the work in a safe aud thoroughly substantial manner. This, I believe, is the first occasion on which this gentleman has had so large a work under his control, and I say this, that for patient industry in the discharge of his duty that gentleman has deserved well of the public. I speak more especially of him as he has come more in contact with mc as Secretary for Public Works. I would also specially wish to speak of the efforts of Mr Bray, for the zealous and untiring manner in which, as consulting engineer, he has discharged his duties. Mr Kennaway then proceeded to say that the whole of the works on the line had been executed in the most substantial manuer. and in every way were perfectly satisfactory to the Government; and he hoped that although this twelve miles of railway had taken twenty months to carry out, that during the next twenty months they might see 120 miles of railway carried out in Canterbury. Mr Westenra, who was also called for, shortly responded. Mr W. Montgomery then rose and said— The toast which has been placed in my hands is one which I have the utmost pleasure in proposing: it is that of the " General Assembly of New Zealand." This Assembly comprises the pick of the people of New Zealand, and had the most onerous duties to perform ; and this, because to them was committed the task of shaping the destinies of a young and rising natiou. They had within themselves the making of happy homes for thousands, and they must look to the General Assembly to make such laws as would render the country capable of being made into such happy homea. I will couple with the toast the names of two gentlemen, one of whom has made a name for himself amongst the colonists of New Zealand. The gentleman to whom I allude is the Hon. E. W. Stafford. [Loud and continued cheering.] The other is that of a gentleman well known to them all, Mr Studholme who, though he had not had the experience of Mr Stafford, yet had proved hi-v,-self a thoroughly upright and conscientious member. With regard to Mr Stafford, that gentleman had been before the country for many years, and we may say of him, though he has his faults, in the words of Sir Robert Peel, with reference to Lord Palmerston, "we are proud of him." Mr Stafford had great talents, and he had devoted them to the services of the country. He would not detain them longer, but -would give them the General Assembly, coupled with the names of the Hon. E. W. Stafford and Mr Studholme. [Loud cheers.] The toast was drunk with loud cheers and musical honors. Mr Stafford, who was received with loud and continued cheering on rising, said—Mr Montgomery, your Honor, and gentlemen : I do not know why I should have been selected to return thanks for the toast of the General Assembly before the member for the district, except that it be that I am the oldest member of the General Assembly, having held a seat in that House for eighteen consecutive years. There are present in this assemblage members of that body, who would worthily respond to the toast which you have so enthusiastically drunk : but I return you my sincere and hearty thanks for the kind and cordial manner in which you have done so. The General Assembly of New Zealand has always held, and I trust will continue long to do so, a very high position among the Legislative Assemblies of the English-speak-ing people in these seas. Whether it will continue to do so depends, gentlemen, more particularly on the electors themselves. It has been said that the laws cannot be expected to be better than the makers, and it therefore depends upon the electors, in a great measure, as to the character which those laws ehall lake. I can only express a hope that the electors will exercise a wise discretion in sending representatives to the General Assembly. • Differences of opinion will arise, and there I must differ from the opinion expressed that differences of opinion should be swept away, as I say that a healthy difference of opinion from the constitution of our race, is necessary for our advancement. Therefore I say, perish the day when a healthy difference of opinion shall cease. I well remember my last visit to Kaiapoi, some , twelve years ago, and I must say that it reflects the highest credit upon you for the manner in which you have stuck to the land, despite the encroachments of the water. As an old colonist, and one who moves about a great deal in the different parts of the colony, I must say that there is no part of the country in which there is so much steady progression as in Canterbury. In some parts of the colony which I have visited there are visible at times signs of retrogression, or at least no signs of progress, but not so in Canterbury, and I hope there will never be this retrogression witnessed in Canterbury. I Cheers.] I am, as you are aware, more particularly connected in respect to political matters with the South than the North, but pecuniarily I am largely interested in the latter. When I was requested, entirely without any solicitation on my part, and quite unexpectedly, to represent Timara in the General Assembly, there was a sort of rebellion, or at least something approaching to rebellion in that portion of the province. Since that time, however, and since your chairnfan has been elected as Superintendent, the excitement has calmed down, and my old friend, Mr Hewlings, who has held the highest office that it is in the power of the people there to bestov, informs mc that it has entirely disappeared. I may say, as a colonist of thirty-three years standing, and a member of the House of Representatives for eighteen consecutive years, that honesty, disinterestedness, and public - spiritedness, have hitherto been the characteristics of the General Assembly of New Zealand, and I trust it may long continue so. I congratulate you most heartily upon the conclusion of this work, which we have this day met to celebrate, and hope that that prosperity which has hitherto marked the pro- j vince of Canterbury fn so eminent a degree may long continue. Gentlemen, I will not longer detain you, but will simply thank you most cordially for the warm manner in which you have received the toast of the General Assembly, coupled with the names of Mr Studholme and myself. [Loud and continued cheering.] Mr Studholme who was warmly cheered on rising, said that it would be hardly expected after the very able speech to which they had listened, that anything he could say would add to the response to the toast. He was gratified at being present at the opening of the Northern railway as far as Kaiapoi, and trusted that next year they would be called upon to take part in a similar celebration on the occasion of the opening of the Railway to Rangiora. He had always been au advocate for progress, but he did not think it was at all consistent with true progress to construct works which would not pay interest on the amount expended on their construction. [Hear, hear. J The railway completion, of which they had that day i met to celebrate, was not one of these, and Ihe heartily congratulated them upon the I guccess attendant upon it. He thanked them very cordially for the manner in which they had received the toast. Mr C. C. Bowen then rose and said—Your Honor and Gentlemen: A toast has been entrusted to mc out of the range of what I may call a political toast, and I cannot account for it having been placed in my hands except that from the exercise of my duties I am preclnded from taking any part, in polities, and that therefore I am looked upon as the most fitting person to propose the first non-political toast of the day. It is one which I feel sure all present will join most heartily in drinking, aa it is the health

of his Honor Mr Justice Uresson. [Loud cheers.J In the discharge of his duties, as connected with the Supreme Court of Canterbury, his Honor, hns, I feel sure, the thorough confidence aud respect of the people of Canterbury. [Loud cheers.] Bnt I will not lonqrr dilate upon Ins Honor's merits iuhis otlicial capacity. Not only as a. judge, but also as a settler in the truest, sense of the word, his Honor the Judge has always discharged the duties we all owe to each other as settlers in a common land in a manner which shows that he thoroughly carries out those unties which ;irc incinnb.'iit upon all of us. [Cheers.3 I will not call him by the barbarous name which I heard applied to a gentleman just now. without his resenting it, viz.,'*a Kaia-pogian"—[laughter] —but he is one of you in every sense of the word. I recollect hearing Mr Domett recite a piece of poetry, each stanza of which terminated with the words, "At the siege of Kaiapoea;" but even this, barbarous as it may seem, falls far short of Kaiapogian. I feel certain that all present will acknowledge that his Honor the Judge, by his upright and eouscientious discharge of his duties, has won for himself the respect and esteem of every inhabitant of Canterbury. Gentlemen, I give you " His Honor the Judge." [Loud cheers.] The toast was drunk amid loud applause. His Honor the Judge, who was loudly cheered on rising, said :- Your Honor and Gentlemen —I thank you most cordially for the warm and enthusiastic manner you have received the toast proposed in such kind and flattering terms by my friend Mr Bowen. I thank you on behalf not only of myself, but also on behalf of my brother judges of New Zealand, whose names, as well as my own, are associated with the toast. It is a great source of gratification to mc to notice on all occasions of this kind, aud indeed on every occasion, the respect paid to the law iv this colony. It is one of the plants transplanted from the old country which has taken root here, and I am glad to see it, and would not like to see it die out. Mr Bowen has referred in kind terms to the respret and confidence the people reposed in the administration of justice, but there are deficieuces, and no one knows it better than the judge himself, and I am sure I speak for my brother judges. We can only discharge the very onerous duties imposed upon us, so far as lies in our power, with probity and impartiality, aud I thiuk that, you and all the people of tho colony will give us credit for so doing. With respect to myself as a colonist, I can only lay claim to eighteen years' experience—not so much as the Hon Mr Stafford—but still, during that time, all my joys have been found amongst you, and I speak to you now, not in my official capacity, but as one settler speaking to his fellow-settlers. I look upon this colony as being the home of myself and my children, and my children's children, and this, I take it, we must all do, when we engage in the noble work of colonisation. His Honor has said make use of your opportunities, and we here have large opportunities, large mineral and natural resources, wealth which only requires developing, and we are now, by the extension of communication, taking steps to utilise these resources. We are now putting in motion three of the most powerful agents in the great work of colonisation, viz., education, immigration and public works, f Cheers.] I am not going into political questions. I have nothing at all to do with those, but I will give you a piece of advice. I would most earnestly urge upon you not on occasions of any fancied grievances to write to the newspapers to find fault with each other —not to impute the most sinister motives to those who may be doing their best to advance the interests of the colony and engender a better feeling between you—which, when we get better acquainted with each other, will have been found to be perfectly groundless I will ask you not to indulge the love of grumbling which we have brought out with us from the old country. There is one matter which, though trifling in itself, will serve to illustrate what I mean. You will probably have noticed in one of the papers, I do not know which, a correspondence which has been going on relative to the seats in the new church of St. Michael's. You would have thought from that correspondence that it was one of the most awful things in the world, but I look upon it as an attempt to set class against class— one of the most mischjevous things which could occur in any colony such as this, and one which I deeply deplore. For myself, I have never paid for a sitting, and always sit in a free seat. I do not consider myself insulted in any way by this. But what, when the explanation comes out, is the truth of the matter 1 Why simply that all the best seats have been reserved for the free sittings. This fully illustrates what I have been endeavoring to bring before you., viz., that it is much better. to go direct to a man, and ask him what lie means by such a course as this, than to write letters to the papers full of bitterness of spirit. I am sure you will give mc credit for what I say, as being thoroughly honest in my convictions, and feel certain we should get on much better together if we only took the trouble to become better acquainted with each other ; as I feel certain that we should find that we are very much alike—that we have our weak points and our strong points—and you will find, whatever may be your position, if you discharge your duties conscientiously, that yon will obtain the respect of your fellow-colonists. I thank you for the kind manner in which you have drunk my health. The toast of " The Provincial Council, with the name of the Speaker, Mr H. J. Tancred," was next duly honored and responded to. His Honor the Superintendent then gave the next toast, " Success to the Northern Railway," paying a very high compliment to Messrs. Bray, Tancred, and Thornton, for their exertions in connection with the work. The Hon. William Reeves then proposed the "Health of His Worship the Mayor of Kaiapoi," to which His Worship responded. His Honor then proposed the " Health of J the Engineers in charge of the line, Messis Bray and Thornton." Mr Bray and Mr Thornton returned thanks, the latter taking the opportunity to defend the department from the charges that had been made against it, as to the amount of work performed by the staff. This concluded the list of toasts, and the company adjourned to -the train. After a short stay, we were again under way, and reached town after a rapid run of thirty-two minutes, including stoppages. I may say that the upward trip was done in thirty minutes exactly, including the. stoppage at Papanui, the distance being: 13 J miles from Christchurch station to Kaiapoi, and 11 J from Addington junction.' The cost per mile of the Northern line as laid out is £4900, and the total estimated cost to Rangiora, 18 miles, 70 chains, £02,543 2s 9d. The annual traffic returns of passengers over White's bridge, as furnished to the Government, is 5857, thus showing a very considerable amount of traffic available for the railway. The whole trip was thoroughly enjoyable, and every one was particularly struck with the smoothness and freedom from vibration noticeable on the line. During the time the dejeuner was in progress the engine-drivers and guards, under the presidency of Mr Jones, station-master at Christchurch, sat down to a capital spread at Middleton's Hotel. The line will be [ opened for traffic to-morrow, but it will be a little time before the whole of the station buildings are complete.