RED LETTER DAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 11 (Supplement)

RED LETTER DAY.

OPENING OF FIRST 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 lias brought about tlie gratifying event that was celebrated on June 26tli—the opening of the first section of the Gishorne-Motu line. Agitate! Agitate! Agitate! was laid down as the lines upon which the district should proceed in order to geta railwuv, and persistent agitation has lincl its result. In the settlement of a young country like New Zealand the first liecess’ties of the pioneers, after tlie davs of pack tracks are past, are good dray roads and bridges. Roads of a kind have been enjoyed by Poverty Bav settlers fwor many years within a limited radius-, hut the increasing population, wealth, and importance of the East Coast demanded something better than this. It began some years ago to he felt that the district was entitled to have its resources opened up by a railway line, tlie 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 nortli-west were beginning to be dimly realised. The roads constructed in the ’ interior, with the means-available to local bodies.' could 'he at the best , summer roads, and rich districts' like the Motu and Tiniroto have been practically 'isolated from Gisborne'- in the I winter'seasons. ; The hardships of the

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 those back districts thousands of acres of splendid hush, the timber of which was one o: our most valuableassets. AYnnt of facilities for dealing with the fallen bush prevented it being turned to profitable account. Y’ear by year fine timber was wasted through the need of a railway to carry the fallen monarchs of the backwood hills and dells to the keen knives of busy sawmills.

PROTEST AGAINST NEGLECT.

The Government policy of tlie early days was characterised by neglect, and “The Neglected East Coast,” in the first years of tlie agitation for better communication witti other centres, was a stock phase and head line for this portion of the colony. The cramping effect of isolation was bitterly experienced by the compressed heart and l inos of the district, but as a sense of the hardships of their neglected condition became implanted in the minds of tlie leading settlers, there arose a natural desire for the betterment of this state of affairs. The present is an age 01 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. He hail made a study of the question of “railwaying” —.o use his favorite coined vc-rh—-this portion of the colony from Napier to Oputiki, and was an ardent believer in its practicability and desirableness. From his previous experience in India, he was entitled to give a trustworthy opinion, and 1 so persistent have "been Ids efforts to advance the cause of the neglected East Coast in this direction, that he will go down in tlie history of the district as '’The Father cf the Railway."’

It is unnecessary to give the name of tlr’s respected gentleman. Mr. David AYhvte. to ill esq who have any knowledge of the comae of the railway a/.'tH t"i in tins d'strict. In the great demonstration on opening, the loader of the! nwement was not forgotten. Alnnv there have been who, b*" v-ruv and nan. In’Ve vged the claTns of tlie district to railway communication, but none so consistently and .steadfastly as he. Tll a speech d« liv'wa-i ■> c GjiUorne on October 27th, 1896, M’" . AY by r a said that before earning to New Zealand in 188-1. he had studi-d all be cynld rend about the Poverty Bav disfriit, wlrch he found lav on the northern border of the northern holt of gales, and on on the southern horde’" of the tropical rains, and concluded that Gisborne

would have tli.' host climate of any part of New Zealand, and lie line! that opinion still, lie lied no hesitation in saving that were this railway constructed, the country through which it travelled would soon have its hills dotted with the residences of tiie better-to-do people and of those in pursuit of health. His first- -impressions of a ra lway in tin’s district wore obtained in 1835, when on the hill above Gray’s cutting. The scene that there met lis eye was one of exquisite and poetic grandeur,, and lie turned and to a friend who was with him. “V.’liy is this beautiful district not traversed by a railway?” That impression had stuck to his mind, and ii 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 meeting, it is the Joopo 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 1883. Air. W byte, wr-t----incr to the local paper on April 29th, 1597, stated: “I have fought singlehanded for eleven years for this railway. for in ISBS I wrote to the Government and the late Air. Locke (the then member for this electorate) about it). Air. Locke took up tiie matter, as he did cfery good scheme in the interest of the electorate. I he result cf that was that the Go'-env meiit- sent a Air. Ivnorp to insp.\ j the country, and if he had been instructed to give tho most damaging report he could give, could r.ot have given a worse report cf the route and

the district. He chose the most impracticable line he could, and 1 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 he 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 i ndway at £'ll.ooo lier mile, hut the enclosed letter will show you that the line can h e made for hundreds less per mile than lie quoted thousands."

LIGHT RAILWAY.

Despite Mr. Whyte addressing 'he meeting at Gisborne in the laliti part of 1890, and early in 1897, at Wairoa, public interest was not ••nstained on the question. A new direction was given the movement «v m*, result of a vis : t paid by Mr.Jßotbi.ni to Tn smania in March. 1897. The local press took tne matter up, ana pointed to the suitability of Poverty linv district for a light radii..*’ *•*- perimenl. The publication of the Premier’s riiinion was the mean-, o' producing Air. Carroll’s memorandum. This document gave definite shape to the somewhat nob ulcus railway proposals previously ••mooted. The member for W’aiapn .stated ihat “lie Prcnrer having laid street stress on the economy . and efficiency o* light railways and thorn .applicability to New Zealand, lie believed the time opportune to urge that the d.strict of the East •Coast' should he at length unsealed pud open'd up for settlement and travel. Two ra’k.vays were indicated bv Mr. Carrol!—Xnnier-Wairoi-C.'sl'orne and Gisborne-Hoto-vii'i “The time has now arrived,” said tile Native Minister, “'when the demands so reasonable made by my constituents must be ’"nidv eonstderod on their merits, and the question

of uniting G'shorno with Napier, and Gislurae with Auckland, as well as the opening of the intervening country, he brought within the sphere oi practical polit.es. ”

This pronouncement .cf Air. Carroles gave a great fillip to the movement, and the 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. Whyte, writing the day prior to the meeting, said: “it is curious that light railways .have been in existence since 1870, and it :s only new (tin ough Mr. Eaddon having had a visit to Tasmania in connection with public business) that light raihvajs have come under the notice of the Government and the public here.”

EAST COAST RAILWAY LEAGUE

• After considerable ag tation in the columns of the local press, a meeting of persons interested in giving effect to the propose Is contained in the Hon. Jas. Carroll’s memorandum was held on April 30th, 1897, Air. Jas. Alacfarlane, County Chairman, presiding. The chairman said it seemed to him that the proposal of thclion. Air. Carroll was within reasonable distance of being carried out. and he urged the meeting to form a flail wav League to support it. Air. Whyte” who was present, said lie had now no doubt of the s nceritv of the people in the district in rcgaid to the scheme, New Zealand railways had cost £SOOO a mile, but a lignt line could be easily made to serve the district for not more than £10.; a mile. On the motion of Air. DeLautour the meeting resolved that tfie time had come for the formation of a railway league, consisting of the following: Messrs. O. Gray, A. Fordo .Matthews, G. A. L'ejuautour, J Town'ey (Alavor of Gisborne), I>. Whvie * W. L. floes, J. Alacfarlaue,

F. J. Shelton, J. W’hinrav, AY. H. Tucker, J. AY. Bright, AY. Sievwriglit, Hon. J. Carroll, A. F. Kennedy, W. F. Crawford, G. Humphreys, Captain AYinter, Wi Pore 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. after tlis 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 as their right that this district, in return for the enormous sums it lias paid into the revenue, shall have sufficient expended on it.” An executive committee of seven of the first committee elected were appointed* to carry out the work of the league. Air. Jas. Macfnrlnne was elected president, and Messrs. Shelton and Bright secretaries. The object of the league, as set forth, was the obtaining of ?. railway to cuinect Gisborne with Auckland and Napier, and tlm dut'es of the committee were to collect all information and to assist in every way the furtherance of this object.

PROGRESS OF THE AGITATION.

Although the member Mr the district and the Premier hid expressed themselves favorably as to a light railway for Gisborne, the league on its formation had all their work before them. Thev had to convince the seventy odd members of the House of its desiribiiity and eudavor to get a vote on the Estimates for tlm lir-

From the commencement the league’s work was token in hand earnest’y by the committee of representative settlers appointed, meetings being held monthly. On August sth. 1889, the Hon. Mr. CaiToll attended the league, and by resolution he was requos-

ted to “urge on the Government the necessity of immediately starting surveys in tli is district for the purpose of onening up this district by raili ways, and that Air. Carroll be re- ’ quested to advise the executive when swell survey will be started.” Air. Carrjll, in reply, said lie had rceeiv- ( ed many reminders about the railway. ' He would push tho matter along as fast as he possibly could, but his roi sit (on as a single member o' the Alini istry did pot permit him to give an ; absolute s’r.tement of what was inlended to be done.

Persistency was rewarded at last by the Government sending Air. Jas. Stewart, of. Auckland, to asecitain : the practicability of constructing a i line from Gisborne to Rotorua. Air. I Stewart, who ably carried out his work, mapped out two routes, one via j Urcwcra 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 a sir Parliament for a grant of £2CCO for the commencement of the line, and in response to Napier and A\ airoa representations they also authorised the prosecution of‘a survey from Napier towards Gisborne, which was carrien out by Air. Hay as far as Tc Reinga. and has yet to be completed.

GISBORNE-KAIIAKA LINE.

There was no move of the league until September 7tli, 189 S, when a meeting was called for the purpose of considering the sum placed on the Estimates by Parliament that session for the proposed Gisborne-Ivaraka line (£2000), which tine president considered too small for the purpose. Mr. Carroll had sent a letter, stating that the particular sum yet fixed was not so much the question as the au-

ihorisntion of the G’sborne-Karaka line. The Government was genuinely in earnest, in the matter, and were proceeding in what they considered the 1 -st passible way to scure best results. Mr. DeLautour, as one of a tiepuwhich went to AYellington last vc.;:'. explained that the sum mentior.; Iv, .r,!d be,all that was required icr the purpose to the end of the financial year. Cn his preposition, a resolution was carried that the league should not express an opinion on the rail .ray proposals before Parliament. and that the interests of the district would be fully protected by its member.

TURNING OF THE SOI)

On January 14th, 1900, the ceremony of turning the first sod was performed by the Hon. J. G. AYard. Minister of Railways, who was accompanied by the Minister of Public Works; the Hon. AY. Hall-Jonos. 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 public works officers byParliament. The officers responsible for the construction of the line have been Mr. J. Stewart, who made the detailed survey, and superintended a groat deal of the initial work, but who, on ac-

count of failing health, was unable, to see the job - through, as lie* would have liked; Air. Jeffs, who succeeded him ; and Mt. C. Armstrong, engineers in charge: with Air. Marshall, an able first assistant, who lias carefully carried out details from the commencement of operations.

OPENING OF THE RA.ILAYAY.

Gisborne probably held the unique distinction on June 26, 1902. 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 ineprpoprinte it must seem, the demonstration in connection with tlvc latter purpose must proceed. The lailwav must be opened. The time-table was advertised, and the line would commence business next day. It was a great event in r.he history of the place, and must be fittingly commemorated. So it was ordered, that the town decorations should stand; that the procession should he held, and that ill a subdued manner, denoting the public concern at His Majesty’s state oi 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" hands marched through the town to tiie railway station, where, upon a dais specially erected and decorated with evergreens. congratulatory speeches were made. The Hon. J. Carroll was presented by tiie Alavor (Air. J. Townley). on behalf of the citizens, with a handsome gold key, with which _to open the station; and this being done, the Alinisteriai and Mayoral party proceeded to the platform, where the long train, with engines hack and front, both decorated, the carriages being crowded w.th school children, waited the signal to start. A silken ribbon, in national colors, was held across the line by Mrs. Townlev (the Afavoress) mil Airs. Carroll (wife o r the Native Afinistvr). and at a signal from Air H< race Baxter ftho 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 cars, and the loud explosion of detonators placed on the line. All day long the trains were busy running 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 enjovahle, and the weather held fin*until the last load was brought back from the Park in the afternoon, when the rain ramp down in torrents, and somewhat spoiled the night proceedings, consisting of fireworks and i’luminntions. So ended a red-letter day for Gisborne. . ’' •' Tho first, length of railway, ep^r;ed for traffic was only 10 ixuloft.