WELLINGTON-MANAWATU RAILWAY LINE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 770, 3 December 1886, Page 24

WELLINGTON-MANAWATU RAILWAY LINE.

FROM WELLINGTON TO PALMER-

STON.

(BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

The Wellington-Manawatu Railway Company’s line has already become so popular that it goes without saying that the excursion right through to Palmerston on Monday was very well patronised. The time at which the train was advertised to start was at half-past 8 ; and at half-past 7 numbers of people, mindful, no doubt, v of the proverb whioh bears upon the profitable adventures of an early bird, wended their way along Thorndonquay to the station. At 8 o’clock the five or six carriages which were on the rails in front of the station were full. The management, however, were equal to the situation. Carriages were produced whence, this deponent sayeth not—and “laid on,” until at half-past 8 supply and demand were even, and although several unfortunates had to stand on the platform in direct contravention of the notice which “ hereby cautions ” passengers against standing there, the carriages were, not at all unpleasantly packed. The morning was beautifully fine (for we had on board a gentleman who is celebrated for bringing good weather with him), not at all hot, and with a slight breeze which was just strong enough to be pleasant. At about eight minutes after the advertised time the train started—three engines and ten carriages—and at 8 minutes past 9 Johnsonville was reached. Thence, after a brief stoppage, to Paremata, “made” at 25 minutes to 10. There were halts, of course, at the intermediate stations, but they wore very brief, and at 20 minutes past 10 the train reached Paikakariki, where a number of passengers were picked up. By some unaccountable means the length of the train had now been increased, and twelve carriages followed the engines. At Waikanae, the scene of the (driving of the last spike that broke

the back of the work, a number of Natives were taken up ; and at Otaki aIBO (reached at a quarter past 11) there were a number waiting to join the pakeha in celebrating the occasion at Palmerston. After there were not many passengers picked up. At Ohau we stay for a few minutes —long enough to observe a line of trucks on the downward road, laden with cattle and pigs, the latter of whom raise their voices in a manner which, if not most musical, is at any rate most melancholy. At Manakau a number of Natives, mostly females in gorgeous array, stand around the station and betray a mixed curiosity in the spectacle. Shannon is reached at 28 minutes past 12 ; and Longburn at about 5 minutes to 1. Longburn is not en fete. There are a few flags flying at the station, and a number of people have assembled in the neighborhood; but the reception takes place at Palmerston, a few miles further on. On we go, then, to Palmerston, which we reach at 28 minutes past 1, or about 8 minutes late. This is not at all a bad performance all things considered. The day having been declared a half-holiday in Palmerston, the residents of that borough are assembled in holiday attire in good numbers, many people waiting for friends from town, and many others waiting to welcome officially the Directors of the Company, who, by-the-bye, have come thus far in a carriage reserved for.them. The Directors are to be banquetted at the Theatre by the citizens of Palmerston, and to that part of the town accordingly a great number of people wend their way. Others, however, busy themselves in walking about the township ; and others, again, having met their friends, straightway proceed to the residences of those friends. In five minutes, at any rate, there is hardly a soul in the vicinity of the station, save and except those who are at work.

The banquet was laid in the theatre, and began a little after 2 o’clock. Mr Fergusson (Mayor of Palmerston) was in the chair, with Messrs J, E, Nathan and James Smith on his right and left hand. The vicechairs were filled by Messrs West (Mayorelect of Palmerston) and James Linton. Among the guests were Dr Newman and Messrs Macarthur and Bruce, and Johnston; M.H.R.’s. The usual toasts of “The Queen” and “ The Governor ” were honored.

The Chairman rose to propose the toast of “ The Directors of the Company.” Before doing so, he announced that he had received telegrams from Messrs J. G. Wilson, M.H.R., and E. WV Mills, apologising for their inability to attend. In proposing the toast, Mr Fergusson said he had to offer his congratulations that the line had been completed, and that they were meeting there that day the first travellers on the line between Wellington and Palmerston. Two hints had been given ta him—one that he should be brief, and the other that he should not speak about railway matters. He should keep within those limits. Nothing, he thought, was so contemptible and reprehensible a 3 flattery, and he did not mean to flatter ; he should speak the plain and simple truth. A great many people had condemned the Government for not having constructed this line, and he thought with many others that the Government should have constructed it. In his opinion this was a line that should be made by the Government, if ever one was. But at the same time he thought they had good reason to be pleased instead of blaming the Government. Ten or twelve years ago they heard it said all over the Colony of the people of Wellington that they were not capable of joining together for anything of a public nature. The Wellington people, it was said then, were satisfied to live in a city of match-boxes, and be the seat of Government, and derive a considerable revenue from the Government officials employed there—to be fed with the Government spoon,. He knew that that was not the case. He knew that previous to that time a number of Wellington people had joined together for purposes of a public nature and carried them out. But there was, no doubt, a considerable amount of lethargy and some ground for the statement. The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, however, had carried out a work which was a credit to them and to the whole Colony. That was no more than true. Twelve months ago he travelled from Auckland to Dunedin, and everywhere he heard the Chairman and Directors spoken very highly of by those who had, some years ago, condemned the people of Wellington. He thought, therefore, that it was better in one sense that the Government had not constructed the line, because it had brought out the latent energy of Wellington, which might have been allowed to lie dormant for all time. What the people had done once they might do again. . Many people objected to demonstrations either at' Waikanae or at Palmerston, on the ground that I ,the Chairman and Directors took the matter up from purely selfish reasons—that they had their own interests at stake. But that did not go very far. If a scientist was successful in benefiting himself he benefited his fellow-men also. So it was with the soldier and the statesman. The ease of the Hon John Bryce was a case in point. Mr Bryce went Home to protect his own good name, and by doing that he protectedlhe good name of the Colony. The motive which took him Home, however," was clearly his own personal good name, and when he came back the whole Colony honored him. This was a case very much like that. The Company could not benefit themselves without -benefiting others also. That was a point they must not lose sight of. (Hear, hear.) Mr Joseph Nathan (Chairman of Directors) in responding, said it was at all times a pleasure when a work was brought to a successful conclusion, but it was doubly so when .the Company, having succeeded in their work, found their fellow-colonists appreciating the efforts they had made. For the Company did flatter themselves that they had succeeded. At that moment it was very difficult to appreciate the good that would accrue to the settlers in this district from that work. It would carry great benefit to all. Hitherto Wellington had been supplied almost entirely from Nelson with things that could well be produced in this district, on account of the want of proper facilities being given to producers to bring their produce to the market. He thought he could assure them that it would be the policy of the Directors of this Company to endeavor to facilitate every description of traffic of which their line was capable. They

J were business men, and would endeavor to I carry on their business with that elas. j ticity which was necessary to a bnsi--1 ness undertaking. He thought the settlers would have cause to be satisfied with the way in which the line would be carried on—carried on on different lines to those of the other portious of New Zealand railways. (Hear, hear.) That day, he could say, would be a red-letter day in his life ; and if the Company had succeeded in teaching young New Zealand that perseverance would overcome all difficulties, they would be satisfied. Mr Nathan went on to say that it appeared that he was accused of giving some offence by saying at Waikanae that a Native chief had given a large quantity of land to the Company, while in many instances Europeans had endeavored to impose bn the Company. He was the last man to say anything that would give offence. Speaking on an occasion like that in question, one sometimes unavoidably said such things as this, but the fact was that the Company was greatly indebted to certain Natives. Amongst the European settlers Mr James Gear gave, he thought, one mile and a-half of land, Mr J. Had fie Id a mile, and Mr H. F. Logan that portion of his land through which the line ran. These were the only Europeans who gave the Company land. But out of the 84 miles of railway constructed, the Company had received for miles of roadway from their Native friends. (Hear, hear.) Out of that Major Kemp, ou behalf of himself and his tribe, the owners of theHorowhenua block, gave eight miles. At Kereru they got three miles, and between Shannon and Linton nine miles. He might also tell them that one individual claimed £4700 for a piece of land taken for the line. The matter was taken into the Court, and the owner was awarded £3OO. That was the sort of cases in his mind when he spoke at Waikanae ; but he had no intention of hurting anyone’s feelings. The Company hoped that future generations would derive very great benefit from the fine. It was calculated that the value of cattle on this coast had already been enhanced 20 per cent, by it; and he Was told the other day by one of the largest firms in Wellington that every head of cattle brought from Waitara was worth a great deal more now the fine was completed. Further, the settlers wonld now have a ready market for their fat cattle. (Hear, hear.) Again, he said, that it would be the constaut aim of the Directors to meet the traffic in every possible way. Hear, hear.)

Mr Bruce, M.H.R., proposed the toast of “ The Engineer and Staff.” It was universally conceded, he said, that the engineering staff had performed their share of the work in a manner which left nothing to be desired. These gentlemen belonged to a profession which, in his opinion, measured by the standard of results, was one of the most important of all. He would be understood in a double sense when he said they were the greatest levellers of the age. Engineers had in Great Britain been the real benefactors of the nation. He did not know that any public man had yet approached a solution of that difficult problem, the management of our railways, and he trusted that this Colony would very soon demand of those who posed as its foremost public men something like an approximate solution of this very interesting problem. (Hear, hear.) He had great pleasure in asking them to drink the health of the “Engineer and Staff.” Mr Higginson, responding, said he had to return, on behalf of his staff, most sincere thanks for the kind manner in which the toast had been received. They were all well acquainted with the staff, and he must say that if the public were as well satisfied with the manner in which the line had been carried out as they (the staff) were, they would be well satisfied. (Hear, hear.)

Mr James Linton proposed * ‘ The Manager and Officials of the Company.” The name of Mr James Wallace, the manager, was, he said, a household word in that district and ia Wellington in connection with the Manawatu Railway,, as the man who, perhaps above all others, had assisted in the management of it from its infancy. (Hear, hear.) They knew in that district, and he knew it was well known in Wellington, that Mr Wallace was almost a history of the, line from the time when it was first taken up. Mr Wallace had done his duty as nobly and as faithfully as any man in New Zealand; and the officials had given the very greatest satisfaction to the Company and the public. He described Mr Wallace as a “Heaven born secretary ” to the. Company, who had , subsequently become an equally efficient manager. Mr Wallace, in responding, while he disclaimed any idea of returning Mr Linton’s praise, said no one knew better than he did how much the Company was indebted to Mr . Linton. With regard to the staff, Mr Wallace said it was a small one, but it was satisfactory to be able to say that there had never been a jar yet in connection with it, and much of the success of the business was due to the manner in which he had been supported. Mr Wallace went on amidst applause to quote figures to show that the Wellington provincial district, and up to Napier, produced more cattle, weight for weight, than Canterbury or Otago, and with respect to sheep he claimed that the district also held a high place. The Company, be said, had been twitted with being grasping, but he would point out that the Company had, by its contract, to sell, its land as the line was carried on, and it could not hold it back in any way. (Hear, hear.) Mr A. Macdonald proposed “The House of Representatives.” In doing so, he expressed a hope that next session care would be taken in rearranging the boundaries of electoral districts.. In that district, at any rate, there had been a large increase in the population. Dr Newman, M.H.R., responding, apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr George Fisher. With regard to the question of the boundaries, he agreed with . Mr Macdonald as to the necessity for rearrangement. He pointed out that the completion of this line came at a very opportune time, since they heard now that the shrinkage in values which had prevailed in England for so long was ceasing. (Hear hear.) Mr Macarthur, M.H.R, proposed the Commercial interests of the Wellington Provincial District. He expressed an opinion that if the Wellington members of Parliament had shown a united front, this fine would have been constructed by the Government;

for while unnecessary lines had been con- • structed in other parts of the Colony in con- - sequence of political pressure, lines whioh were really necessary in Wellington had* not been made. * In this Parliament, however, the Wellington members had been more united. He hoped to see the endowments given to Wellington harbor which were necessary to enable. it to • take its position as the premier distributing port of New Zealand. (Hear, hear.) The country districts would pour their produce into Wellington as soon as railway communication was supplied, and would demand increased accommodation. Wellington must be, and would be, the distributing centre of ' a larger area than any other port in the • Colony; it would become the commercial capital, as it was now the political capital, of New Zealand; and her position, her splendid harbor, and the energy and push of her inhabitants, as shown in this work, would all contribute to that ■'result. (Hear,. hear.) The time would-come when this line would have to be bought. by the State, but it wa3 satisfactory to know that when that time came the line would not be bought for political purposes, but in the interest of the whole Colony, and: at a price fixed when the work was begun. He would point out, however, that the Company had only half finished its work-now ; they had; the • settlement of the land, which was as import- ■ ant as the construction of the fine, to carry out. (Hear, hear).

Mr John Plimmer responded to the toast. Other toasts were also honored—“ The Union of the Races ” ’(Mr West); “ The Ladies,” and “The Press.”

At 10 minutes to 5 the return- journey wasbegun, and the train arrived in Wellington at exactly half-past Not an accident or a hitch of any kind occurred, and as it is estimated that quite 700 people were carried over the line, the Company are to be congratulated on the successful maimer in which* the excursion passed off: -