FIRST AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 524, 10 August 1850, Page 2

FIRST AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY.

The Sydney Morning Herald, July 4, contains an account of the ceremony of turning the first turf of the first Australian railway, which was performed by the Hon, Mrs. Keith Stewart, daughter of Sir Charles Fitzroy. The day proved most unfavourable, but in spite of the rain so strong an interest was excited that not less than 10,000 persons are said to have assembled to witness the ceremony. His Excellency Sir Charles Fitzroy and Mrs. Keith Stewart arrived on the ground about one o'clock, and the latter having been presented by the surveyor of the Company with the spade, with an appropriate address, performed with exceeding gracefulness the duty imposed on her. The sod was then wheeled away by Mr, Charles

Cowper the Manager of the Company, who afterwards addressed f his Excellency and those present explaining the difficulties against which the Company had to contend, and the material assistance and support they had received from the Government in bringing their project to maturity. The railway is to be constructed from Sydney to Liverpool with a branch line to Parramatta, but it is intended that the line now commenced shall form a main line of communication between Sydney and Goulbourn and eventually be extended to Port Phillip. The following is a description of the spade and barrow used on the occasion : "The spade was highly ornamented ; th~ i blade was formed of iron, from Major Lockyer's miue, in Argyle, and it was manufactured by Mr. Strutb, of Sydney ; it was inscribed with the Company's seal on the dexter side, and his Excellency the Governor's arms on the left, and underneath was the following inscription, engraved by Carmichael: — This Spade, manufactured in Sydney, New South Waxes, of materials indigenous to Australia, was used by the Honorable Mrs. Keith Stewart, daughter of His Excellency Sir C. Augustus Fitz Roy, Governor- in-chief of the colony and its dependencies, for cutting the first Turf of the First Eailway in "Australia, at Sydney, on the 3rd July, 1850. The handle was formed of satin wood, beautifully engraved by Mr. Abraham, with an Emu and Kangaroo on each side of the handle opening, and inlaid with a circle of silver, on which was engraved the motto of the colony — Sicfortis Etruria crevit. The Shaft was of tulip wood, and at its junction with the blade the figure of a sheep was engraved. The barrow was of cc Jar, highly ornamented and polished, and of very elegant appearance; it was made by Beaumont. Both spade ami barrow, but particula. ly the former, were much admired."