THE MANAWATU RAILWAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2857, 16 December 1908, Page 3

THE MANAWATU RAILWAY.

GOVERNMENT ACQUISITION CELEBRATED.

WELLINGTON, December 7.

About 150 persons attended the banquet at the Town Hall this afternoon to celebrate the taking over of the Manawatu line by the Government. Mr J. Kirkcaldie (chairman of directors) presided, alid stated that the Government had done well in the interests of the Dominion. He thanked the Prime Minister for the patient and courteous manner in which the negotiations had been carried out. The value of the railway could only be appreciated by those who knew the condition of affairs existing at the time when the railway was first open. The land of the company had been sold at an average of 2s 6d per acre, and all those who had- entered into the purcha. 6 ? had don-e well by the transaction. During its years of active working the company had carried in round figures 7,000,000 passengers, and the gross- earnings had been £2,400,000, of which £670,000 had been paid away in "wages. He expressed appreciation of the generous support extended to the company by the citizens and merchants of the country. In conclusion, he wished the line the success under the Government that it had achieved in the past. He also handed to the Prime Minister a silver key of the Manawatn railway in celebration of the transfer from the company to thfe Government — a presentation that was greeted with cheer.*.

The Prims Minister said the sale had L"en effected on te-rifts satisfactory to both ptirtie*. The line was practically ; the last of the private lines in the country. Hi believed the result would be beneficial ' to the country ac a whole. The traffic to the Manawatu railway contributed by the Government dm ing the last 10 y-ears amounted to no less than £642,792, an amount which gave many chances of friction if there- had been any desire to j create it. On a.ll sides theiv* had been evidence of progress on the Una, and in thih connection he had a woid of high prai.-e to say about the late general manager (Mr W. M. Hanna}) and theengineer (Mr Marchbanks) for the work they had done. The work of both those gentlemen liad beon most valuable. Those gcntlenun were not joining the Government ter\iie, but a.- to those who were joining he felt sure they would, as in the past, do tJi"ir dut3" faithfully and well. ■ Ar to the purchase money, it was raised without difficulty on the most advantageous terms. The acquisition oi the line would inerea.w the travelling facilities of tho public, and * /» the moans of helping the developim of the business and pa.-Fon<:er tiafftV ol the Dominion. He spoke in teim-. of praise of the pioneers who promoted the line in tli3 early days, remarking that the present occasion would be one of intense interest to those | who inaugurated that valuable work in | the early days, the originators and pro- | moters of the company. He proposed the health of Mr H. D. Bell, and made fitting reference to his enterprise. > Mr D. J. Nathan, in reply, stated that the idea of constructing the railway emanated from the local Chamber of Commerce, and the Wellington Harbour Board scheme was involved in it. At the same

time the orginators of the railway never ■went into the work as a speculation, but in the interests of Wellington and the country as a -whole. In view of the demand for railways he questioned whether private enterprise- should not be encouraged.

The toast of the City of "Wellington was proposed by Mr J. Duthte, and replied to by the Mayor. .