THE FIRST RAILWAY IN NEW ZEALAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 153, 18 December 1863, Page 2

THE FIRST RAILWAY IN NEW ZEALAND.

OPENING OF THE CHRISTCHURCH AND HEATHCOTE RAILWAY. (Abridged from the Lyttelton Times, Dec. 3.) One of those great events which form an epoch in the history of a people was celebrated ou Tuesday last. An important step in the onward career of Canterbury has been made, the first portion of the first Canterbury Railway has been opened, and the idea of its projector, Mr. Moorhouse, has received its partial realisation. The rest nnist follow. Canterbury has no inclination to pause in its advance, and we have no hesitation in saying the extension of the railway through the length and breadth of the province should be commenced by the time the tunnel is completed. At an early hour the streets of Christchurch presented a gay and animated appearance, 'flags of every description were displayed in all quarters of the town. The road to the railway terminus was thronged by vehicles loaded with passengers and crowds of pedestrians all making their way to the scene of the day’s enjoyment. Arriving there about noon, we found the most numerous assemblage of people ever congregated together at one spot in Canterbury. On the whole it was the most English spectacle that it has been our lot to witness in the province. The booking ofllces, wool-store, engine shed, and other buildings connected with the raihvay, were ornamented with bunting, flowers, and evergreens. Several refreshment booths offered apparently irresistible attractions to thirsty souls, and perambulating orange vendors were plying a profitable trade. There was an extensive demand for ginger beer, and the prices of dyspeptic pastry and sticky confectionery ruled high. On and about the platform promenaded a crowd of elegantly dressed ladies and gentleman, and everybody seemed to be impressed with the necessity of shaking hands with everybody else as frequently as possible, while healthy, happy, smiling faces everywhere met the view. But above all and about all, and through everything and everywhere, circulated dense clouds, or rather waves, of dust, as if the unaccustomed earth stirred up to wrath by the remorseless trampling of thousands of feet, and lashed to fury by a fierce north-wester, had turned again and was working out its vengeance in its own peculiar way. With the assistance of a pretty hot sun, it played strange pranks with the ladies, and discomposed the gen-

tlemcn; it tickled your nose, and njode you sneeze; it powdered you hair and beard j your teeth to an excruciating edge, reduced your eyes to a chronic state of rheum, defiled your pocket handkerchief, and brought you generally to a state of griminess impossible to describe. Apart from the main body of the company were little knots of holiday keepers enjoying dusty rations, bottled porter, and everywhere the expression of contentment, fun, and determination to be jolly, depicted on every countenance, was a sight to see.

Going down the line we found the engine in a state of polished brass and oiliness, and apparently totally indifferent to the excitement which preyaded everything else. We are informed that it is from the workshop of Messrs Slaughter, Gunning and Co., of Bristol, that its power represented about oO horses, that the action was reversible, so as to render turning unnecessary, that its curious inverted conical funnel was constructed so as to catch the sparks as they fly upwards, and that it could draw with ease a weight of 200 tons. The passenger carriages, of which there are four, two first-class and two second-class, are rather comfortably than expensively fitted ; they are built of Australian timber, in a very substantial manner, witli all the latest improvements, and are from the manufactory of W. Williams, Melbourne. Besides these there are about 30 box and ballast waggons. It is expected that the rolling stock already on hand will meet the requirements of all the traffic which will pass over the line ibr some time to come, but another engine is on its way from England, and other stock will be procured as soon as necessary. We were shown through the offices, &c., which contrast in a very favorable manner with some of the Government offices at Christchurch j the ladies waiting room is very neat and chastely lurnishetl, although as may be supposed rather small. The engine shed is a commodious building of timber and corrugated iron the same may be said of the wool shed ; in short the whole ot the arrangements seem eminently adapted to the purposes they are to serve. It had been currently reported that his Honor would be on the ground or rather on the train at half-past one o’clock. The time arrived and with it no Superintendent. By this time the spectators were wound up to the greatest pitch of impatience and dust, so that it was with great satisfaction we saw the carriage drawn by four greys, poslillioned and dusted also, enter the ground a little after I - 30. The arrival did not seem to attract much notice, and it was found that a further delay was unavoidable, one carriage only could be procured for the conveyance of his Honor and the Executive Council, and that one being too small to take the whole party in one trip, had to return for a second portion, who arrived about two o’clock. Without further ceremony the party, consisting of his Honor the Superintendent, the members of the Executive and heads of departments, took their place in the first passenger train ever drawn in Canterbury. Everything being arranged at 2‘3 p.m, the train started with an almost imperceptible motion, soon quickening into a pretty fast pace, landing its contents without the least interruption at Eerrymead at 2T3 p.m., exactly. The train returned to Christchurch in the same time, which, considering the shortness of the run, may be called pretty good work. Arrived at Christchurch, the carriages were speedily filled by an invited party, but so eager were the public to test the capabilities of the iron horse that Messrs. Holmes & Co., with their usual anxiety to please, attached five open carriages, which were speedilly filled to overflowing, as ' ma ny ns. 853 going by this single opportunity. The trains continued to run incessantly backwards and forwards till nearly S o’clock, to the great delight of hundreds who availed themselves of the kind permission of the lessees to make their first trip in Canterbury gratis. it is calculated that 3,500 people travelled up and down the line, the arrangements being of the most satisfactory kind. The goods shed was nicely decorated with flags, and the pillars were clothed with a profusion of evergreen foliage. At the one end was displayed the motto “ God save the Queen,” on either side “ Success to the Lyttelton and Christchurch railway,” 1; Railways and progress,” and at the other end of the building, “ Advance Canterbury.” The ornamental festoons of blue calico had an exceedingly pretty effect, affording an excellent contrast with the white walls of the interior. The arms of England and Canterbury emblazoned on shields wore suspended on the sides of the shed at intervals. Upon two tables running nearly the whole length of the building was arranged a magnificent dejeuner , comprising all the delicacacies of the season, and reflecting great credit on the caterer, Mr. John Birdsey. The tables were tastefully laid out, and embellished with epergnes filled with flowers, added much to the general effect. About T o’clock in the afternoon, his Honor the Superintendent entered the budding, and took a seat on the side under an arch ,of evergreens, next to him were the Lord Bishop of Christchurch and Mr. Holmes the contractor. The invited guests, to the number of 150, then took their seats, and after grace had been said by the Bishop a brisk attack was made upon the good things spread before them. Perhaps the most amusing part of the proceedings was the pic-nician makeshifts of those who were unable to procure seats atthetables. Down one side of the shed a row of wagons were placed, some were empty. Into the latter incontinently went the unseated and, arranged in groups, catered for themselves. Wo saw one party of nine, amongst whom there were only three knives, one of them being a carver, and two forks. We saw one gentleman insanely attempting to carve a ham with a penknife no bigger than a knittingneedle ; another demolishing a fowl in a very primitive manner, but notwithstanding all these drawbacks, it is a strange fact that the choicest dishes accumulated in a most mysterious manner round these apparently outsiders. During the dejeuner the band played the quartette “ Come where my love lies dreaming,” and other airs, with good effect. At the conclusion Mr. Holmes in an appropriate speech proposed the health of the Queen, which was drank with great cheering. (Band, National Anthem). The next toast, “The prince of Wales and Royal Family" was also drank with great enthusiasm.

Mr. Holmes then gave the health of his Excellency Sir which was well received. (Baud, the BritiSFGtrenadiers).

After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been disposed of, the assembled guests left the shed, and proceeded to the platform to witness the arrivals and departures of the trains, filled to overflowing with the crowds of delighted excursionists. Shortly after this time a largo crowd assembled in front of the entrance to the booking office, and Mr. Moorhouse being called for, was hoisted upon the roof, from which position he delivered a telling speech, which was received with great cheering, and on concluding he was carried about on the shoulders of the people. Mr. Ollivier, Mr. Maude, Mr. Buckley, and Mr. Richardson, were each in turn elevated to the same position, and addressed the crowd, and Mr. Dobson would have found himself there also, had he not valiantly withstood the somewhat too pressing attentions of his admirers.

Not being übiquitous it was five o’clock before we could visit the engine-shed, where the employees of Messrs. Holmes & Co., were feasting. We found the door guarded by four or five persons, who, for some reasons, objected to our entrance. As we were going away, however, a herculean navvy generously constituted himself our pilot, and before we got inside the door, we should think he said at least fifty times in as many seconds, “They’re havin’ a fine turn-out inside here,” and added in a deprecatory manner, “ Lord bless you sir, what vor shouldn’t un ?” We replied, “Of course we could’nt see why they should’nt.” which original joke appeared to tickle him amazingly, and, to use his own expression when retailing it afterwards to his fellows, he “ larfed fit to split.” After this dialogue our guide opened the door and looked in,—to see, the tables cleared, and some fifty or sixty giants enjoying a refreshing nap, after the overpowering fatigue and heat which they had undergone in the earlier part of the day. After this cheering spectacle we stood for a time, the amused spectator of the rough but perfectly good-humored scramble in and out of the carriages on the arrival of the train. As far as we could gather, cverbody was satisfied with everything—with one trifling exception, it was on all hands conceded that the carriages were good, the railway altogether was good, so was the engine, only it had’nt screech enough ; “ What was the good of a hingiue if it did’nt scream properly P” and everybody seemed to think that the engine had neglected one of its most important functions.

It is gratifying to think that owing to the praiseworthy arrangements made by the police, the incessant watchfulness of the station master, and the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Richardson, who, curleousand polite, seemed to be everywhere, not a single accident or disturbance of any kind marred the pleasure of the day, and when we left the grounds at the termination of the proceedings it was with a conviction that we had well spent one of the merriest days of a lifetime.