A THROUGH LINE TO ROTORUA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1189, 14 December 1894, Page 37

A THROUGH LINE TO ROTORUA.

THE NEW RAILWAY.

OPENING CEREMONY ON SATURDAY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, December 8. The proceedings at the opening of the final section of the Rotorua Railway on Saturday were most successful. There was splendid weather. Two excursion trains left Auckland at 7 and 7.30 a.m. with the Premier and the invited guests, members of Parliament, the original promoters of the line, representative public men, pressmen (including a special of the Argus and the Australasian— Mr S. H. Jenkinson), and the general public. There were 400 persons on board, and the number was increased to 500 at wayside stations. On the front leading engine was the word " Arawa,” while bannerettes on the carriage platforms had the names “ Ngatuihakane,” " Ngatipikias ” and “ Tuhomangi,” tribal hapus. At Koutou, three miles from Rotorua, the trains coupled, and as they ran into the Rotorua station, broke two ribbons which were held by Miss Lucy Dansey and Miss Malfroy and two young Native women of rank—Rihi Tuekata and Mere Kawea. The station was decorated, and triumphal arches were erected. The Natives danced hakas and chanted songs

of welcome. Mr Malfroy, chairman of the Town Board, received the Premier and party, who were conducted to a platform, where the girls who had held the ribbons presented Mrs Seddon with a beautiful bouquet. THE GOVERNMENT RAILWAY POLICY. The Premier then ascended the rostrum, which was decorated with nikau leaves, and addressed the assemblage, thanking them for their kind reception. He claimed credit for the completion of the line to the township, which would now give a reasonable return on the expenditure, and render the Rotorua Sanatorium accessible to the whole world. Credit was also due to the original promoters — Dr Campbell, Judge Fenton, Mr F. D. Rich and others. He then went on to sketch briefly what he thought should be done in the matter of railway works for the future. He thought the Mokau section of the North Island Trunk line should be completed to the road leading to Waitara. What would be the making of the Auckland province would be to have a coach road right through from that point to New Plymouth. Then he thought the line oughi to be completed to Hautapu; that would tap a large tract of country. There

■were few people there at present, but a large population would settle there if the line were completed. The North Island Main Trunk Railway would get the money intended for it. He must leave someone else to say where the balance ‘was to come from, but if he remained in office he would try to carry out what he thought was required. He first referred to the completion of the Wellington section of the line; then there was the Eketahuna-Woodville section, which should be completed as soon as funds allowed; after that they would have to purchase the Manawatu Railway. He did not believe it was wise that, with increased population, individuals should reap the benefit of the public works expenditure, which would eventuate if the present policy was continued. It was necessary to complete the Midland Railway from Springfield to Jackson’s. It was a railway for tourist traffic, and as national a work as the Rotorua Railway. Unless they did , this they stood in their own light. Then there was the Otago Central Railway; that should be completed to the point recommended by the committee. He might before long have the pleasure in the South Island of opening that . most necessary railway the Seaward Bush line, which should be completed. He had taken his audience into the confidence of the Government, for he did not think the Government should keep their intentions from the people. Te Pokiha (Major Fox, of Ngatipikiao) then welcomed the Premier, as also did other chiefs, and presented the Premier’s party with kumaras and houra (crayfish) from Lake Rotorua, which were eaten. The Hon J. Carroll acted as interpreter of the speeches of the Premier to the Natives, and also of the chiefs. A banquet took place in the evening at Brent’s Bathgate House, at which there were 60 guests. Mr Malfroy, chairman of the Town Board, presided. The health of the Premier having been proposed by the chairman, Mr Seddon, in

reply, entered at length into a defence”of his administration. He said he believed in full discussion, and that politicians should give each other credit for honesty and patriotism. The sappers and miners of the Conservative press' had tried to destroy his reputation and that of his administration, but he could tell them that in due time his reputation, as well as that of the Ministry, could be fully vindicated. A grand haka was danced by the Natives’ at Ohinemutu Pah in the evening, and the township given over to rejoicing. The trains were in charge of Mr Hudson, District Railway Manager. Mr Scott represented the Railway Commissioners.

A few particulars about the history of this line and the cost of its various sections may prove interesting-. In February, 1882, the Thames Valley and. Rotorua Railway Company was formed with the declared object of constructing a branch railway from Morrinsville, on the Auekland-Te Aroha line, to Rotorua, a distance (including the Litchfield branch) of about 73-1 miles. The intention was to construct the first section from Morrinsville to Litchfield (about 41f miles) under the District Railways Acts; and the. second section, from Putaruru, near Litchfield, to Rotorua ("about 31f miles), under the Railways Construction and Land Act, 1881. The Company proceeded vigorously to work, and the line was carried as far as Oxford (30£ miles), and opened to traffic in March, 1886, and to Putaruru and Litchfield on June of the same year. Prior to this—that is to say in May, 1885—the Company had contracted to sell to the Government the whole of the property, the Government to repay the amount ; then expended, which was to cover the completed line to Litchfield, and the Company undertaking to finish the second section to Rotorua, issuing for the cost debentures which were to be exchanged for cash at the Treasury, upon the Government engineer certifying that work of corresponding value had been done. The

line to Litchfield was completed under this agreement, hut it was afterwards superseded by an arrangement under which the Government Agreed to pay the Company the estimated value of the property as it stood, and construct the balan.ce of the line. In September, 1886, the Government therefore toot over the whole line as its own property. -.'A start was made with the second section —Putaruru to Rotorua in March,-1887, the Ngatira contract (8 miles in length) being first let, then the Kaponga contract (101 miles) and next the Tarukenga contract (4 miles 70 chains), the line from Putaruru to Tarukenga (about 23£ miles) being opened for public traffic in November, 1893. The line from Tarukenga to Rotorua (about 8-£ miles) was begun in 1887, the greater part of the formation being let to Maoris by piecework. In February, 1893, a. contract was let for the completion of this formation, and in May following a contract was let for the construQtion of the bridges, while the contract for the laying of the permanent way which has just been finished was let in June last. * Appended are the details of the cost of the line : Morrinsvjlle to Litchfield ... .... .£155,187 Subsequently expended by Government ... ... ••• ••• -fA 4 *” Total cost, including rolling-stock .£167,645 Putaruru-Rotorua : Expenditure to March, 1894 ... .£175,901 Balance ot appropriation for current year ... ... ... ••• 7,770 Total, including permanent way ... .£183,676 Total cost of line, about 74 miles, at, say, .£4,750 ... ... •• • .£351,321