EKETAHUNA – WOODVILLE RAILWAY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume V, Issue 582, 13 December 1897, Page 2

EKETAHUNA - WOODVILLE RAILWAY.

Opening Demonstration.

There is an old and trite saying that hope deferred muketh the heart sick. For several years now the hearts of the settlers of the bush districts have been made hiavy by the lingering policy adopted by the ! Railway Department in connection with the construction of the Ekclabuna - Wocdville line. Doth from press, platform and fireside harsh epithets have been hurled at the department for what appeared to the public mind unjustifiable delay in prosecuting the work of construction, it does seem a strange thing to the mind of the keen business man that the Government should waste so much valuable time in completing a work which when finished would immediately result in producing revenue. Thousands of pounds of public money, upon which interest is being paid, has been lying unproductive for years. The energetic business man would (having once started the line from Ekctahuua have prosecuted the work with despatch in order that traffic could he carried on and revenue raised to pay for the cost of construction. However, the line is now finished and traffic has begun, and it is useless now to think about what should liavo been. On Saturday last at Woodville the opening demonstration took place. The occasion was improved by the Woodville folk in that they arranged a programme, which had the etfect of bringing together from all parts a crowd of pleasure-seekers as large if not the largest that has ever been gathered at one tune within the Woodville borough. It goes without saying that had the celebration been fixed for any other day but Saturday the attendance would have been as large again. The respective Mayors of l’alnatua and Dauuevirke hail been requested to proclaim Saturday a holiday, hut the business people could not he expected to close their business places upon a Saturday, and in neither place was the holiday observed. Nevertheless a large number of the public whose business tic s were clastic enough to permit a visit to Woodville put in an appearance, and these together with a crowd of excursionists from Wellington and the towns en route resulted in the attendance of a very large body of people. A large and influential committee of Woodvilie gentlemen had been engaged for some weeks in perfecting arrangements, and they did their work so well that everything passed oil' without a hitch. Three trains arrived via Wairarapa, having called at the stations en route — a special, an excursion and the ordinary train—all crowded with visitors, as were also the excursion trains from Napier and Wellington via Manawatu. The main street of Woodville and the various business places were gay with evergreen and hunting, while the station presented a gay and festive appearance, and was enlivened by the presence of hundreds of ladies attired in drapery of bright and varied hues. Of course tlie main attraction was the presence of Lord and Lady Ranfurly. who arrived by special train, and were met on the station by Mr J. Gothard Mayori and Mrs •1. Monte ll h. who. a-; the wile of Ike oldest councillor, did the honors of Lady Mayoress in the absence, through illness, of Mrs Gothard. On emerging from the train Lady Ranfurly was presented with a beautiful bouquet by Miss Monteith. After welcoming the vice-regal party His Worship introduced the Councillors individually to Lord and Lady Ranfurly, after which the party were driven to a hotel by Mr Mcl hail in a landau and pair of dashing greys. After a short time of waiting the excursion trains from Wellington arrived loaded with excursionists, including the' Right Honorable the Premier, Captain Russell and a largo number of numbers of both Houses of tlie legislature, all of whom were driven to Fountains Square, where a platform had been erected. The Woodville Volunteers were in evidence as a guard of honor. On ascending the platform llis Excellency and Lady Ranfurly wero cheered to the echo, and the Premier also received a most enthusiastic reception. When the ViceRegal party and the several monitors of the House wore all gathered on the platform, Mr Crawford presented an address of welcome to llis Excellency on behalf of the Borough Council and inhabitants of Woodville. Ills Excellency in a very brief speech, thanked them most hoartily on behalf of himself and Lady Ranfurly. Ail adjournment was then made to the large drill hall, where ail elaborate banquet had been prepared. An account of the proceedings inside the Drill Hall is unfortunately crowded out of to-day’s issue, hut will appear in Wednesday’s issue. The demonstration committee very thoughtfully made arrangements whereby the school children received refreshments on Fountaino Square while the banquet was in progress inside the hall. The comfort of the visitors was catered for by several townspeople. Indeed every other building secund to have been turned into a refreshmo.it l oom for the time being. At 1.30 all was again hustle and excitement. The Governor and suite, amidst ringing cheers, embarked oil hoard llis special, while the Right lion, the Premier received a similar compliment. It speaks well for the railway management and the fore thought of the Woodville committee that the whole of the proceedings passed otf most pleasantly. We congratulate our Woodville friends upon the success of their labors, and no doubt those who visited Woodville from far ami near will cherish pleasant memories ot the celebrations in connection with the opening of the F.kotalunia Woodvilla railway.