A NEW RAILWAY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10528, 1 December 1905, Page 2

A NEW RAILWAY.

PREMIER TURNS FIRST SOD. (Per Press Association.) LAWRENCE, tliis day. The turning of tho first sod of the Tua. peka-RoxburgJi raihvay took place thie afternoon. The Premier, accompanied by Mrs Seddon, the Mayor of Dunedin, members' of the Otago league, the Hon.; Bolt, and a; number of representative citizens, journeyed from town by special train, reaching Roxburgh at 1 p.m. The Mayor of Lawrence *vclcomod the party. School children presented Mrs Seddon with a bouquet. The Premier M-as presented M-ith a golden spado. In turning the tsod of the first sectiou, which wifl bo about six miles, the. Premier said the total cost of the line was about £200,000. Ho prognosticated that a largo area of land now regarded as purely pastoral M-ould eventually bo taken up for fruit-gtow-ig, and M-ould support thousands of families. With the runs cut up for closer sottlement and Central Otago effectively irrigated, the country M-ould be capable of maintaining, a large population. There would bo practically three loops, ono connecting Invercargill via Clarksville, the other connecting - Roxburgh M'ith Alexandra, and thero Mould be direct connection with Dunedin. The party were entertained at luncheon by the towspeople of Lawrence. In tlie evening there M-ill be a social, and to-mor-row tbe Premier speaks at Waihola. Iv the evening be proceeds to Stirling.