NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK LIKE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13136, 21 November 1904, Page 5

NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK LIKE.

THE EXTENSION TO TAIHAPE. (Per United Press Association.) ' TAIHAPE, November 19, To-day the official opening of the oxten* V siou of the Alain Trunk railway to Taihape • was celebrated. Tho various buildings in tho township wero gaily dccorated with ■ .flags and evergreens. The Ministerial party, consisting of tho Kight Hon. the Premier and tho Hon. Mr Hall-,'tones, with. Messrs Willis, Woud, and Remington, ■ M.H.ll.'s, and tho Mayor of Wangsmui, reached Taihape at by ordinary train. A procession of scliool children was formed in front of the station, surrounded by «( crowd of residents and excursionists. Directly the train pulled up at the station the band played. The Reception Committee received Mr Seddon and conducted him to the portals of the station. Mr R. . T. Batley, a settler for 30 years at Moa- ' ; wliango, presented tho Premier with an address of welcome. Tho Premier, in replying, contrasted the expenditure of tho Atkinson Administration on the Main Trunk lino with that of his ' Government, showing that, during Sir H. Atkinson's last year of office £10,318 was spent, while tho appropriations for 1904amounted to £196,400. He assured them tho, lino would be vigorously paishcd on, and that only 54- miles of virgin country remained untouched. Referring to the Makohine viaduct, ho said it was unfair to chargo tho plant used in construction' J against that work. It was now being used for the manufacture of similar work. Ho looked forward in tho near future to the completion of this gTeat national work. ! Ho' promised to spond every shilling of this year's vote, and lot tho people know tho'expenditure year by year. If they continued* at tho present Tate of progress 'it would not bo long beforo tho line was finished and communication established be. ' tweon Wellington and Auckland. The Government knew that what was required to make tho line pay was tho construction of roads. He dwelt on the value of tho pine timber for butter boxes, and regretted tho destruction of millions of feet before, tho completion of tho railway. Ten years ago he said, tins Awarna County, in which Tainape was included, was firmly hold by the Natives under the Treaty of Waitangi, mado 64- years ago. During his term of pffico the wholo of that block had; beotu acquired, and hundreds of settlers were now located on tho land. After dealing with other minor jnaitters, ho concluded amid cheers. Tho Hon. W. HalJ-Jones also spoke, 1 stating that, the voto for roads this year was a record one. Ho intended proceeding with tho construction of the most urgent roads this summer, and promised to return in threo weeks to aewipt tho invitation .to dinner given by tho Mataroa, settlors. Messrs Willis. Wood, and Remington, M.H.R.'s, .gave brief addresses. Hiraka To , Rango, chief of tho tribe from whom the Tqihape land was acquired, welcomed tho i Premier on behalf of tho Maoris of the district. At tJfe close of fe proceedings clieere were called for the! Premier. Mr SMI-Jones, and the members of Parliament. A' .procession. headed by fe band and indkidirig the school children, ■ followed by tho Minis- , terial party seated i. l : carriages, maTched • through tlio town, and then adjourned to the rccenfcion ground, whore tlio Premier addressed 250 ohild&Mi. Tho party waa entertained at lunch in a largo marquee, when tho toasts of l: Tho. Ministry," "The North Island Main Trunk Lino," and others wero proposed. The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones returned to Wellington in tho afternoon. The Premier was entertained by tho Demonstration Committee' .ill Hie evonbg, and returned Wj Wellington at. 8 o'clock.