OPENING OF THE MOUNT SOMERS RAILWAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4507, 4 October 1882, Page 3

OPENING OF THE MOUNT SOMERS RAIL WAY.

-♦ [bt oxtb speoial erpobteb.] The first train available to the gonoral public ran over the newly-completed Mount Somers lino of railway from Ashburton yesterday, and tho lino is now open permanently. But when tho word "permanently" is mado uso of, it miufc not be misunderstood. If, during the onsuing holiday season, a Christchurch citizen imould deeire to kick up his heels on tho hills in the Mount isomers district, he will find himself in a sad plight if ho make his excursion on a day that will not fit in with tho "running" of tho traits on the new branch. For as yet the railway authorities have made up their irinds to run only twice a week— on Tuesdays and Saturdays only — so that somo study of tho timetable will bo required before starting. A day among tho hills om ba stolen out from amongst the railway arrangements by starting from Ohristchurch with the last train on a Monday evening. This reaches Ashburton shortly after seven. There is plenty of good hotel accommodation iv Ashburton, and Quill's excellent establishment is quite near tha station. Putting up for the ni»ht at one of tho hotels, and gotting up in time for the first train to the mountains, will seoure a start at 7 o'clock a.m. At 8.25 the train reaches the presont terminus — Anama. I had better stop here and think how I oan best put it, bo that I do not lay myself under tho baa of any unfortunate man who might follow my advice a cortain distanco only. Ho mustn't stop at Anama. Indeed he won't, for thera is nothing there but a wilderness of tueeock, and this scene of desolation may tempt him to ntore up in somo corner of his heart an unkind recollection of this article, and to go back agan by tho returning train. Ho mustn't do that.. Ho must tako John Hood's coach, and go straight on to the township. Hers he will be ablo to get a good me&l at John Hood's hotel, and then make for the hills. Thero are many interesting things to see in the ranges, and the bush is not a far distant drive. A livery stable ia kept, by Mr W. H. Smith in the township of Mount Somers, and a trap can be got easily. There ii plenty of time to see a lot beforo the train el arts again at 7 p.m. to bring tho excursionists down to Ashburton at 8.15. Of coureo ho must do anothor night in the town, and 7 o'clock next morning will see him on his way to Chrißtchurch by tho first train. There era worse woys of spending a day than going up to Mount Somcra, if that is fioo .- it :tia wet, there ia not a way that can possibly be worse. Yesterday was a good day to begin with, and a fiendishly bad one to ond with. The Hailway Department provided carriH go accommodation for about 250 people. -Not half that number took advantage of the train, the i.-x---cursion fire, and the publio holiday that had been declared, to take a trip to the hills ; so several carriages wore dropped off at Tinwald. The good people at Ashburton are weather wise, and know something of the hill district. Though the morning in Ashburton was fine and an industrious nor'-wester was at work, a wind which does not usually have much acquaintance with rain, thero was an appearanoo about tho hills that was marrow to the soul of the farmer, but gall and bittern? ss to old Ashburton stagers who purposed holidaying. The indications in the upcountry were plainly, "Wet." And liko sensible people m_uy of the good I folk-*, who v-ould otherwise have gono, came to tho platform to see the pluokier ones away, hut stayed at home themselves. Btill übout 70 passengers went, ana a few wero picked up at other stations on the route. The run was very pleasant, and everybody was jolly, ihe Juvenile B ais Band of Ashburton was on tho train, and pUved tho greater pirt of tho wa}-, Mr Bank having do>-.e a graceful fchiflg by sending the lad* free pas3e3. I don't know if thia i-i truo or not. Perhaps lam givin? the " D.p-irtmonb" a compliment it doesn't deserve-, but 1 d-j know that tho lads rode freo. By tho way, for the short timo tho youths have been undor training they piny remarkably <n-ell iutlcsd, and the Mount Somers peoplo w?.re quito charricd with them. At the terminus thoro was quito a number of conveyances provided by the settlors in tho district, and the whole train load of poople wai tat on up to tbe township. Mr Oookson's coach was there, full up. Mr Puddfcombe was thero wilh a buggy and a covered waggon ; there were other conveyances whoso owners I didn't know* but 1 knew Mr M'Clymont and his hu_e timber waggon with Its fivo horse ''earn ! A good number of tho passengers did not know that the faro in the vehicles wus nil, and set, off on foot. But Iho huge waggon, after getting rid of somo potatoes it had brought down, took on a cargo of Ashburtoniles, and this cargo steadily increased as it wont, for the pedestrians hai apparently no very clear notion that about five miles lay between Anama railway Btation and the nearost place at which a bito of anything to oat could be obtained. I rodo in this waggon. Mac, its driver and owner, is a grand fallow in overy way I allow, and for a mile or two I enjoyed tho juirney much. There aro quarries at Mount Somers. I think thero ought to be ono or two on tho road Maa took ua ov<?r, for boulders a? largo as washing tubs lay hero nnd th-re, and lam writing this standing ! I did a portion of the road on foo^ for reasons which my present upright position may b upply. ' At the township tho ' residents ehowr.d out in fiuo forru, and the visitors were tre.fcd to c, rorfc of hospitality not mot will: often. A big luncheon tent w_s orectod behind tho Mount Homers Hotel, in which all and sundry were entertained, at the expense of tbo settlers ; and a hearty spread wan hi id hy host Hood, which was duly honoured, you bet ! Mr A. E. Peache **as Ohairmin ; Mr I. E. Taylor, of Buccleuch, vas Vice-Chairman ; and, aftor the rnoal was discussed, a few suitable toasts « wero given, tho route that had been adopted fortheline.undilß-udden b oppago at An. ma, being touched upon hy Boveral of the speakers • with tinges of regrot and disappointment in their tone. Up to the time of luncheon tho day 1 hud been grand. The wind seam-'.* to hive I fullfn away, and the air was warm and sultry. Now, howover, the cloud- - - whioh had been gathering thiwly got togothor in r, nn-js, and under the influence of a slight sou'-eaat wind gave tho country a drenching that I was much wanted for agricultural and • pistoral purposes, but not at all pieusint for 1 pic nics. A number of the visitors had gone gono off to sco sDme furaous caves in the : neighbourhood, and when thoy cime back I (inch starch v* was ab ;ut then had 1 el. ita stitfneea. Thoro was littlo to do, or that i could bo done, in buc'i weather, and thi • conveyances woro harnessed up a^'-iin 8 shortly after four, and a start for home made. Mr M'Olytmnt'a big waggon • this timo had its full complement, a?, » indci-'d, had all tho machines made use of, b and after a few bucks and jiba on tho part of f Lome rather indepeadent horses, who objeoted

■0--HB_M_B--I___a-_a-lM_»««-_»_n__MM__MMMiW a little to heavier loads than they though proper, everybody wa3 got safely to the sta tion through terribly heavy road, the fe\ hours wet having cut them up awfully. Ib crowd having got "ail aboard," the trail movr-d off, und roachod Ashburton ohortli before eight. The journey is madefrom Ash burton to the terminus at Anarna in an hou and a-half. Thero is an intention on the part o Government of bringing tbe line a few mi'e nearer to Mount Somers, and I learned tha some of the settlcrsmi-an to get up a stronj petition against extending it any further oi tho south side of the river. Tho present timo- table, too, does no appear to find general favour, and though th peoplo are not selfish enough to believe them selves worthy of a daily train, thoy thin] that three times a woek would not be out o tho way for the railway authorities to arrang for, and it would bo a greut advantage to thi up country people.