MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14365, 7 November 1908, Page 10

MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY

LAST SPIKE DEIVEN.

AUSPICIOUS OPENING. '

(Pep. Unitsto Press Association.)

TAUMARUNUI, November 6. < After a tedious night journey the special Ministerial train reached Mangonuateao at 8.30 this morning. The party arrived in a dirale of rain. The associated public bodies of Wellington- and Auckland were fully represented.. - The Hon. W. IM-Joncs briefly introduced the Prime Minister in a speech of conspicuous -modesty,■ reviewing the'past history of the railway. Mr Peacock (oliairman of the Auckland Railway League) congratulated the Government on the completion of the line, and deprecated the pretence of parochial prejudice bctwoon Auckland and Wllington. He congratulated Mr Hall-Jones on his, appointment as High Commissioner. Mr David Nathan, in a vcryi effective speech, reviewed the past history of the line. Since the first spade on the Manawatu Railway was driven in 1886 lie had taken keen interest in railway matters, so that- to-day's function had a special- significance for him. , . .

Sir Joseph Ward, beset by a body of photographers, drove the last spike.. In a very telling speech he reviewed' the history of tho railway, and emphasised ■ the necessity of onhwged railway facilities in connection with the completion of settlement.

The big crowd manifested great enthusiasm throughout the proceedings. AUCKLAND, November 6. The Main Trout special trains arrived in Auckland two hours behind the scheduled time in consequence of the engine of the first train running off the rails shortly after leaving Taumarunui.. THE BANQUET. _ Tlie banquet to-night, which was presided over by the Mayor, was a brilliant function. Abouf 150 were present, and at the official table were the Mayor (Mr A. M. Myers), S'ir Joseph Ward, .lion. W. Hall-Jones, Hon. G. Fowlds, Mr L. J. liagnall (president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce), Mr J. G. Harkncss (president of the Wellington Chamber), Mr D. J. Nathan (Wellington Railway League), G. L. Peacock (Auckland -Rail-, way League), Hon. E. Mitchdson (Auckland Harbour Boardl, city members, and other prominent residents'. Owing to the breakdown on the journey, tho dinner did not commence '-till 8.30 o'clock, and the speeches were not commenced till after 10 o'clock. The, Mayor, in proposing " The Legislature," congratulated the Minister of Railways on the fact that the line was actually completed, and thus a- project talked of for a quarter of a century had become an accomplished fact. He recalled the history of the line, and paid a tribute to the early colonists. The opening of the railway was an important epoch in the hi?tory of the North Island, and-a- landmark in the national progress, and the line would give a- great impetus to the commercial and industrial development of the cities of Wellington and Auckland, and lead to a great increase of exports. It would also tend to do away with the parochialism that had existed. He concluded with complimentary references to Mr Hall-Jones's appointment- to the High Commiseionership. .Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, commented on the fact that the commercial representatives of tho two great cities of the North Island were meeting to celebrate their connection'by railway, the greatest Public Works undertaking' in the -history -or New Zealand. He referred to the troubles with the Maoris in the early days, and to the work of the late Mr John Rryc-e and the late Mr John Ballance in .settling them, Then came the battle of the routes, which delayed- the line much longer. From Marten to Te Avamutu the

line had cost £265,000, and the whole line to Auckland could not have cost under five millions, and considering that the population of this country was still under a million, and considering that the railway vote did not exceed a million a year, and for a long time was not over £700,000, it was not to he wondered at that the Main Trunk line hail taken a long time to complete. But still for a country like this with suoh a comparatively small population the railways made were really a wonderful achievement. lie spoke of the progress and development of the great province of Auckland, and indicated that development must he assisted by further railway works; He also paid a tribute to the memory of the pioneers who had first founded their homes in.this country, and he wished the new railway the greatest success, and looked forward to the happiest results, and the greatest commercial development and progress from the link'ing of the two cities. Mr G. L. Peacock, in a complimentary 6peech, proposed the health of. the Hon. W. Hall Jones, Minister of Public Work's.

The Minister, in reply, delivered a humorous speech, in the course of which he said that to-day's functions had.been one of the most pleasing that he had experienced during the whole of his Ministerial life. The North Island Main Trunk line was the greatest railway undertaking in the history of the Dominion. He realised the enormous development that had been going on in the province of Auckland and ,in the province of Wellington, and the opening of the Main Trunk was going lo ba a big factor in the great march of settlement, and the great.tide of settlement which could be confidently expected in the North Island within a very short period. Progress must be maintained on, the North Auckland line until the Main Trunk stretch&l from .Wellington as far north a.s a line could commercially he taken, and so the development of the great north of Auckland country would follow closely upon the development of the groat, interior of the North Island. He commented on the Stratford-Onganie line, and hoped that the battle of the routes would be abandoned, and the route left to the practical officers, so that Ike line could be gone on with and the country developed as it Should be. With regard to the East Coast line, the people could have faith in the promise of the Government that now that the Main Trunk was, finished attention would be devoted more vigorously to such railways as the Gisborn-o-Rotorua. He considered the Ea6t Coast line one of the greatest works after the Main Trunk, as he realised it would open up enormous tracts of most fertile country. The money for additions to open lines was very largely money spent on improvements to railways constructed in a 'very skimpy manner in years gone by. He referred to the great growth of the tourist traffic to Rotoraa, Te Aroha,- the Waitomo Caves, and other resorts that were bound to follow the opening of the lino. In the one year there had been 84 miles of the Main Trunk and 154 miles of line added to' the New Zealand Government Railways. He contended that nothing had been charged to capital account that should be charged to revenue, but on the contrary items had been charged to revenue that should have been charged: to capital. He contrasted the Australian And English railway rates with the New Zealand rates, and contended that our lines were the cheapest. The 3 per cent, basis was a fair one and a right one while the country was in process cjf development. He concluded' by stating.that, he would do his utmost as High Commissioner in London to assist the ' great work of Empirebuilding so well carried on by this small Dominion. '

Speeches' were -. also delivered,; by • the chairman of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and.of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, congratulating the Minister upon the completion of the great undertaking. ■ The .proceedings concluded at half-past 11, and tiro Wellington party joined the special train for the return journey.