Opening of the Thames-Auckland Railway.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9258, 22 December 1898, Page 4

Opening of the ThamesAuckland Railway.

" By O'Fay."

The 19th of December in this year of grace is to be a red letter day of the moat crimson ruddiness. For after 20 years of travail, circumstances have at last parturiated, and all the Thames and his wife can now be borne to Te Aroha and other places, and back again, for one penny per mile. Twenty years ago the congregated bantlings of the place, clothed, as we are told, like the lilies of the field, in spotless white, were marshalled up, and carolled forth " My Own New Zea* land Home " while the first sod was turned. They looked forward to another gala day probably twelve months ahead, when they would again assemble and sing, and accentuate the delights of the occasion by the crowning glory of a ride on the train. Alas for the mutability of such circum^ stances as girdle humanity. The way was laid but no train ever ran on it. The expectant children grew up while waiting, entered upon the duties of maturity, and many of them now send their children to sing that .same song and rejoice in that very ride that was to have put the coping stone on their own childish delight a generation earlier. Probably they were happier thus. But the one central figure of the previous function is missing in this. The majestic presentment of the greatest of Austral Statesmen is forever dissolved, but the memory of it is very fresh and tender, Pathetic to have continued on almost to the attainment of his heart's desire and yet to be called hence before the final consume mation

Great indeed ia the attraction of the first train. Of all places the Thames ranks high for universality of religious devotioa among its people, yet even thia was tempered by the rush of -wheels immediately before evening service on Sunday. People whom hardly anything but calamity could restrain from church, were borne away in the tide that set towards Grahamstowu when the whistle was heard, and although many returned in time, many more, not less devout, discovered that the iron horse had for once galloped roughly shod over their spiritual welfare. Great was the crowd, great was the interest, if it is allowable one might add great also was the effort put forward by the B.A. It is to be hoped, results were proportionate. Judging by the length of the train the railway officials had evidently great expectations as to the number of first excursionists. The predominating desire was for fine weather on Monday. "When day broke it was very much in teais, and when the first train left at 8 a.m. the whole face of Nature was lachrymose. But half an hour later it became evident that Jupiter Pluvius likes his little joke as well as anybody else for the sky cleared before the least harm was done, and such rain as fell simply improved the temperature, and by ten o'clock the weather promised all the best things. Owing doubtless to the weather and earliness at the hour only a moderate crowd saw the first train off, and only as moderate a number went off with it. But two thingß were rather striking in connection with the «tart, which were': First, the absolutely cool, matter-of-fact, everyday-occurrence manner in which the officials sent her off, no fuss what-1 ever just as though trains had been leaving Grahamstown every day for years- and secondly, no demonstration of any kind by the crowd on seeing the first train leave. Not one single attempt at a cheer! Probably 11 o'clock will make up for it. Eleven o'clock came, and if Grahamstown ever held a denser throng than over* whelmed the station, \the occasion mU st have been notable Men, women, and children packed together under' high pressure and a fun that was evidently out for the day w d taking pains to keep everyone •dire to the fact, and yet through the

whole da; was no ill-humor, no nn» pleasantness ; intense pleasure and happiness flowed at floodtide. The children marched down in splendid

order. To descant upon the atirac

tivoness of this spectacle would be to paint the lily, or gild refined gold. But one conviction establishes itself in the reflective mind, and that is, we can leave off importing Austrians and such like foreigners whose one idea is to exploit our resources and levant with the spoil, for our domestic capabilities in the way of keeping the census iv a healthy and progressive condition are evidently in a high state of efficiency, and future possibilities are practically unlimited. They flooded their train like a mountain freshet till both carriages actual, and carriages iia provided, were a restless surge of radiant juvenility in a superlative state of elation and gaiety, and as the engine could not be adorned with the efflorescence *of youth and spirits like the rest of the train, it was garnished with a garland shaped like a horse-shoe, which was as tasteful in arrangement as gorgeous in ap pearance. After a lengthy wait, the Paeroa train came in, and gently but firmly carried away a band of blue ribbon that was stretched across the track, and thereupon the long deferred climax was reached, and the Thames line was declared open. But the welkin was not rent with cheers.

And now the rising generation began the advance en Puriri, with their emblem of luck brilliantly prominent. A valiant effort was put forth in the rendition of "My Own New Zealand Home," followed by the National Anthem, but the conflict of many voices, unavoidable in such circumstances, rather neutralised the effect. Still, everyone recognised the good intention, and gave credit proportionately. So far as the great bulk of the assembly were concerned, the same might be said of the various speeches made during the day. The olive branches, being out of sight, were likewise soon out of mind, owing to the hurry and bustle of getting on board for Te Aroha. The intensity and single-minded earnestness of the scramble for tickets at the booking office was only paralleled by the effort to effect an entrance into the Academy of Music on the evening of the Premier's speech. The next thing was to get a seat in a carriage, and this endeavor could hardly be called a gentle exercise. However, when everybody on board was squeezed to the last degree of compression, the train was considered loaded, and a start made just as the anthological horseshoe re-entered the station from Puriri, Progression waa slow but sure. Pretty well every station by the way absorbed a few of the passengers and reduced the congestion, Paeroa, especially, claiming a large toll. All aloDg the route the train received marked attention from residents of the locality particularly; at various stages, from representatives of the aforetime rulers of the roost in this country. Finally, after a steady run, unspiced by the slightest hitch, Te Aroha presented itself, and when the contents of that train flowed out of the station towards the town, and bearing in mind what had been left at different stations enroute, one felt justified in 'he opinion that the Thames must be empty. And yet it was said afterwards by some who saw the crowd at the starting of the Thames-Hauraki pumps that the portion absent at To Aroha were not even missed. Truly the Thames is a fruitful vine. Te Aroha was, or appeared, en fete for the occasion as was fitting, for probably it.never before held bo large a crowd. Its Domain was filled by Thames vistitors, its ears by the Thames Naval Band (which, under Bandmaster Smith, discoursed splendid music, both en route and at Te Aroha), and probably its baths with Thames dirt. As a set off to this the Thames was pretty well filled with Te Aroha soda water, and judging by subsequent events some of it must have been a trifle ex* hil&ratrag. At half-past five two trains began to gather up the fragments, and a little later, one laden with full measure and pressed down, started on. the return journey, followed it about a quarter of an hour by the other, which, though lightly loaded to begin with, was easily complemented at Faeroa. The run home was of a livelier nature than the outgoing trip, at times an extremely good speed being: attained- All things considered the opinion may well be entertained that the working of this line will be satisfactory.