The Forest Hill Railway.

Southern Cross, Volume 7, Issue 35, 25 November 1899, Page 5

The Forest Hill Railway.

OPENING CEREMONY.

Although the Forest Hill railway was opened for traffic to the present terminus at Hedgehope, about 13 miles from Winton, in July last, the formal ceremony did not take place till Wednesday, when it was made the occasion of a public demonstration. A holiday was proclaimed in Invercargill, and two special trains •were despatched from town, tke first (stopping at wayside stations) leaving at 10.30 a.rn., and the second (stopping only at Winton ) an hour later. When the first train reached Winton it was greeted with a musical welcome by the Winton Brass Band, who were assembled in front ot Moore’s Hall, and after a number of additional carriages filled with Wintonians had been attached, the journey to Hedgehope was resumed, that place being reached shortly before one p.m. The second train, with a another contingent of holidaymakers, and the Winton band, arrived a few minutes later. That veteran piper, Mr Geo. McLeod, of Hedgehope, welcomed tke trains with some of his choicest strains, and soon townsfolk and settlers were fraternising—as the respected Mayor of Winton put it, * Winton and Hedgehope had shaken hands.’ and he might have added Invercargill also. Over 1,000 persons travelled to the scene by rail, and a number of others drove, rode, or cycled, and the number in attendance altogether was about 1,800, The number probably exceeded the expectations of the committee of management, who deserve praise for the way in which they worked, and so it happened that the caterer (Mr J. Kingsland) and his assistants were kept hard at it during the afternoon. They provided an excellent luncheon for the public, and in addition had a banquet prepared in the goods shed for the official visitors. After an interval for sight-seeing, interfered with to some extent by the advent of a thunder-storm, Mr Ward, the Mayor of Winton, and a number of support.ers clambered to the top of a railway carnage, and from that coign of advantage the hon. gentleman addressed his audience, and did so in his happiest vein. Mr Ward said that the duty devolved upon him, in the unavoidable absence of the Minister of Public Works, of declaring the line open, and he did so with the greatest possible pleasure. He was confident that the day would be looked upon as a red-letter one in the history of the district. The railway had had a most chequered career. It was in the year 1879 that a former representative of the district (Mr P. K. McCaughan) induced the then Government to establish a connecting link in the shape of a tramway, the first section of which, miles in length, was .handed over to the Southland County Council early in 1885. To show how little they thought of it, that body, with the wisdom that had characterised its conduct of public affairs ia the district, returned the line to the Government in July, 1885. On the completion of the second section in December, 1885, the Minister for Public Works handed the line over to the Railway Department, to be worked as a tramway, or in any other manner that it thought fit. The Department had no kindly feeling towards this part of the Colony, and they leased it to the first Hokonui Coal Co., under certain conditions as to improvements, etc. The line afterwards vested in the Railway Commissioners, and in 1890, 157 settlers petitioned the Government through him (the speaker) as the member for Awarua, to have the line converted into a railway and conducted on behalf of the settlers by the Commissioners, who, however, refused to have anything to do with it. Later on, when the line fell out of the lease held by the second Hokonui Coal and Railway Company, he (Mr Ward) felt free to act, and that there was no

longer any reason to prevent his advocating that the line should be made a permanent one. As the result of his efforts, aided by those of the other Southland members, votes were granted from time to time for the conversion of the tramway into a railway. The total cost to date, including £9,560 spent on the original tramway, was £31,860, so that a very large expenditure had been essential to bring the line to its present position. Someone had asked on the way «p why a line should be put through that part of the country. He (the speaker) did not think there was anyone with such short-sighted vision as not to realise that every section of land made available throughout such a magnificent district must benefit the Colony as a whole, and Southland in particular. A few short years ago the settlers, in order to get their produce to market, had to cart it all the way to Wintpu in one direction or to Woodlands in the other. Few would say that the railway track would not do as much good, comparatively speaking, as it had done in America and Canada, where lines were sometimes made, and services run, before there was any prospect of a return. Within coo-ee there were 50,000 acres of agricultural land and large tracts of timber, and almost alongside there were coal-fields —for the moment not being developed, but which were bound to be utilised in the interests of the district, of the railway, and of consumers. After paying a tribute to the bagpipe playing of Mr Geo. McLeod, and to the valour of the Gordon Highlanders, Mr Ward expressed regret that the day selected for the opening ceremony had clashed with the statutory meetings of a number of public bodies and so prevented the attendance of many who would otherwise have been with them. Reference was also made to the grit displayed by the settlers of the district in coping with the difficulties of their position, handicapped a,3 they bad been by the want of railway facilities, and to the presence of the Mayor of Winton (Mr T. McWilliam) whose borough was now a junction for the Hedgehope district. As to the Hue itself, there was already an amount of traffic available that would make it pay better than some of the political railways of the past. One of the engines was then driven slowly along the line, severing a tape held by Mrs Ward, the band meanwhile playing “Rule Britannia!” Cheer after cheer followed, and so ended the formal ceremony. A banquet followed in the goods shed, the Mayor of Winton presiding. For a few minutes there was a rush to secure seats, one visitor, as he pushed his way to the coveted goal, comparing it to the rush to secure tote dividends.

After Mr D.Kinghad read telegrams of apology for absence from the Hons. J. McKenzie and Hall-Jones, the chairman in happy terms proposed “ Her Majesty the Queen,” who was, he said well named Yictorfa —her reign had been marked by victories in scientific and other fields to an extent unparalleled in the history of the world. The toast was enthusiastically honoured. Mr D. McKenzie gave “ The Array, Navy, and Volunteers,” coupled with the names of Lieut.-Col. Feldwick, Capt. Hawkins, and “ our own Sergt. Kennedy,” (Applause), The toast was received with cheers, with “ one more for South Africa.” The gentlemen associated with the toast responded, Capt. Hawkins saying that he was proud to be a member of a force (the New Zealand Volunteers) which had sent a unit to assist the British soldiers to maintain the honour of the Empire in South Africa. As for Sergt. Kennedy, he upheld with characteristic fervour and vigour his convictions, expressed at Winton some months ago, that" no other body of men in equal numbers could stand against the British soldiers in the field, and was of course applauded to the echo. The chairman gave “ The Forest Hill Railway ” in a speech bringing

into strong relief the difficulties of travelling in the so-called “ good old days,’ as compared with the facilities now enjoyed. He referred in terms of regret to the closure of the Hokonui coal - mine, which had brought several industries to a standstill, but was confident that new fields would be opened and worked ere long. Mr J. Miliar responded, stating that about twenty years had passed since the settlers began to agitate for the construction ot the line. Personally he hoped to see another section of it completed within two years. Mr A. Kinross then recited the following poem, composed by him in honour of the occasion :

We meet this day to celebrate another great event. The gallant men of Forest Hill can rest in calm content. The line so eagerly desired has bee* attained at last, And merited success has crowned the efforts ot the past. The settlers had an arduous task when they took up the la*d, And manfully they did their work, with willing heart and hand. The tussocks wild have disappeared, deep bogs and swamps been drained, And fertile fields, and pleasant homes by industry been gained. For many years they struggled on, through flood, morass, and mire; But now to market they can go dressed in their best attire; And noble vessels now will bear their crops to other lands, Where eager men are glad to get the products of their hands. ’Tia not in Forest Hill alone that peace and plenty reign, Throughout Hew Zealand’s length and breadth now industry may gain ; Monopolists and usurers no longer rule the land, The honest man who seeks a home assistance can command. Then may the People’s Ministry long guide the helm of State, And may New Zealand ever lead in all is good and great; The honest poor no tonger dread the poverty of age, And even children now can claim a reasonable wage. May those are present here with us experience delight, And may their happiness extend far in the coming night, May old and young enjoy themselves each in appropriate way, And may the opening of the line be a remembered day. Mr J. A. Hanan gave “ The Parliament of Kew Zealand,” which was acknowledged by Messrs Kelly and McNah and the Hons. H. Peldwick and J. Gr. Ward, a vein of pleasantry being introduced in view of the coming elections. “ The "Visitors,” given by Mr Halliday, was replied to by the Mayor of Invercargill (Mr J. Stead) and Mr J. McLean of Caroline, who gave a Gaelic song in lieu of a speech. At the instance of Mr Ward, cheers were given for the chairman and for the committee. A rush was then made for the train, which left at 330 p.m. and reached Invercargill an hour and a half later, Winton being the only stopping place en route. Tbe second train arrived in town at 8.20 p.m.