THE TUAPEKA-ROXBURGH

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11729, 2 December 1905, Page 5

THE TUAPEKA-ROXBURGH

RAILWAY.

(Per United Press Association.)

LAWRENCE, Dec-ember 1.

The turning of the first 'sod of the Tua-peka-Eoxburgh railway took place this afternoon. The Premier, accompanied by Mrs Seddon, the Mayor of Dunedin, the members of the Otago League, the Hon. Mr Bolt, and a number of representative citizens, journeyed from town by special train. On reaching Lawrence, the Mayor of Lawrence welcomed the party, and the school children prese-nted Mrs Seddon with a bouquet. The Premier was presented with a golden spado. In turning a sod of the first section, which will be about six miles in length, tho Premier said that the total cost of the line would be about ,£200,000. He "prognosticated that the largo area of land now regarded aa purely pastoral would eventually be taken up for fruit-growing and support thousands of families. With the runs cut up for closer settlement, and Central Otago effectively irrigated, tho country wa3 capable of maintaining a large population. There would be practically three loops, one connecting Invercargifl, via Clarksviilo, another connecting Roxburgh with Alexandra, and there would be direct connection with Dnnedin. The party was entertained at luncheon by the townsjeoplo of Lawrence, and in the evening at a social. Tomorrow the Premier speaks at Waihola, and in tho evening pnt.^eds to Stirling.