THE MAIN TRUNK.

Evening Star, Issue 13102, 7 November 1908, Page 11

THE MAIN TRUNK.

BANQUET AT AUCKLAND. The Main Trunk special trains arrived at' Auckland two hours behind scheduled time, in consequence of the engine of (he first train running off the rails shortly .after-leaving' Taumarunui. About ISO persons were present at the banquet last evening, the. Mayor (Mr A. M. Meyers) presiding. The guests included the Prime Minister, the Minister of Railways, and the Minister of Education. Sir Joseph Ward, responding to the toast of the Legislature, commented op the fact that the commercial representatives of the two great cities of the North Island were meeting to celebrate their connection by railway, the greatest Public Works undertaking in the history of New Zealand. -He referred to the troubles with the Maoris in the early days, aud to the work of the late -Mr John Bryce and the leie Mr John Ballauce in settling them. Prom Marton to Te Awamutu the line had cost £265,000, and the whole line - to Auckland could not have cost under five millions, and considering that the population of this country' was still under a million, and considering that the railway vote did not exceed a million n year, and for a long timewas not over £700.000, it was not to be wondered at that the Main Trunk line had taken a long time to complete. But still, for a country like this, with such a comparatively small population, the railways made were really a wonderful achievement. He wished thj new railway the greatest success, -and looked forward to the happiest results end the' greatest commercial development and progress from the linking of the two cities. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones contended that nothing had been charged to capital account that should b* charged to revenue, but o‘4 the contrary items hnd been charged to re. venue that should have been charged to capital. He contrasted the Australian and ■English railway rales with the -Now Zealand rales, and contended that our linos Were lha cheapest. The 3 per cent, basis was a fair one and a right one while the country was in process of development. Ho stated that he would do his utmost as High Commissioner in London to assist the great work of Empire-building so well carried on by this small Dominion. The proceedings concluded at half-post eleven, and the Wellington party joined the special train for the return journey.