BED LETTER DAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10392, 9 May 1927, Page 11 (Supplement)

BED LETTER DAY.

OPENING SECTION OF MO TU RAILWAY. GREAT PICNIC AT PARK IN 1902 (Written for the Weekly Press by the late Capt. Ferris in 1903). There is in Scripture a striding parable, whose subject, an importunate widow, might be likened to this East Coast district. It- was by constant unwearying agitation-that she at last secured attention to her cries and the granting of her requests, and that, shortly, is the history of the railway movement in this district, which has brought about the gratifying event that was celebrated on June 26.tli —the opening of the first section of the Gishornc-Motu line. Agitate! Agitate! Agitato! was laid down as the lines upon which the district should proceed in order to get a railway, and persistent agitation has had 1 its result. In the settlement of a young country like New Zealand the first neeess’ties of the pioneers, after the davs of pack tracks are past, are good dray roads and bridges. Roads of a kind have been enjoyed by Poverty Bay settlers fwor many years within' a limited radius*, but the increasing population, wealth, and importance of the East Coast demanded something better than .jibs. It- began some years ago to be felt that tbs. district was entitled to have its resources opened up liy a railway line, the''inauguration of which crowning means of transit had been attended with such favorable and profitable results in the earlier colonised provinces of our Britain of the South. The. great possibilities of the. fine, country to' the north-west were -be-' ginning tobe ’.dimly realised..; ~ - The roads/construeted in', .tlm interior., with .the -means available to local bodies Y could 'be''*at I'tbo,. best.. summer /roads, and :rich districts - like the Mbtu-and Tinirptd. ha vc’.becn ']iractic-: mllvl'isblated from Cisborue -in/’tbe’ !- i tritic&r ::, seasoii^; i ; r The :r hardshfps‘' , of i iiie'

settlers appealed to the people of Gisborne, who, seeing the -futility of waiting for metalled roads, determined that a railway would be the only means /of opening up the interior. Another factor in the commencement of the movement was that in addition to the natural produce ol the land for which facilities were required to bring it to market, there was- being ruthlessly destroyed m these hack districts thousands of acres of splendid bush, the timber of which was one of our most valuable assets. : Want of facilities for dealing with the fallen hush prevented it being turned to profitable account. Year by year fine timber was wasted through the need of a railway to carry the fallen monarchs of the backwood- hills and dells toR the keen knives of busy sawmills. PROTEST AGAINST NEGLECT, The Government policy of tbe early clays was characterised by neglect, and “The Neglected East Coast,’’ in the first years of the agitation for better communication with other centres, was a stock phase and head line for this portion of the colony. The cramping effect of isolation was bitterly, experienced -by tbe compressed heart and limbs of the district, but as a sense of the hardships of their neglected condition becarhe implanted in the minds of the leading settlers, there arose a natural desire for the betterment of this state of affairs. The present is an age oi specialisation, and there was one gentleman living forty . miles from Gisborne in the region of Tiniroto, who was a specialist calculated to fix the attention of the entire East Coast on his teachings. Ho had made a study of the question of “railwaying”—«-o use his favorite coined vc-rb—this portion of the colony from Napier to Opatiki; and was an ardent believer in its practicability and desirableness. From his previous experience in India, lie was entitled to give a trustworthy opinion, and’ so persistent have been his efforts to advance the cause cf the neglected East Coast in this direction, that he will go down in the history of the district as “The Father of the Railway. - ’ It is unnecessary to give the name of th’s respected gentleman. Mr. David Whyte, to those who have, any knowledge of the course of the railway in tins district. In the great demonstration on opening, the leader of the movement was not forgotten. Uanv there have been who, Ir- voce and nan. hove urged the claTiis of the district to railway communion tiou, hut none so consistently and steadfastly as 'no. In a speech delivevod n c Gi"borne <»n October 27th, 1896, AH Why+o said that before coming'to New Zealand in 1884. he lied studied all he could read about the Poverty Bay dist: ict, wli’ch he found lav on the northern border of the northern belt of gales, and on on the southern border of the tropical rains, and concluded that Gisborne

would have the best climate of any part cf New Zealand, and ho had that opinion still, lie had no hesitation in saying that were this railway constructed, the country through which it travelled would soon have its hills dotted with the residences of the better-to-do people and oil those in pursuit of health. His first impressions of a ra'hvay in tin’s district were obtained in 1835, when on the hill above Gray’s cutting. The scene that there met hs eye was one of exquisite and poetic grandeur, and he turned and rom-’rk-xl to a Iricncl who was with him. “AYhy is this beautiful district not traversed hv a railway?’’ That impression had stuck to in’s mind, and it had grown into a conviction, cf which his present scheme was the outcome. Although Mr. Whyte’s comprehensive scheme of a railway from Napier to Opotiki is yet in the future, still with that faith in the railway which he urged at the meet'ng, it is the hope of those interested in the welfare of the district to see the line so extended that the whole length and breadth of the East. Coast will be tapped by it.

FIRST 'SURVEY. The first survey for a line was undertaken in 1885. Mr. AA’hyte, writing to the local paper on April 29th, 1897, stated: “I have fought singlehanded for eleven years for this railway, for in 1885 I wrote to the Government and the late Mr. Locke (the then member for this electorate) about it). Mr. Locke took up'tile matter, as he did every good scheme in the interest of the electorate. ’The result of that was that the Government sent a Mr. Knorp to ins,in 3 the country, and if he had been instructed to give the most damaging report he could give, could not have given a worse report cf the route and

the district. Tie chose the most impracticable line he could, and ] have no hesitation in saying that a more diabolical outrage on this- lair district could not have been perpetrated. That report has been proved to bo untrue in many instances, for he describes Mr. Donner’s ground as light and sandy—the very ground the Government lias purchased for settlement. He valued the cost of the t,ailivay at £II.OOO per mile, hut the enclosed letter will show you that the line can he made for hundreds less per mile than he quoted thousands."

LIGHT RAILWAY. Despite Mr. Whyte addressing 'he meeting at Gisborne in the faUti part of 1896, and early in 1897, ;u Wairoa, public interest was not attained on the question. A new direction was given the movement hy t:.o result of a vis’t paid by Mr. Sed'i.m to Tasmania in March, 13D7. The local press took tne matter up, ;u,u pointed to the suitability of Poverty Bay district for a light ra;hv<.«' periment. The publication of the Premier’s opinion was the means of producing Mr. Carroll’s mcmcranaum. Tlif.s document gave 'definite shape to the somewhat nebulous railway proposals previously mooted. The member for Waiapu .stated that “he Premier having laid erect stress on the economy. and efficiency of light railways and their .applicability to New -Zealand, be believed the time opportune to urge that the district of the Hast Const should he at length unsealed and opened up for settlement and travel. Two rn'’ways were indicated bv Mr. Carrol!—Nnnier-Wairon-G.ishorue and Gisborno-Roto-rua’. “The time lias now arrived,” said the Native Minister, “when the demands so reasonnbK* made by my constituents must be "ni>l v consider-, ed on their merits, and the question

of uniting Gisborne with Napier, and Gisborne with Auckland. ?s well as the open in 7 of the intervening country, lie brought within the sphere of practical politics.” This pronouncement .cf Mr. Carroll’s gave a great fillip to the movement, and tiro County Council and Chamber of Commerce resolved that a public meeting should he called to give effect to the proposals contained in the memorandum. Air. AA’hyte. writing the day prior to the meeting, said: "it is curious that light railways have been in existence since 1870, and it is only now (thiough Mr. Sodden having had a visit to Tasmania in connection with public business) that light railways have come under the notice of the Government and the public here.” EAST COAST RAILWAY LEAGUE. ' After considerable agitation in the columns of the local press, a meeting of persons interested in giving effect to the proposals contained in the Hon. Jas. Carroll’s memorandum was held on April 30th, 1897, Mr. Jas. Macfarlane, County Chairman, presiding. The chairman said it seemed to him that the proposal of the Hon. Mr. Carroll was within reasonable distance of being carried out, and he urged the meeting to form a Railway League to support it. Mr. AVhyte,” who was -present, said lie had now no doubt of the s ncerity of the people in the district in regard to the " scheme, New Zealand railways had cost £5090 a mile, but a lignt line could bo easily made to serve the district for not more than £100; a mile. On the motion of Mr. DeLautour the meeting resolved that the time had come for the formation of a railway league, consisting of the following: Messrs. O. Gray, A. Fordo Matthews, C. A. Derau.tour, J T own ley (Mayor of Gisborne), D . Whyte,* AY. L. Roes, J. Macfarlane,

F. J. Shelton, J. Whinray, W. H. Tucker, J. W. Bright, W. Sievwright, Monj J. Carroll, A. P. Kennedy, W. F. Crawford, G. Humphreys, Captain Winter, Wi Pere and W. D. Lysnar. Mr. Rees, in seconding the motion, said: “The necessity for markets and the necessity tor connection with them was perfectly clear to every man, and if they now. alter th 6 long years of isolation they endured in this place, failed to seize the opportunity and accept the friendship offered to them, they were courting disaster. They asked for no gift, no favor, but should c aim ns their right that this district, in return for the enormous sums it has paid into the revenue, shall have sufficient expended on it.” An executive committee of seven of the first committee elected were apuointed'to carry out the work of the league. Mr. Jas. Macfarlane was elected president, and Messrs. Shelton and Bright secretaries. The object of the league, as set forth, was the obtaining of ?. railway to.connect Gisborne with Auckland and Napier, and the dut’es of the committee were to collect all information and to assist in every way the furtherance of this obiect.

PROGRESS GF THE AGITATION. Although the member for the district and the Premier had expressed thmr.selves favorably as to a light railway for Gisborne, the league on its formation had all their work before them. Tiiov had to convince the seven tv odd members of the House of 'its desirability and endavor to get a vote on the Estimates f-’r the lir'o From the commencement the league’s work was taken in hand earnest’y by the committee of representative settlers appointed, meetings being held monthly. On August oth. 1889, the Hon. Mm Cart'oll attended the league, and by resolution he was reques-

ted to “urge on the Government the necessity of immediately starting surveys in this district for the purpose of opening up this district by raili ways, and that Mr. Carroll be requested to advise the executive when such survey will be started.” Mr. Carroll, in reply, said he had receivj ed many reminders about the railway. * lie would push tiie matter along as fast, as he possibly could, but his i:o----j sit-ion as a single member o’ the Min- | istrv did not permit him to give an ‘ absolute statement of what was ini' tended to bo done. | Persistency was rewarded at last | by the Government sending Mr. Jas. ■ Stewart, of. 'Auckland, to ascertain ! the practicability of constructing a j line from Gisborne to Rotorua. Mr. I Stewart, who ably carried out his work, mapped out two routes, one via j Urewera country and the other via Opotiki, and recommended the latter, stating that it presented no engin- * eering difficulties whatever. The report gave strength to the local agitation, in response to which the Government decided to ask Parliament for a graut of £2OOO tor the commencement of the line, and in response to Napier and AVairoa rep re- - sentations they also authorised the prosecution of a survey from Napier towards Gisborne, which was carried j out by Mr. Hay as far as Te Reinga j and has yet to be completed. ; GISBORNE-KARAKA LINE. * There was no move of the league until September 7th, IS9S, when a meeting was called for the purpose of considering the sum placed on the Estimates by Parliament- that session for the proposed Gisborne-Karaka line (£2000), which the president eon--1 sidered too small for the purpose, i Mr. Carroll had sent a letter, stating that the particular sum yet fixed was not so much the question as the an-

thorisation of the Gisborne-Ivnraka line. The Government was genuinely in earnest in the matter, and were proceeding in what they considered the hast possible way to scure best results. Mr. DeLautour, as one of a deputation which went to Wellington last year, explained that the sum mentions J would be.all that was required for the purpose to the end of the financial year. On his proposition, a resolution was carried that the league should not express an opinion on the railway proposals before Parliament, and that the interests of the district would he fully protected by its member. TURNING OF THE SOD. On January 14th, 1900, the ceremony of turning the first sod was performed by the Hon. J. G. Ward, Minister of Railways, who was accompanied by the Minister of Public Works; the Hon. W. Hall-Jones. The ceremony was performed in a blinding shower of rain. A public meeting was held in the evening, and congratulatory speeches were delivered. Amongst the messages received during the day from the outside centres was one from the Premier, Mr. Seddon, which gave the emphatic assurance that once the work was commenced “Jhe grass would not be allowed to grow on the line.” According to Ministerial promise, a start was at once made; and though there has been much chafing at the delay in bringing it to the present stage, fair progress has been made considering the limited grants placed at the disposal of the pun.’ic works officers by Parliament. The officers responsible for xhe construction of the line have been Mr. .J. Stewart, who made the detailed survey, and superintended a great deal of the initial work, but who, on ac-

count of failing health, was unable to see the job through, as he would have liked; Air. Jeffs, who succeeded him ; and Air. C. E. Armstrong, engineers in charge; with Air. .Marshall, an able first assistant, who has carefully carried out details from the commencement of operations. OPENING OF THE RAILWAY. Gisborne probably held the unique distinction on June 26, 1802, of being the one place in the British Empire where demonstrations were being held. Arrangements had been made for a dual celebration in connection with Coronation Day, and the opening of the railway; and when news came of the King’s illness it was felt that, however inaprpopriate it must seem, the demonstration in connection with the latter purpose must proceed. The railway must he opened. Tim time-table was advertised, and the line would commence business next day. It was a great event in the history of the place, and must be fittingly commemorated. So it was ordered that the town decorations should stand; that the procession should be held, and that in a subdued manner, denoting the public- concern at His Majesty’s state of health, the celebrations should proceed.

Glorious weather favored the event and the town, which had been splendidly decorated with festoons of flags along the streets, and with splendid arches, looked gayer than ever it had been before. A procession was formed in front of the. new Post- Office, and troops, friendly societies, school children, and city bands inarched through the town to the railway station. where, upon a dais specially erected and decorated with evergreens, congratulatory speeches were made. The Hon. J. -Corroll was presented by the Mayor (Mr. J. Townley!. on behalf of the citizens, with a handsome gold key, with which to open the station; and this being done, the Ministerial and Mayoral party proceeded to the platform, where the long train, with engines back and front, both decorated, the carriages being crowded with school children, waited the signal to start. A silken ribbon, in national colors, was held across the line by Mi’s. Townlev (the Mayoress) end Mrs. Carroll (wife o'" the A’at’ve Minister!, and at a signal from Air Horace Baxter (the district manager) the en-

gines screeched their whistles, and, panting desperately, drew their heavy load out of the station, amidst the cheers from several thousand throats, the waving of flags by the happy children aboard the ears, and the loud explosion of detonators placed on the line. All day long the trains were busy limning to and from the Gisborne Park, 2j miles distant, where a monster al fresco picnic was held, and it is estimated that over 4000 people were carried, amongst, them being not a few, even of adults, who had never travelled in a train before. The day proved thoroughly enjoyable, and the. weather held fimnntil the last load was brought back from:the Park in the afternoon. wEe.n- ; ; . the rain came down in torrents, and somewhat spoiled the night- proceedings,' consisting,of fireworks ana i’-la-minations. So; ended a red-letter-day for Gisborne, . q V “ - length" for traffic waß-orily IG milia*.