THE RAILWAY CEREMONY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12684, 10 February 1912, Page 5

THE RAILWAY CEREMONY.

TURNING THE FniST SOD. The special excursion train containing his Excellency, officials, and local .citizens pulled up at King's road at 11.35 a.m. Owing probably to the' inclement weather, the train was not largely patronised. The site chosen for the function was on the western side of the line, just past the- -station platform' iri a statioh reserve leased from the Department and adjoining Messrs Brooking Bros.' dairy farm. Here an enclosure had. been roped off for. the occasion, and a substantial and neatly-decorated platform, surmounted with a marquee roof and fes-. tooned • with greenery and bunting, had been erected by the Public Works Department Several pegs marking the centre line of the route from Patutahi denoted the terminus pf the line from Napier. The line, which crosses the main Ormond road near the- Catholic Church, approaches the King's road station on a graceful curve. The junction is situated Si miles from the Gisborne station. Directly in front of the platform were the wheeling planks with a varnished barrow and light -.garden spade, bearing the coat of ai*ms, standing ready. Near by was the all-im-portant sod — a good grass sod— all ready for the ceremony. Mr C. E. Armstrong, District Engineer, who was responsible for the excellent arrangements, was in waiting. His Excellency was accompanied by Captain Shannon, Aide-de-Camp, the Mayor (Mr W. Pettie), Mr H. Kenway (chairman of the Cook County Council), Mr W. D. S. MacDonald, M.P., Messrs J. Hunter Brown (chairman of- the Wairoa County Council), E. H. Williams (president of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce), Cranby (president of the Napier Chamber of Commerce), H. A. Mossman and. D. Whyte, of Hastings, members of the East Coast Railway League, Majors. Beere and Evans, Messrs J. Townley (chapman Gisborne Harbor Board), Councillors (Borough) J. W. Bright. G; Smith, A. Sawyer, W. Webb, G. Wildish, ; Councillors : (County) 11. Sherratt, D. J. Parker, G. E. Jones, T. Jex-Blake, G. Witters, Messrs W. L. Rees, L. T. Symes, W. Miller, J. R. Kirk, J W. Nolan, F. J. Rowley, J. Warren, H. M. Porter, A. J. Paterson, and F: Cumming. The Mayor (Mr Pettie) said they had met for the most important function that had taken place in the district, the turning of the first sod of the Gisborne-Wai-roa-Napier railway at the Gisborne end. A few days ago he had been delighted to receive a telegram from the Minister of Public Works, informing him that work was to be started on the line, and that his Excellency the Governor was being invited to turn the first sod. 'He had Deen greatly delighted, and had immediately called a meeting and an executive had been appointed. Invitations had been extended to a large number to be present at the function, including the Prime Minister, Sir James Carroll', Minister of Public Works, and the Mayors and Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce of the neighboring towns. Some had accepted the invitation, and they were glad to have them present today. He had received numerous telegrams, including messages frbrii the Priirie Minister and others, which he proceeded ; to read :, — From the Prime Minister: "Sincere thanks for invitation, I deeply regret that my public duties render it impossible lor , me to be pre sent on the historical occasion ot 'the turning of the first sod of the Gisborne-Nopier pection I of tlie East Coast railway.— J. G. Ward." I From Sir Jas. Carroll : "I regret very much my inability to be amongst ybu, . -especially at such a time when our Governor is honoring ! the district. I shall be glad if you will, explain my absence, and tell the people that I

had fondly hoped to be there, but circuin- ; stances were against me. I trust the function is but the precursor of a grand development all round. — J. Carroll." From the Hon. R. McKenzie, Minister for Public Works: "I am having arrangements made for turning first sod of the railway from Gisborne to Wairoa on Saturday, the 10th inst. I am exceedingly sorry to . say that as far as I can judge at present, it will be perfectly impossible for me to be in Gisborne on that date, much as I would like to be amongst you on such tt memorable occasion. I. am communicating with Sir Jas. Carroll in reference to the matter. — R. McKenzie, Minister of Public Works." . ; From the Mayor of Auckland: "Regret exceedingly being unable to ; accept your kind to turning first sod' railway Gisborne to Napier. Great importance- to your district of being thus linked up with rest of North Island, and wish every success and quick ..progress to the work. — C. J. • Parr, Mayor." From the Mayor of Hastings: "Sorry, unable to be with you Saturday next. Wishing you every success. — J. Garnett, Mayor." From Mr Vigor Brown, M.P. for Napier: "I regret that owing to ray having arranged to, ,lay the foundation stone of" the Port' 'Ahuriri 1 jCoronation Hall on Saturday, 10th inst, "I will be unable to accept your kind invitation 'to be present at the turning by His Excellency the .Governor of the first sod of the Gisb6rne-Na-jpier trunk railway. I hope the weather will be fine and trust the time is not far distant ■when I will be able to leave Napier by train and you will be able to leave Gisborne, and i\ve will be able to meet half-way and shake .hands with each other on ' the completion of the line. — Vigor Brown." From, the Chairman , Waiapu iCounty, Council: '! Afraid, unable accept your kind invitation .attend, function. Wish ybu fine day and successful gathering for the "great occasion. Mr Sherwood may possibly be able to "represent us. — K. S. Williams." . From the Mayor of Wairoa: "Very sorry unable to be present to-day. I congratulate the .people of Gisborne, and wish them every sue cess in the very important undertaking. Kind regards. — Joseph Corkill, Mayor." From the President Wairoa Chamber of Commerce: "Regret exceedingly heavy roads prevent my being present at your ceremony today. — John Somerville, President Chamber Commerce." From the President Napier Chamber of Commerce: "Owing to indisposition accept my apology for being unable to attend your function in connection with East Coast railway. Please accept our Chamber's congratulations, and we trust that the turning of the first sod from your end is the forerunner of the speedy completion of the line to Napier to our mutual advantage. Wishing you success,— C. Cranby, Chairman of Napier Chamber of Commerce." "My first duty is now to invite his Excellency to perform this function," declared the Mayor, "and I am sure you will agree with me that we heartily thank his Excellency for accepting the invitation and being present on this great occasion. I now ask his Excellency to perform the ceremony." (Applause.) Lord Islington then stepped down from the dais, and, taking the spade from the District Engineer, uplifted the sod in a workmanlike manner and turned it neatly into the barrow. Seizing the wheelbarrow handles, he walked along th© wheeling planks and tipped the sod. It fell flatly, with the grass side under, being "well and truly laid," amidst a hearty round of applause. His Excellency and the various officials then returned to the platform, and as they did so the Mayor called for three cheers for Lord Islington, which were heartily given. Lord Islington, standing on the top of the flight, of steps, and* addressing the assemblage, said this was the most important function of the many he had been invited to perform during his visit to Gisborne. He felt honored and gratied that time and occasion had been found for him to take part in this very interesting ceremony, because he realised to the full that it was one of great significance to Gisborne and the whole district that lies behind and on either 'side of the town. His drive to Gisborne yesterday and the day before had impressed itself upon him, from one point ,of view, by the beautiful scenery he had passed through and the great area of fertile land, and on the other hand he was also impressed by the difficulty of land access that had been so serious a disability to the citizens of Gisborne and the inhabitants of the district. In turning the first sod of the GisborneNapier railway to-day he felt that he ■was taking part in the inauguration of a scheme of. no small engineering difficulty. . He was informed that the line between Gisborne and Napier would pass through considerable natural obstacles .which had to be overcome, and he was informed by the District Engineer (Mr Armstrong) that these difficulties, though they might be serious in places, were by no means, insurmountable, and would be overcome by modern science and engineering. (Applause.) His observations in New Zealand had impressed him with the fact that natural obstacles had not been a deterrent in railway projection and development in New* Zealand. . Looking broadly over the Dominion and the many journeys he had 'made since he had been Governor, and taking into consideration the comparatively short space of time this Dominion had been a British colony, the record jof mileage in railway projection was highly creditable to the people of New ■Zealand. This could not, of course, be /seen so much by the people in the town jand neighborhood of Gisborne, because jthey had not been so fortunately circumistanced as other towns and districts of ■the Dominion. To-day's ceremony, however, marked the inception of a work that he hoped would be completed in a ;few years' time, and would form a new era to the whole trade and prosperity of Gisborne and its neighborhood. (Applause.) He thought it was gratifying and encouraging that this ceremony was talcing place, following as it did a similar ceremony which took place at Napier a few days ago, under the auspices of the Prime Minister, at the other end of the line. He thought they might be fully assured by the duplicate ceremonies that there would be for certain from this date simultaneous development from both ends of the line. So he thought they might anticipate from that fact rapid progress of the line, and he hoped the early completion Of the work. (Applause.) It must, his Excellency went on to say, have been gratifying to his hearers to recollect the announcement of the Prime Minister at Napier that the line was to be projected from both ends, and thus assure its early completion and railway facilities for many settlers in the interior, and also to recollect that this line was to make a part of a considered scheme to link' up the whole railway system of the North Island — (applause) — and which, when completed, would place Gisborne and Napier in direct -communication with the main arteries of traffic and the centres of in•dustry through6ut the whole island. He could fully appreciate the anxiety and keen anticipation that the people of Gisborne must all feel for the realisation and completion "of this scheme. The progress of the town of Gisborne and the 'development of the neighboring dis trict of Gisborne had been very marked during the past ten years, and he thought the inhabitants might now reasonably expect to, be provided with the first requisite of modern progress and prosperity to fit them in the competition with other worlds. (Applause.) Proceeding, his Excellency said it was most gratifying to him to note from the information that had been placed before him the advancement of the district during recent years, and he congratulated them upon the increased population aiid increased trade and commerce, which was highly satisfactory. His Excellency alsd r feommented favorably upon the marked development in the cultivated area, in the neighborhood of Gisborne, . and the corresponding increase of settlers established in the district; This had all taken place in recent years, in spite of the fact that- the district was without railway transport, and he thought it was a great credit to the people of Gisborne and district that such had taken place. Now they had reached 'this stage of robust maturity railway facilities wore of urgent importance, and he realised the benefits that would be obtained therefrom. It was also urgently needed to still further develop the splendid land that he had passed through, and thus add to the sinews of the commerce of Gisbornej. and. the whole Dominion. (Applause.) His Excellency stated 'he spoke in no perfunctory sense, of the immense importance of railway arid transport facilities, as he had in the course of his career been associated with the administration of locomotive facili- ; ties of London, and for some years he had sat on a railway commission to report on .additional facilities for the vast metropolis, and with the experience he derived in those days he was able to realise, with the. conditions, that obtained in New Zealand, the advantages that would be derived. He could appreciate what it would mean to Gisborne to have the linking up with the railway system of the North Island. The more they

could increase the railway and transport facilities the more the people of New Zealand would make use of these facilities. (Applause.) Referring to the advantages arising from being brought into close communication with the outside world, his Excellency said there must be many people hi Gisborne who had lived their lives here, people who looked with apprehension at the facing of the sea and the arduous task of travelling the difficult roads. These people would have the opportunity of going to the outside world and mixing up with the larger minds in the outside world, and the result would be the broadening of the views of the people of Gisborne. It would also induce many people, in years to come, to visit Gisborne from distant districts, and. they would no doubt be easily induced to remain here, and increase the. trade and population of the district. In conclusion, his Excellency said it had' been a great pleasure to him to taKe part in this most important function. He could only trust that before many years had elapsed the railway would be opened, and they would realise for themselves what he had said of the .great impetus it Avbuld give to local trade of the district and the Dominion, adding to the. sinews of the trade and commerce of this fair country of the British Empire. (Loud applause.) Tlie Mayor said his next duty was a very pleasing one. He had been requested by the residents of the district to express to his Excellency their thanks for his having kindly accepted the invitation to be present on that occasion. They recognised in doing, so he must have been put to considerable personal inconvenience. They knew he had been obliged to undertake a very arduous journey, and tliat he had to overcome many difficulties, and to get here he had to travel some very rough roads, and in some places no roads at all. However, they were very glad he rhad arrived safely, and in time to perform the function. That was not the first sod that had been turned in this district. Twelve years ago Sir Joseph Ward was present and turned the first sod of the Gis-borne-Rotorua railway. That railway had now been constructed almost as far as Motu, some 40 miles away. That railway had been of considerable benefit amd he thought the people of GisbPrne and the district realised fully the benefit it had been to' them, arid now that the sod had been turned bf the railway to connect them with Napier at both ends, ho hoped the : work would be advanced rapidly, and that. in a very short time it would be accomplished. He hoped that l when it was accomplished the present Government and Minister who had initiated the work would be well satisfied, and that the line would be a payable one. He hoped it would not only be a good thing, for their district, but that it woul.d bo .a national asset and one of the great works of the Dominion, linking up the great stretch between Gisborne and Napier ; and with the other railway rapidly constructed towards Auckland , they would then have! the; whole of the East Coast linked up, which would be a national asset, and a benefit to the people, giving them a second main trunk railway. (Applause). When the line was accomplished probably the traffic on the main trunk line would be congested, and he hoped many tourists and others would travel over the second main ti'unk and see the rich district they had in Poverty Bay. The Mayor hoped the work his Excellency had begun would be a great work in the Dominion. "It is the wish .of the people that you should ' carry away with you some memento^ pf this very, iriiportarit occasiori," said Mr Pettie m addressing Lord Islington, "arid the people of the district, both town and country, have asked me to request you to accept a small memento of the occasion. This is in the form of a gold spade, suitably inscribed. On their behalf I now have the honor and pleasure of asking your acceptance of this small present, and trust it will remind you in future days of this function and of our thanks to you. (Applause.) In handing it to you, permit me to express the hope that you will have many years of happiness, and have many other functions ltb carry out as representative of His Majesty the King." (Applause). His Excellency, in acknowledging the gift, said he deeply appreciated the charming memento. He would not need tliat little spade to remind him of his visit and the importance of that ceremony, but the charming gift would certainly always be with him, and always be one he would appreciate, as reminding him of the cordial reception he had received from the citizens of Gisborne on that ; his first visit to the district. (Applause). At the call of the Mayor loud cheers were then given for Lord Islington. Mr W D. S. MacDbnald, M.P. for i u °£, Plent y> an <l Chairman of the Waikohu County Council, assured the gathering that it was a -very great pleasure for him to be present there that day and welcome his Excellency to that part of the county district. He thought those of them who were acquainted with his Excellency's movements during the short time of twenty niohths he had been in the Dominion would realise that he had attempted to keep in close touch' with the industries of the people throughout New Zealand, and he "thought they could all appreciate his coming here to perform the ceremony of turning the first' sod of an important railway, which would not only be of great importance to this" locality, but to the whole Dominion. (Applause.) Mr MacDonald said he was one of those who had been closely in touch with the increased work of productiveness of this district for the past 30 years, and closely in touch with the incidental pioneeririg and settlement of the country, and he believed the best direction in which the public money could be spent was in roa<Js and bridges, and giving railway facilities to the people. (Applause.) Every mile of railway made the people more prosperous and the country more productive. "I hope the railway will be prosecuted with vigor," continued the member for Bay of Plenty, "and be of immediate benefit .to the people of New Zealand. This line will pass through a large area of splendid country, which will be all the more productive by having railways and tramways. This will become a national/ railway to link up the whole system of railways in the North Island. (Applause.) There was no doubt the people had agitated for many years for the commencement of that line, and he hoped to see, within a very few weeks, permanent work commenced— (Applause) — and carried on with expedition for the benefit of the people. The! other railway was making rapid stridps, and . was .being pusheu on to the interior arid bush country, which it Avas benefiting very greatly. He felt sure that if the prosperity of the country continues as it was today, the new" railway would be pushed on with greater expedition than the Gisboi'ne-Motu line. (Applause.) tit was the serious intention, of the. Government to carry out the : work with all possible despatch. He hoped many of the people there would .have the privilege of travelling on the railway from Gisborne to Napier. (Applause.) „ "I will riot say "much;,"" 'announced Mr H. Kenway, Chairman of the Cook County Council, upon stepping forward. "I wish on behalf of the. county residents more particularly to thank his Excellency most sincerly for coming here to open this very great work. I Unite ip what Mr. MacDonald said, that, we have been too long cut off from access to the outside districts, but that how we will be able to get better access to the outside world than hitherto. I again thank his Excellency.".* (Applause.) Mr J. Hunter Brown, Chairman of the Wairoa County Council, was the nexti speaker. He expressed pleasure at being present on such an occasion. He said he was at a similar cne at Napier some fourteen daysi ago. "I represent. Wairoa to-day," he continued, "and I hope to see in another twelve months a sod turned there. (Applause.) The distance by railway from Gisborne to Napier would be 170 miles or thereabouts, 130 miles of which ran through the' Wairoa county. They in Wairoa took a very lively interest in the railway, and he hoped they would be asked by the Mayor of Gisborne to come up very ' soon to see the railway opened. (Applause.) Mr J. Townley, Chairman of the Gisborne Harbor Board, said he was also pleased to have the opportunity tp take part iii such an important ceremony. He hud taken a similar part in a similar

ceremony a few years ago, when there were some who said it was doubtful whether the work would' go any further. From the time that sod was turned Gisborne began to move, and he hoped that to-day's function would be a forerunner of 'a similar move. "We are extremely fortunate . in having the sod turned* by the Governor." continued Mr Townley. "It was all very well Napier getting theirs turned' first by the Premier; they are welcome to it — (laughter) but we have the Governor, who represents, the King. (Applause.) I was pleased to hear Mr Brown say what he did, (that they wanted the sod turned there. I say, Turn the sod at Wairoa,! and come this way.' (Laughter and applause.) Ham here as Chairman of the| Harbor Board. Our little harbor sometimes gets abused, you know. His Excellency said he came in by the back door, tlhat it was more safe to come in that way. (Laughter.) I have been here 40 years, and never had to come in by the" back door yet. (Applause.) I am going to stick up for our harbor." Continuing, the speaker pointed out it would take longer to get by train to Napier than by water. The harbor was not so bad after all, and they were going to improve it. "Why, when his Excellency goes out of the harbor to-mor-row he will slide out like going out of a canal." (Laughter.) After referring to the usefulness of the railway for getting their goods ,to market, and about the country, Mr Townley pointed out what great benefits had been derived from railways in England. The railway to Napier -»wbuld be a very important one for New Zealand. He wished it every success, and if Mr Brown would take the hint and start their end and work towards Gisborne they would soon meet. (Laughter and applause.) The difficulties were not so serious. When the railway was projected from Gisborne to Motu some people said it would never get there, but in the hands of a few engineers the difficulties disappeared. Last year Poverty Bay sent out oneseventeenth part of the exports of New Zealand. That was very satisfactory, and a good deal depended on the communication to get the produce away. "I hope in a few years," concluded the speaker, "people who think this is isolated Poverty Bay will find it almost the centre of New Zealand, and producing a large proportion of the produce ot New Zealand. We have a right to ask that the railway be prosecuted with vigor." (Applause.) In a brief speech Mr W. L. Rees referred to the importance of the occasion in increasing the means of civilisation, and the prosperity of the people. He congratulated his Excellency upon the duty that devolved upon him, and the other duties to take place. That was a red-letter day for this district. (Applause.), He i. was sure before very long . they would see that what they desired; would be successfully accomplished. Mr F.'.W. Williams,, of Napier, said he was, with Messrs If. Whyte and H. Mossman,. representing the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, and he heartily congratulated the Poverty Bay people on the important work which his Excellency had been good enough to commence by turning the first sod. "I would like," he proceeded, "to' pay "a tribute to the memory of the man who started the work originally, the. late Mr David Whyte", Timroto. (Applause). He labored hard and earnestly, and .tried to ( press upon the people of the country that this was an important work, but unfortunately v at that time railway 1 construction was not thought so much of as it is to-day.. He did not live to see the first sod turned, but no doubt the work he did helped us to get the railway through. Hp has a worthy successor in his son, who lias worked very liard. (Applause.) Mr Williams said his Chamber had itaken a very active part in the work, arid they had been busy about it for many years. With the aid of the Gisborne Chamber they got the Government to see it was an important work. He had the honor five years ago to move the motion that brought the East Coast Railway League into existence. They had in Mr Allison a president who in every action was insistent on getting the work commenced. Whenever a Minister passed through Napier he was tackled' about that railway, consequently they got tired of hearing about it, and suddenly they found it was a necessary work. (Applause.) Mr- Williams also spoke of

the utility of railways and of the im- j porta nee of the Gisborne-Napier line.' ' That would be the Only chance of escap- \ ing the Tarawera. (Laughter.) "You will have her here for ever/' he said. "I can aee no sign of the Union Company waking up to the potentialities of the trade." He concluded by referring to the significance of the turning of the first sod at King's road by the King's representative. (Applause.) The Mayor then called on Mr D. Whyte to say a few words. Mr Whyte commenced by saying that the distance from Gisborne to Napier was only 117 miles. It was going by the shortest practicable route, and not in a circuitous route, in order to give everybody a railway a\ their back door. It had first been proposed to take it through Mangapoike, but a.better route had been.found. As representative of his family, he (Mr • Whyte) cordially thanked the speakers for the kindly reference to his father, whose body lay in its grave overlooking the accepted route of the railway. The unselfish efforts of his father reminded them that "no man liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself." Mr Whyto urged that they should not rest until ihe railway was an accomplished fact, which he fully expected it to be within the next five years. (Ap-. plause.) Mr J. W. Bright, Chairman of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, briefly referred to the auspiciousness of the occasion, and urged that the work should be proceeded with with vigor, so that they could have a permanent way linking" them up with the other arterial railways in the North Island. Mr Bright concluded by calling for cheers for his Excellency, which were heartily given. At the* suggestion of the Mayor, the Governor presented the wheelbarrow and spade used by him to Mr Wauchop for the Makauri school.