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Star (Christchurch), Issue 2691, 11 November 1876, Page 2

Opbnino of thb Oamabu and Mosraki Railway.— Tho account given in the local papers of the excursion, by which this line was opened for traffic a few days ago, remind* one of the famous opening of the wooden railwajin Southland a few years ago. The free excursion trains took some. 1400 holiday-makers to Moeraki, landing them in good time at their destination. Not so, the return journey. About 700 started at three in the afternoon in the first train, consisting of nine carriages and a break-van, drawn by two engines. Something went wrong with one of the engines, the train reached a steep incline, and the remaining engine proved too weak to drag it through. The train was stopped, the passengers let loose on a highly delighted innkeeper, and an engine sent back for reinforcements. These were found in the shape of two engines labouring along with the second train for Oamara, having on board the balance (some 700) of the excursionists. Train No. 2, was despoiled of its engines, iU passengers sent off to make the fortunes of bar- keepers, and the three engines proceeded to tug at train No. 1. After a great deal of pushing and lugging, and shunting of the carriages by weary passengors, the task was found too great for even the three engines, and it was only by a sub-division of the train, that the passengers gut to Oamaruat nine o'clock. Train No. 3, fared very little better. The engines found the passengers killing time as they could, somo sleeping, others holding an impromptu ball, others glaring moodily into space. They wero soon en route, and train No. 2, after many rests to enable the engines to get up extra steam, arrived safely at Oamara at two in the morning. This journey of forced stoppages was made interesting (especially to those passengers who had nerves) by the disabled engine, whioh followed olose behind the he.>ls of the train, pursuing its independent career, with muoh oiatter and puffiog. The paisengers remarked that they did not like free excursions,