FULL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4872, 23 March 1887, Page 3

FULL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS.

Woodville, Last night. ,By the train to-day it was estimated that 2000 persons travelled, and consequently it may well be imagined that the streets -were very crowded. The lunch was held in the drill-shed, and some 200 people sat down to a teetotal repast. On the platform were Messrs Smith (in the chair), Beetham, Sutton, T. Sidoy, Margoliouth, Graham, Swan, West, M*'Cardlc, Carlile, Howlott, and others : the Minister for Public Works being on the chairman's right, and Mr Bcctham on his left. Letters and telegrams of apology were received and read for nonattendance from his Excellency, Sir Julius Vogel, The Premier, the Hons. Ballance, Reynolds, and Lamach. Mr Orinoud was only prevented from attending by severe indisposition, and Oiipt. Russell (who was suffering from a cold) could not secure a scat, and regretfully remained behind. The Chairman suggested that the speeches should be brief, as a number of the visitors desired to see the district and were returning by 1 train. He proposed the toast of "The Queen and Royal Family." The Garrison Band played a few bars of " God Save the Queen." Mr C. Hall, chairman of the reception committee, proposed "The Government." He wished to hear the member of the Ministry and the gentleman they had the' pleasure of welcoming from England. He was glad so many were present so that they could see what bush peoplo were like. They had brought the people to show them that in the bush people were decently clothed, and lived on something else than wild pigs and Maori cabbage. They had asked the Minister to plant a tree, and a young lady had suggested that it would be very nice if the visitors could have been prevailed on to fall three trees. Now, apart from seeing gentlemen in their shirtsleeves falling trees it would have given them an experience of what work was like, and shown them how profitable it was to fell trees at thirty shillings an acre. The Government did not need to have their sympathies moved for the people who had been locked up without communication with the outer world. Mr Richardson, responding , to the toast of " the Government " said: —" Ladies and Gentlemen —In the first place I wish to tell you how much the Premier regrets that lie was not able to fulfil his promise and come here to-day. Up to the last minute on Saturday he thought ho would get here, and he asked mo if his business kept him in Wellington to apologise for him. You have heard from the chairman the messages that have been sent from my colleagues, and I can only say with regard to the four, that nothing would have given them greater pleasure than to have witnessed the scene I have witnessed to-day. Following my friend Mr Hall, who has made I think a somewhat humorous speech in proposing the toast, I feel sumewhat at a loss, becavise that is certainly not in my lino. Sly friend talks of cutting trees down. I have cut trees down and done work of the same sort, and I am proud I have done so. What I mean to say is this, that I have seen not only the struggles of settlers in this district but in other colonies. I feel _ I can say without the slightest hesitation, those who have had the pluck and the bone and the sinew to bo able to go through the work which pertains to clearing such land as you have about you, arc bound in the end to be handsomely rewarded. I do not myself know any district where the land generally is so good in quality as it i 3 round about tliis place, and in the natural course of events if the settlers persevere they must be amply rewarded in the end for all their trouble. The immediate object of my visit to-day is one which has given me great pleasure. The Government are compelled to construct their railways in small sections, and the opening of them has not been attended by such ceremonies as this. The opening of this railway has been looked forward to for such a length of time that I am glad to be able to congratulate the people on the opening and completion of the line as consummated. I think that the evidence we have had of that enormous train of people coming here from such a distance was sufficient evidence that the whole community of Hawko's Bay looked upon this event as one of the greatest importance to the whole district. I have been told that you have been looking for this line nine years. One of the first actions of this Government was to put this line under construction and no time has been lost in the construction and completion of the line, and I only hope myself that wo may be able to make Parliament see their way for funds being provided to complete the whole of this system, by joining the Woodville line with Masterton and the section right through to Palmerston. I thank you for the cordial reception you have given me here to-day." Mr Sowry proposed "The Members oi the House of Representatives," and he had a grievance to bring before them. All present took a great interest in the members especially at certain seasons of the year. He was glad they had some members present so as he could state to them a grievance. They used to find the roads long when it took four days to go to Napier, and when they had to live in log whares. When they got bridges they thought they got freedom, but now they had got tolls, and those were a very serious grievance. At present they could not got from here without going through two, and there would shortly be four in as many miles. _As chairman of the Town Board he wished to bring the question before the members of the House of Representatives. Mr Bcethain responded. He regretted the absence of the members for" Hawke's Bay through indisposition. It was their misfortune they were not present, and they would quite realise that Captain Russoll had no chance to get into the train owing to the favor with which Woodville was regarded by the people of Hawke's Bay who had crowded the train. It was a pleasure for a representative to meet his fellow colonists to mark an important step in the history of the colony—the extension of railway communication throughout Now Zealand. It might bo considered ho was an outsider representing the other sido of the river. "Oceans part not kindred souls'' should.

not be forgotten. The river did not part his interest iv the district at all. lie had

been called upon that day to do an act he was never before called upon to do, ho had planted a tree, and he did ho\>e that tree would flourish as lie hoped Woodville would, and that it might be typical of Woodville in its strong and healthy growth. He hoped the time would come when it would be a strong and sturdy tree, able to stand the storms of adversity as he knew the district would. Ho had seen Woodville grow from its infancy. His first impressions were not satisfactory. Ho had no impression iv those days that the men could bu found to hew down tho wilderness and make it flourish as it at present did. He knew what it was to fell a tree and wh-it it was to work, but in no other districts but tho Woodvillo and Wairarapa had such a disposition boon shown, and ho was proud to think what the future of New Zealand would be in the hands of

Mich men. No one regretted the establishment of tolla more than he did, but lie must point out with respect to a toll through the Gorge-road, the settlers of Woodville and the settlers of Palmeraton should take the matter in hand, and keep the road open and abolish the toll. If they did that tho grievanco -would be removed. It was not a popular thing , to point out, but it must bo understood and acknowledged that tho Wairarapa North County could not be expected to maintain a road in which they had no interest; though the road for a short distance passed through its boundaries. They would gladly see tho !oil abolished but the road had to be kept in repair, and it would not be fair to tax a distant community for keeping a road open in which they had no interest. Before sitting down he would congratulate the people of Woodville on the energy and perseverance they had shown. Tho great train which had come in that day would not have been required if "Woodville had not had a great name in the Na2>ior district. That was the reason why so many had come that day. What had been shown them he hoped would lead to an increase of population of the right sort of men. He hoped to assist the district still more by seeing the line through tho gorge completed, and tho lino joined to the Wairarapa one. There should be no rivalry between distriots l and if the colony was to succeed they must work hand ill hand for the common good. He would always do so. Mr Smith responded. He had pleasure in supplementing Mr Beothain's remarks. It was unfortunate on this auspicious occasion thiit the Ilawkc's Bay members should be indisposed. He congratulated tho whole of tho people of Tlawko' s Bay on tho opening of the line to Woodville There was nothing could affect it like the opening of the like, because it brought them close to every part of the colony, and they would be connected with two large ports of the colony. Eleven years ago it used to take three days for a Napier newspaper to reach Woodville, while now the evening journals were received the same night as issued. Eleven years ago Hastings was further from Napier than Woodville now was. The line had been finished in good time, and had been opened within one month of contract time, which could bo said of no other railway in the colony. Woodville would be the junction of three systems of railways, and it woidd be for the advantage of the place. There would be an increase in traffic and there would be an increase hi population. Nothing could bo worse for the colony than Ministers stopping at home iv their offices, it was better that they should see things for themselves; a man of his own knowledge would do that which he could not do if he depended on others. The question of tolls had been before the Waipawa County Council and the unanimous opinion was that they should have no tolls. They had got none and they were not likely to have any. The ratepayers were prepared to find the money and keep the roads in repair without tolls. "The Army, Navy, and Volunteers" was proposed, and Captain Moore responded, explaining that the small muster of Volunteers was due to so many of the rank and file being members of tho friendly societies, and marching with those bodies.

" Success to the Napier and Woodvillc railway " was proposed, and Mr M'Cai-dle responded. The railway was one of the most successful in the colonies, and the one opened that day would prove a blessing and a profit to the colony. Mr Hutchins 2>roposed " The Eiigineei's." Ho was pleased to see the line opened as he was one of the oldest settlers in the district. Ho was the first married man that had settled on the north side of Wocdville,therefore he lcnew something of the necessity of a railway. When he first came to the district all the paddock he had was the long paddock. Mr J. T. Stewart responded. Twentyeight years ago when he first saw the district it was all Maori country, without roads and bridges, and now there were roads in all directions.

Mr Nicholson proposed "The Contracts."

Mr Sidey responded. The work bore evidence of how the contract had been carried out, and would be a credit to them.

Mr Carlile proposed " The Visiting Local Bodies." He noticed by the papers that on the 22nd March at Berlin the celebration of the ninetieth birday of the German Emperor was causing a greater demonstration. They could not come up to the eighty-fire crowned heads, but when they considered their functions were to levy taxes and work toll-gates, they had a great many gentlemen in their own midst endowed with those functions. Long life to them, and might they all reach their ninetieth birthday. The distinguished people in Berlin who proposed toasts had difficulties whom to couple with their toasts, but he could couple the names of the Mayors of Napier and Palmcrston with the toast.

Mr Swan responded. He thankod them for tho way they had drunk the health of tho Coq:»oration and citizens of Napier. He trusted nothing would ever intervene to mar the good feeling and good fellowship in the trade that had subsisted between Woodvillc and Napier. The line opened would tend to the advancement of Woodville and Napier, both socially and commercially. Mr West, Mayor of Palmerston, also responded. Mr Howard Spcnseley responded for the visitors.

A number of other formal toasts wore proposed and responded to, and. the proceedings terminated, after wliich many of the visitors returned to town by the train.

People in general give a sigh of satisfaction now that the five days' race holidays are over and business affairs are back into their original groove. Neal and Close are showing a choice assortment of new dress materials and silk plush, striped and fancy velvets, braded trimminsrs, and buttons to match. Inspection invited.