WAIKATO AND MERCER RAILWAY. TURNING THE FIRST SOD.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXX, Issue 5113, 12 January 1874, Page 3

WAIKATO AND MERCER RAILWAY. TURNING THE FIRST SOD.

Tin: construction of t)>e lnn- of railway to bo extended from Meicer to t'io aikito Mas commenced r>n Fjiday at NgRr«a\vihia by his Honor the JS«pi»rtntcatl 'lit turning the first sod. Tho ceremony took place it 12 o'clock on tho town side of tho river, and passed off very satisfactorily, although perhaps not w lth ao much eclat a9 was expected. ■ It was anticipated that the Governmont , Mould do tho customary thing and provide a luncheon at which the settlers in tho n( ijihbouiing districts would bo present and when a groab deal of speech making and mutual congratulations would take placo. As was e.\plain«d by Dr. Pollen, however in his speech tins was rendered impossible owing to the necessity of at once commencing I the woik in ordei to utilise the services of a couple of hundred men who have been engaged for the purpose. Wo believe it is not j improbable that, when Mr. Vogel arrives the I occasion will bo propjrly celebrated, ns there is a desire on the part of tho Wailcito settlers not to allow it to piss off without some more fitting demonstration. The arrangements connected with tho cqi oniony on I Fiiday reflected credit upon Dr. Pollen's management, as everything was done that wns possible under tho circumstances. The attendance was not so larie as it would have beon had a longer notice ben given ; nevottheloss there w« a good sprinkling of sottler=i and natives. His Honor tho Supeiintesndenfc and pai ty, consisting of the members of the Executive and a few other gentlemen, anivedat N^aruaw.ihia at half-past eleven o'clock on Friday nipht, after a somewhat uncomfortable journey owing to tho wet. In tho inntuirg the littla township presented quito a bu-lc appearauce compared to its usual aspect, .vid theie must have been ovor 200 people piev^nt at the ceremony of turning tlio sod. A marquee was erected for tho purpose, and a few tents were distributed over the ground, containing refreshment for tho public. Tho marquoo was neatly fil'ed with ladies, many of whom wre visitors from town, lfc in neellesa to say that their picsencc enhanced the importance of tho proceedings. Tho Superintendental party were conveyed to and from Ngaruawahia in one of Mr. Quick'3 fine coaches, tho entci prising propiietor Jiimself haudlmtj the ribbons with his customary skill. Amongst those present we noticed the follow iug gentlei'icn : — (Jol. Lyon, Major Jtcksou, M. (1 H.; Major Coopjr, Maj ,r Mair, Messrs J. Sheehan, Privincial Socrolary ; G. M. Ucfd, Piovincial Treasurer ; P. Dignan, M V C ; Captain Biackenbury, Captain Ktoolo, Captiin Kiyner, Captain ttnnciman, Captain Dawaon, D. M. Luckio, Mil. K. : I'. O'Neill, M.U.R. } W. Hay, M V,C.) W. N. Searnncke, K M. ; R. W. Hammond, J.I' j S. I'. Sdlou, J.f. ; R. R Hunt, J.P.; C. Marshall, Jam 8 Humt>, T. JMacifarlane, J. F. Shiol, Tewhira, Harare wen. Win. Barton and a number of oth>r ir.fluenli.il chiefs. Tho aiianjomunts having Leon completed, Major Jackson, M. II, II. was voted tn the chair, Tho Hon. Dr. Pou.Etf §aid ; L%<\\p% ami fjei titmeu, we a<e mot today to c?kl>rito tho commencement of a very impoi tint worl' — important, not only for the district of Waikat<>, but import tut for tho colony of Now /'jahiul, at forming part of a tclieme of work 5 ! wlrch is in^entied to connect tho Xoit'i with t'aoSju'h. His Honor the S'ip<rintendent of the produce has been good enou h to couio this loug distance foi the purpoMo of heing present at tho ceivm >ny, and, v, l'hhis own hinds, assist m tho beginning of that work by turning the fir^t sod. (Hear, hear ) You know that iu the last Bession of the Giuoial Assembly piovision was made for the expenditure upon this work of making tho hue of railway from Morcer to Ngaruawalua, and a Bum I think of £11S,OOO or £120,000—1 Am not quits oertain as to the figures — was voted for that purpose. It became a question for the consideration of tho Government in what way this woik should bo cirried on — whether m tho m inner in which tho Auckland and Drury Hallway is supposed to be carried on just now, by contract — or whether it should be done by men employed as daily labourers. 'Jho experience which, I think, tho pooplo of Auckland havo had of the manner in which the works on tho Auckland and Drnry Kailway lmo havo been earned on n not cutifly of a satisfactory character. (Hiat, hett ) I think — and I am notspeikin« now as condemning the thing in any olhu.tl capacity, but simply spealuucr my own views a9 a Biinplo citizen, and expressing opinions which I have heard enunciated by very many others — that a great deal more energy might havo been shown iu carry. ng ou the works of that line, and a great deal more expodi'ion also uii^ht have been used in carrying it to a conclusion. 'Hut being so, it was determined to try the cxpernm nt which n now about to bo undertaken, ot carrying on fiis work by hired labour, tho Government themselves in that case taking tho position of tho contractor. We found that there would be no difficulty iu obtaining the necessary amount of labour. I wns sui pri&od mysulf at the rapidity with which the list of volunteers for this wor* was filled. It was filled up indeed so rapidly that tho usual timo was hardly allowed to tho Government for making the formal, and, so to siy, social preparations for the inauguration of a woik of this kind. Wo found that wo had a couple of hundred men on pay upon our hands, and that it was nec n s3.uy to emploj' them immediately upon the works ; so wo havo been lather moro hurried iu the commencement of our undertaking than nuiLr other ciicumstances we should havo been. This will account very much for the state of unpropnr«dnes8 in which wo find ouraelve 1 ! to-day, and also, I hopo, will excuse tho appareut want of hospita'ity and the absence of the usual fp&tiviiiei which s;onoiMlly distinguish occasions of this kind. I can only offer you a very hearty welcome to such entertainment as wo can give you; and I am quite sine that, in conei leialion of the impoi tanco of tho woik about to ba commenced to-day, our shoitjomini;8 in that direction will not be very hardly dealt with. (Hear, hear) I have a word to say about tho organisation which will be apparent amongst tho woik men, upon this contract. Tho Governmont, in deahug with a number of men is necessarily and pioperly in a different position from an individual dealing with a number of men, and it wai thought bettor — and will bo found, I have no doubt, veiy much better — that amount the wot kitten to bo engaged on this work there should bo some kind of oii^aniaation — soino authority established which can only lie maintained under the semblance of military rule, &ueh as enrolment in tho Militia With that viow tho men who s.ro to bo employed ou these woiks havo been em oiled iu tho Milit ; a : they mo atiiiL-d as Militiamen, but their woik is m no seus^ of a uuhtiry ehancter. They know and will prove, I am 9ati li'><l, by tl'O r induatty and attentic.n to their work that they at o woikmen and not soldiers in any eeiue. (neir, hear, a'ld cheois ) It has been said that thi3 woik was got up in a manner secretly. Well, I am myaelt personally iesponsible for whatevei h'is beLii done, aud all that I can s.iy about it is that I have mule no sec-rot at all of tho procoduio — Ihat oveiy pors in who cho-»o to inquire or ask a quest i u of me was frankly inform' d of tho whi 1 > purpose of the arrangement. I hero could I'e no possible end for concealment anil certainly thero was no pni]>u8o cm my part to conceil auythiii^. Tlio whole tlnni,', as ovory ono knows connected with it, was done iu a very };reat huriy ; dmio ao much more rapidly than I expected that I un agiceaMy surpiised that within a week o» l.he inception of the afFtii, wo ato in a potation to commence tlio woik 1 ero. (Cluers) llpun th<} general quos 1 ion of rftiln'iul', gouUtmen, I have vary littlo to say. Vho wholo quuation is settled 'the policy of tho couutiy is railroads *u<l lmnngiatiou, and it is mojt gratifyin » to mo to bo ab'o to anuoaneo t> i'ay, aud to bo cer lfiod in that annouuccmoi t by tho piesenco of his Honor the SupennUnlent and his Execu- .

ti\e, lli.ifc m tint rteptct, so f,ir a« th° I'io line d' Vnklird is cuncernpd, «<• sh.u hue In i,c !i>i Mi tin 1 heuty com nrronce » t'io I'niviiKi.il Kxicutivc m tho prosecutii 1 of public wor! h, and in the still more utipor 1 tant wnik ot nnn.igration ami the settli'men' 3 of Hie immigrants upon <h" land> of tho pio ; vimo (Hear.) Tint id the roil and mos 1 imp' ' t"i'it \\t)\k of the Ornei niii^nt, am: ; Vritliout tho hearty and complete c n • cuiicnoo "f the Provincial antnorilics, I it cannot bo ""ceesifully carriel o >\ by any Government, I nm plnd tr s\y that wo have now seeuiu'il the i^i-uei i concurrence of the province?, ami tlicrc is , reason for congratulation upon our pa^t, anr 3 I think upon the part of the public yone3 rally, that wo have at length sccureil the i , heaity concurrence of the Government cl , this province. (Cheers ) The question ol , immigration is one of tin very last import . j auco. It did not, T am soiry to say, appeal r to impress tbosi 1 * iwrwrt* who are interested 3 in the success of lliat policy with tho weight 1 I which it ne ejsrrily deserves. But Tery soen i after, they came to understand its import- - ' anco. The Prime. Minister of tha colony, b ' Mr. Vogel, has himself taken that depart3 ment into his spfcial charge ; and knowing, 3 as I do, tho interest which ha has taken iu > it, and the energy and ability which he > ; I rings to any woi It of that kind to which he • j sets hi« mind, I am (jitifco latisfied that i ' whatever is possible to be dono will bo done > | by him for the furthorancp of immigrat tion ; and, with the assistance of the Go- ' vernments of the various provinces and of fchia ' province for the settlement of immigrants - npon the land immediately «ftor they arrive. » Me will be here in Auckland lu the course ol I i another mouth or so, and I tbiuU he will !• * show thoi that, representing as does the • whole interests of tho colony, ho is not nn < mindful of the special di rnandsi which are i made upon him by the fact of his represent- • ing a constituency in the province- of Anrk- > land. He has, I am advisee?, some proj' eta > which, with the concurrence of tho Supei inUndent, he proposes to ca r ry out for the settlement of HawkuVi Hay land, and lands in tho Tauran^a district, svud othor places ; and I am pleased to Qud — and I am quite eure he himself will bo delighted to find when ho comes — that he will bo mot with an anxious de&ire to co-operato with him in tho work which he has in view. (Hear.) I think that I need not longer detain tho mpptiug by remarks which are simply preliminary to tho business of the day, but I will call upon his Honor the Superintendent to commeuce tho work of making tho railway fiom Ngaruawahia to Mercer. (Great cheering ) His Honor the Supfrtntenpent said j Dr Pollen. Mr. Chair mm, ladies;, and gentlomen, t have been invited by the lion, the Colonial Secret iry, IV. Pollen, my old friend) to come here to-day to take part in an und.«rtakiniij which I believe to be of the highest importance to the commercial advantage of Auckland and the peace and security of it3 present inhabitants as well as thos9 whom wo hope to see amongst us not vory Ion? houce. It is an undertaking which, although now actively held in hind by tho General Government, wm long ago couteraplated by the provincial authorities of Auckland. When coal wa* first discoveru I at Drury, tho Provincial C-mnoil bohoioa that that discovery would load to very impotant ri'Eults, and it was then that ihey, out of their limited fluanoe*, eefc apart a. inm of mo noy, which was placed at iny own di»po&al as Siipcrintendv-nt, and wbich I then used to mika a trial surrey of the lino from Auckland to Drury. The old meinbeis of the Provincial Counoil who are hero way uoi'eot that tLpra was a willingness, a unaiiMiious consent to that undertaking The.i it w.i3 merely designated the Auckland and Drrry Iliilway. Surveyor "ver ' sent (i it ; a 'mo was stiuck across the couutrv ; but, gc-ntkmen, a3 wo have progressed in settlement and in impoitanco iu those districts, ev«u although that Auckland and Drury Rulway has not yot been completed, it Ins becorao desirable that wo should extond that railway to Mercor ; and now, gentlemen, we are here to-day advancing anoth«i< st-ago in this march of progress w e are hero to-day to commence a work which, wo trust, Will convey the advantages of tho railway into the heart of the Waikato counti y. 1 trust— and I am hopeful of it— that before long we shall advanco auothcr sti£f\ and that that stage will carry us right up to the botdeis of Tarauaki.and that from thciu-e wo shall approach that centre of New Zealaid which is known at Wellington as tho Seat of Government. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, if I thought that this work would lead to unbappy consc>(uencc>», dmateiF, or disturbances between tho natiyo inhabitants ind ourselves I should for one hesitate to eneottnge the undertaking, but I fuel assure 1 that, as tho inhabitants— I moan the native inhabitants of this part of the Waikato — ate deposed to assist us in this good_ work, now, so tho natives farther on — in the Delta, and higher up tho country, will be prepired to assist us in conferring upon them the ad vintages which this civilising operation will ha Burp to brin? to them and to their children. (Hear, heir) I am proud to-day in having been called upon to tako a part in this proceeding. Gentlemen, it is not many months a«o since I visited this dia-tru-l, and I assured you then, what was not mere electioneering stumping and pronrae, I assuied you then that it was my desire to see thi3 work carried up to the Waikato ; and I have to thank tho General Government this day for having peimitted me to tako this prominent part on this occasion, which indicates tho fulfilment of my own desires my own honest and conscientious desires expressed on that occasion. (Cheers ) For, gentlemen, I can assure you now, on this ths lii st time that J havo had an opportunity of addiossmg you after my election, that whether you had chosen me or not to be placed at the head of the Provinco of Auckland, I should not havo related one whit in my dosue to see this work carried out, and, whether a3 a private citizen or a publio officer, I shonld have endeavoured to havo secured this gieafc dosidtritum for you; for, gentlemen, on public grounds, apart from your immediate advantage, and on colonial grounds, no gteatei, no more important, work could be undei taken by the people of the colony than tho opening up of these districts to commerce and to civilisation. (Cheers. ) I trust that tho work we are about to begin will have the effort of t-timulatinc the settlers who are here now, and of encouraging many others to come hero and tako up their abode amongst you — that, instead of seeing people coming hero and going away from these districts daunted an.l alarmed, wo shall have security that wo shall possess tho advantage of perminont settlement confeired upon na by this groat undertaking. (Cheers.) And is it not a.i in all otliei countries wherever opportunities for *»pe n dy tians t of goods and merohan lisu ha\c been given to the people, that it Ins moio than anything tlso attached them to thur own country ; many of the American S*atc-. i.iv.- now dependent for means and opporUi ntj of reaching the seapoit towns upon tho ia lways that ha\c been conducted throughout that counti y ; and look what theso things— tins machinery of railways have done for England, and f.-r Ireland, and for *Votland. Tha ben.-ii's and advantages which wuh wo Wt heliin I, why should we not oii]oy lure? and tho results which have been seen to il >w from them tin it 1 , why should thoy not flow to us hero ? ShouM wo wait for centuries to capy tho example of our fathers at lnme ? >o gentlemou ; tin re is a desire, and I am proud of it as a colonist, to emulate the ho'i.e country iu OAriymj limuu iiately aloiit." with us haul-iu-hiud the gr.-at civilising powers that wo ha\e left behind in Li>i»k at our c > | ony now ! — from end to eudalun>i>L aptjruac5iable in minutia of time bv thr telegiaph wire . liv ihu telegraph wires we are brought int » cooim'inic itnui with each Qther from the o io end ot the colony, and 1 liopo sh'itly to other end of it. We iiaviiho '■toini is ta,iiiiu n ' aluiig oiircoi^ts. 1 mi old enough a S'tr'er to noolloct, that wi.t ■ t .o li sL «t iiuer was establish) d Oil chr \\ k -<t Coast ih l wm h, hcmtaUun on the piifc "f • i "t (h-oll settler-t of AnckHnd tobeli^vo in it oi in tho advantages of it. But, g i.tltm'ii. 1 >ok what has grown out of it. Alon^ the coasts the settlors aie beoon in ; acjustomed to tho benefits of it, and 1 say that auy Government that would

a l tem;>t to 0 t jii\e tlit scat tercel settlptronts of tlii"i c'D'intry of fiat a 'vantage, would uiett wit'i a. vc.y borry account of thenvlvca at the next gen< ral lection. We imiit keep pace with onr people at borne ; we mimt bring to our own rigors the advantages wluc'j tiny mu n.j')}int,' ii we hope that tho peop'c of KiijLui I w ill come out ami t.iLe up their ahode ain<iii>£ us. \V« wint 1 tiIh-tj a, wa want telcpaph commuiCiti>n, Wij wibli to point t» our coastal steamboat amices, up want education, and all thus) otlior adrant v^e^to be abfe to shew to tl < m t! af t'ine .u <> I.cie befor- them intelligent and thoughtful men place I over the .iflms of this onntrv. Gentlemen, I sh i'l my no morn to you, but I can tell you I tint win n I lirst visited tins dt-ttiLt, thirteen years ajjo, to attf nd a great meeting of the Maon inlmhitxntii on tho flit opposite, I little thought that within such a brief spice of time I should bo exiled upm to take part in fur great work which wo nre about to comraeuce this day. I need not aiy any more to you, for you are not ignorant of i the ad vantages of this work. Gcnci aland Provincial Government* are weak without tho co-oparation and the assistance of the people, and we trust to yon for that co-operation and assistance When I Ray thus much, I would wish to be permitted to say something to the representatives of the Maori people who are here now. I see my old friend, one of tho most loyal chiefs in New Zealand here, Mr. William Birton. Ho has, throughoat the difficulties and troubles that have overtaken us in this country, maintained his loyal allegiance aud faithful s rvicos to her Majesty the Queen. I a»k you, gentlemen, to a!l»w me to address theso Maori people now, and through them, to aldriss the Maori inhabitants who have been for a long tirre our neighbours in tho upppr districts as well, and I would ask my fr e id Mr. Mackuy to interpret what I say to them. I was glad to find on eominff up here to-day, that there were a Dumber of my old M*on friends to bid mo welcome. I did not acjept that welcome merely for myself. I d>-siied that it {should he given not to me and my friends only, but to the work which we are about to commence to-day. I say then to the chiefs h«- re present, — Salut itioris to you ; greetings to you ; congratulations to y >u, up >n the commencement of this cre.it work. We ara about to fois-ake thn old paths, the narrow hae'es of tWe coun'iy. which existed when the Europeans oaiiio hero Wo aro about to abandon thesa old war paths and war tracks for the patha of pea;o, anil of commerce, and of usefulness. Fooh?hn»ss was at the bottom of the ptoaeedings of the Maorm as well as of the Europeans in tho old times ; but now, wisdom is devisiiig wava of ph.ismtne's and path? of peace for us a 1, vkich we may enjoy as good neighbours, confeirijw mutual advances upon you .is well an upou your European ucjlil oars. I trust no MaOti in, tho country will consider that iu undertaking aad carrying out tho a e works, there u any other motive ae'liating the Europeans than that of peace, aud a dcsuM for a reconciliation with you (Given ) Why should there b« any linking of suspicion in the mind of any Maon, from lie who is cilled the King do-vnwirds, with regard to tlw so movornauts? Wbvshoull thi-y onsider tl afc wu intend, evil touaids th"m 1 y bpngin^ to their doors the means of conveying the prad-ice of their labour ai.tl industry to the mnt-kttt to«ns? lla^o not your old in™ who have passed awaj l.iiriic testimony to our good -a ill towards you? Have wo not expresbed our sympathy when such mon a* old Wereroa, of Wangaroi, in tho North, died? I wai present myself on the occasion when all tho Europom settlers in tho country who hhd b<**n f:ieiHly with him, assembled at bis buri il. And then we bad Tauikti Waka X( ne. Go to tho Bay of Islands, and you will S8o there a beautiful monument erected l«y command of her Majesty the Queen, »nd oi: her Governor, uncovered by Sir Georg© Bowen before ho left, indicating their good will towards him, aud in commomoration of the services which he had rendered to the Europeans And then we had Patcono, his brother, whoso death was also recently commemorated by the Government and a monument erected to his memory indicatire of ou* great respect for him »lso. Then wo come' up to your own diitricfc, and we can point you from this spot to the tomb erected to tHg great Potatau— the man who was first ole<Jtod by the Maoris here to be their king— tho greatest chief here, regarded by the Europeans and our Governor of the day as the friend of tho Europeans ; and we showed to the Maori people that we were well disposed towards him too. We can point to these things as evidetioe of our good will towards you. We have received great friendship from those old chiefs, and good service done by them, which the Queen of England has appreciate, and which v,o, as your immediate neighbours, must have appreciated, aud do &o still thoroughly recognise. And the work which wo are about to commence to day is another proof of our desiro to allow you and to afford you the opportunities of paiticipiting with us in thoso great advantages which we desire for ourselves. If we did not think eo — if we did not heartily believe that advantages would thus bo conferred upon you as well as upon us—if my friends here, members of the Government of Auckland, considered that they were about to take part in anything; that would lead to a breach of the pe.ice of tho country, and to cause disturbance .amougBt us, we should not be here to-day. (Hoar, hear.) An I in undertaking my share of it her?, I wish the whol6 of the Maoris to understand that I believe in my heart that I am about taking part in that which will confer a lasting advantage upon you and your childien and your children's children. (Cheers ) And, gontlemon, Eur ropeans and Natives, I shall now proceed, in the name of the Queen, to turn the first sod of the Waikato railway, and I ask you to unite with me in domg this work, to say with me, that, in the name of her Majesty, we will commence th'B work, aud as soon as 1 have done my share in it, I shall then ask you to give three hearty cheers for the Queen, and thieo heaity cheers for the prosperity of tho Waikato, and for the prosperity of tl.o colony. (Cheers.) His Honor then turned the sod, on which had been placed a rose, shamiock, and thistle, performing the ceremony in a very workmanlike manner. — At tho conclusion three cheers were given for the Queen, three for success to the Wa'kato, three for the Governor, the Superintendent, Dr. Pollen, and Mr. Mtckay. Tho tcnt« were then resorted to and the contents discussed. Rain came very shortly, and interfered with out. door amusements. The D.'lta Hutel was the scene of considerable animation in the evening. His Honor the S ipenntendenfc and party started from Ngaruawahia at half-past six o'clock in the morning, aud arrived in town at eight in the evening.