THE EXCURSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1499, 7 August 1880, Page 10

THE EXCURSION.

Queenstown, July 31st. The excursion train for Lake Wakatipu and the Waimea Plains railway left Dunedin station at 6.45 a.m. this day. At the time of starting the weather looked Bomewhat gloomy, and a light drizzling rain fell; but it cleared away, and though rain was threatened when the train reached Clinton, the weather ultimately proved very favourable, and on nearing the Lake the difference in the temperature was very marked. The special train consisted of six large American carriages, one of which was fitted up as a diniDg-carriage, and in this a capital lunch was provided by the Company for the excursionists. Mr Geddes was the caterer. There were about 150 passengers on board, and of these considerably more than a hundred were invited to take part in the opening of tbe line. The Hon. W. J. M. Larnach C.M.G., who waß to have formally opened the line, unfortunately missed the train by two minutes, and his place was filled by Mr Horace Bastings, the secretary of the Company, by whom the whole of the arrangements in connection with the trip were made. Amongst the passengers were several ladies, and the following gentlemen :—Messrs P. K. M'Caughan, M.H.R., A. D. Lubecki, J. Fraser, C. Hope, J. Ashcroft, G. Fraser, Austin, J.O.Eva. G. W. Eliott, R. Stout, B. Sievwright, J. Logan, Hodgkins, D. L. Simpson, E. H. Carew, R.M., H. J. Walter (Mayor of Dunedin), H. S. Fish, John Hislop, Hackworth (collector of Customs), James Mills, J. Marshall, A. Burt, T. Burt, Lieut-Colonel Stavely, James Gall, Hardie, Louis Court, Mendtrshausen. J. W. Duncan, G. Mitchell, Captain Muir, M'Darmott, G. C. Matheson, R. Williams (Mayor of Lawrence), John Cargill, Jas. Grey, T. S. Graham, J. Carter, fll'Queen, J. Davidson, Dr Hocken, Dr Burns, Robin, Prosser, R. H. Leary, God. Cowie, R. Hay, W. Oonyers (commispiojier of S'Hitb. Island Railways), Grant, and H. Basting?. Tne train made a short stay at MiKon at 8.45 p.m., took in some pnssongws from Law rence at the ClarksvJll) junction, and arrived at Bilolutha station at 9.15, and at Cliatou an hour later, At Clinton 20 minutes was the

time allowed, and during this short stoppage the passengers obtained breakfast, which had been provided by Mr Dunning, in the goodsshed. From Clutha to Gore occupied until 1215 p.m. At this point the first signs of a demonstration consequent upon the opening of the line were observable. A considerable number of persons assembled at the station, and Mr Geddea' hotel was decorated with a large display of bunting. The train having been run on to the Company's line. Mr Bastings mounted the engine, and formally opened the line with the following remarks s— Well, gentlemen, I very much regret to say that Mr Larnach is not here, through the negleci of himself' or of somebody else. He did not get up soon enough to be present at the opening, otherwise he would have taken the position of honour. In his absence I have been deputed to # make a few remarks. I can only say that it is with great pleasure I undertake, after the many months the directors have been constructing this work, to announce its completion. The gentlemen who form the directorate of the Company are men who have shown a great deal more energy and confidence, and have been much more indefatigable in their exertions than the Royal Commissioners, or they never would have been able to accomplish this work. Taking into consideration the commercial crisis and the financial difficulties of the country during the lastlß months, it is exceedingly creditable that we are able to say to-day that the line ia completed. Gentlemen, had they been like some Commissioners who have gone through this country, oryipg everything down, and saying that everything was going wrong and to the bad, this work would not have been accomplished. But no ; they were men of pluck — men who, in the words of Cardinal Richelieu, did not know the meaning of the word "fail." There are many shareholders here, and I am exceedingly glad to see them. We know that it was not the intention of the directors to have called up so much money as they have done, but np to the present time the calls amount to L 3 103 per share. They were compolled, to make these calls because, owing to the depression, the financial instituions of the country were not ready to assist them. ' I am not now blaming the financial institutions in any way, for they had enough to do to carry on those whom they were bound to assist during the crisis ; but the directors were not to be done. When they could not get money from this country they brought it from other countries, and the Company has been enabled to tide over the difficulty. I will say this muoh for the directors, that it is an honour to be associated with gentlemen who have shown so much determination of character and # ability in carry-, ing out this great undertaking— for a great' undertaking you must admit it is. The time will come when, notwithstanding the Oommission whioh has gone round the country, the publio throughout the length and breadth of the land will be of opinion that if we are to bring a country like this into a civilised state and support the population, it must be by means of putting a railway through it, so that ' people instead of being concentrated in towns will be distributed, and will make these fertile valleys produce the wealth they are capable of yielding, Gentlemen, I shall not take up your time, because, as you know, our great object is to reach Queenstown bo that we may have our dinner comfort* ably by 5 o'clock. I believe that the New Zealand Agricultural Company will offer such inducements for settlement that this railway will soon be made reproductive, and will not only pay expenses but will pay substantial dividends to shareholders, and we are certain of getting 7 per cent, interest on our money in a very short space of time. Gentlemen, I think there is no necessity for the universal cry of horror which has gone through the country. In Victoria in 1849, when I landed there, oats were selling at lOd per bushel, and butter at 3d per Ib. Oats will not be always selling at lOd per bushel here, and I believe that in 12 months they will be grown again at paying prices. It is absurd to think that these railways can pay interest upon cost of construction immediately, but beyond doubt it is part of our duty to c instruct those Hues. As I heard an American say of hit* own country, "America is the fiaest bit of land on top of God's earth," so we can say of New Zealand, for it is capable of producing anything, and there is no reason to fear but that our present adversity will grow into solid prosperity. Gentlemen, I am glad to see so many shareholders and so many of the public here to-day to take part in this demonstration. I hope the line will be a success, and am confident that it will be bo. I now declare the line open, and thank you kindly for the attention you have given to the few rambling remark* I have made. " Success to the Railway to Waimea " was then drunk in bumpers of ohampagne. The train proceeded on its journey, reaching the Elbow at 2 o'clock. Tne Company's road proved very smooth travelling, I It was the subject of remark that a large quantity of the land we passed through was under cultivation, and some comfortable-looking homesteads testified to the advance of settlement. Kingston was reached at about 4 o'clock, and after about half an-hour's delay all embarked on the Mountaineer, which steamed rapidly to Queenstown. One and all were perfectly delighted with the scenery, for which the district ib famous. THE DINNEE. The dinner at Queenstown, was attended by about 200 guests, and excellent provision for them was made by Host Eicharit. After the toast of " The Q ueen " had been drunk with musical honours, Mr J. Cabgill proposed "Prosperity to the Waimea Plains Railway Company." Hesaid their journey thatday would be au eye-opener to many of them. The valley of the Mataura, over a part of which they had passed, was one of the finest valleys in New Zealand, and would support one day as large a population as any area of land of the same extent in the Colony. They had been brought here by the enterprise of the Waimea Plains Railway Company, and ought certainly to express a hearty desire for its prosperity and success : the success of the Company and the interests with which it was allied would necessarily imply an increase of prosperity to them all. He coupled with the toast thenama of their chairman, Mr Bastings. The toast was drunk with all the honours. , Mr Bastings, in replying, said he regetted very muoh the absence of a gentleman whose public spirit was well known by those present, Mr W. J. M. Larnacb, and it devolved upon him imperfectly to represent the Company on this occasion. He was glad to see so many Dunedm men there that day, and was sure if they more often journeyed as they had done that day into the country districts, they would get a much better idea of the resources of this magnificent country than they had at present. The Waitnea Plains Company had, by their enterprise, made it possible for business 1 men to leave town on Saturday and visit the Lake district, returning again by Monday night, aftar having seen a tract of splendid country, and scenery such as was scarcely to be equalled in the world. While passing through rhe Company's fine estate that day, he had been a«ked by people in the train, la it possible lhafc 200 acres of this land can be obtained now? He replied that it was quite possible, and they

had only to call on him at his office and he would endeavour to deal with them. J±e thanked them for the hearty manner in which they bad responded to the tonst, and he himself would propose, "Prosperity to Qaeenstown," coupled with the name of Mr E.chardt. This toast not being responded to.and many of the guests rising in the act of moving off, the Chairman begged that they would not be in such a lurry to leave, as there were several other toasts which it was their duty to the usages , *g&£ft* P-P-d the health of SVffiSn* 4on%eTaS thatsucSo the Wahnea Bdl w Company had been proposed, and the meeting had proily remembered its indebtedness to the BailCS Department in bringing them to Kingston. But there was something else to be remembered. Those who had planned and earned into execution the construction of the Waimea Plains Railway should not be forgotten.-(Ap-clause.) He had, therefore, much pleasure in nrooosing " The Engineers and tbe Contractor* of the Waimea Railway." One thing that even the moßt casual must have observed was the smoothness of the line and the manner in which the work had been finished. He hoped that as settlement progressed in the Waimea Plains— and settlement followed easy modes of communication— the railway would not only be the means of distributing goods from Dunedin and Invercargill, but we should also see the -tffoductive powers of the country increased, and the railway employed in bringing products to the seaboard. It was not necessary to point out the great benefits that would be conferred on tbe whole southern part of Otago by connecting Gore with Lumsden through the Waimea Plains. It tends to bring Dunedia near tbe Switzerland of Otago. This had been already referred to. He ariced them then, when thinking of the pluck and speculation of the promoters of the railway, not to forget the skill and ability that had enabled their pluck to be carried into effect-namely, that of the engineer (Mr Higginson), his assistant (Mr Fulton), and the contractor (Mr Whittaker).Mr Helton, district engineer, in the absence of Mr Higginson, briefly responded, stating that in one respect this celebration had its sad Bide-they were met to part company. As engineers and workmen their task was ended, and they must therefore Bhift to new places. He hoped, however, railway- construction would not cease, and that in the not far distant future many of them would be again assembled to celebrate tbe opening of another railway that might be equal in importance to that now opened.— (Applause.) • The Chairman then proposed the toast of " Our Visitors," fiome of whom, he said, had come from a long distance. He coupled with the toast the nameof Mr Townsend MacDer-mott-a gentleman who had occupied a high position in another Colony, and whom he was exceedingly pleased to see present. m Mr Townsend MaoDeemott, in replying, B aid that perhaps, being the greatest stranger in theroonAe might congratulate himself upon beinst called upon to respond on behalf of the visitors. But although he was in one aenße a stranger, he felt himself anything but aatranger iv New Zealand, from the large amount of kindness and hospitality which he had received in all parts of the country, It was not for him to enlarge upon the magnificence of the ooun* try for there were many other gentlemen present far more qualified than himself to do bo. At the same time he might say that having travelled in both hemispheres, and haying made eood use of his time while living m New Zealand, now a month or two, he did not hesitate to say that there w»b no country in the world to which Nature had been more lavish in her bounties than she had been to this Colony. With regard to the inhabitants, he could say that they appeared to him to be a thoroughly fine reproduction of the English character in its best phase ; and as for the ladies, he was Bure that during his expenenoe he had never met with more handsome women. Having, through the kindness of his friend Mr Larnach, had an opportunity of . seeing some well-known scenery, he was reminded forcibly of the lines of the Irish national poet, Moore : " When in other lands we meet, Some isle or vale enchanting ; And all looks lovely, new, and sweet, And naught but love is wanting ; I think how bright has been our fate If Heaven had so assigned us To live and die in scenes like these, With some we've left behind us. As comparatively an exile in this country, these lines could not but commend themselves to him : but at the same time he could say that he did not intend long to' be an exile, in even a comparative sense, for ere long he hoped to make this Colony his home, and then those to whom the lineß pointedly referred would be here to be numbered amongst the inhabitants I of the Colony.— (Applause.) j The toaßt|of " The Press " was then proposed by the Chairman. Mr James Ashoropt, m responding to the toast, said that he considered it an honour to respond to such a toast, and so far as the journal with which he was connected was concerned he could say that he was always anxious to give publicity to everything which would promote the settlement and progress of the country. He had been much gratified «a*;h what he had witnessed during the day, Sd he felt confident that the future of New &aland, with all its great resources, would be prosperous, notwithstanding the present dimcultiea. We should, he had no doubt, surmount our difficulties, should be able to pay the money borrowed, and no doubt borrow a good deal more.— (Laughter.) He thanked them, on behalf of himself and his collaborators of the Press, for the manner in which they had drunk the toaat. This closed the list of toasts, and shortly afterwards the party broke up. August Ist. An excursion trip to the head of the Lake was made to-day in the steamer Mountaineer, and all from Dunedin, with the exception of about half a dozen, were passengers. The trip was enjoyed intensely, tbe day being fine and the scenery Buperb. A number of local musicians were on board, and amongat the selections Borne were given from Moody and Sankey's hymns. The excursionists returned to Queenstown shortly after 5 p.m. THE RETURN. The excursionists were on board the steamer Mountaineer punctually at 9.30 a.m. at Queenstown, but the steamer waa delayed half an hour for Borne gentlemen who had driven over to the Arrow, and who were late, being under tho impression that the steamer would not leave till 11 o'clock. After a pleasant run down the lake, the passengers were landed at Kingston at 12.30 p.m. The special train left at 1.20, and made good time to the Elbow, where a short delay occurred. The run over tho Waimea Plains line was accomplished at thft rate of 31 miles per hour, the distance (36| miles) being run in an hour and a-half, including Btoppages. Oq the return trip, also, lunch was provided by Mr Geddes, and refreshments were laid out in the Clinton goods-Bhedj but the train did not stay for more than five minutes at OtotQDi At 10,5 p,m, the train arrived in

Dunedin,. and the pasßengers landed on the platform of the station just 11 hours and 50 minutea after they left tbe jetty at Queenstown.