THE FIRST RAILWAY IN NEW ZEALAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1995, 12 December 1863, Page 2

THE FIRST RAILWAY IN NEW ZEALAND.

OPENING OF THE CHRISTCHURCH AND HEATHCOTE RAILWAY. (Abridged from the Ly Helton Times, Dec. 3.\ One of those great events which form an epoch in the histoiy of a people was celebrated on Tuesday last. An important step in the onward career of Canterbury has been made, the first portion of the first Canterbury Railway has bpen openptl, and the idea of its projector (Mr Moorhouse) has received its partial realization The test must follow. Canterbury has no in .( clination to pause jd its advance, and we have no hesitation in saying the extension of the railway through the* length and breadth of the province should b« commenced by the time the tunnel is completed. At an early hour the streets «>f Christchurch presented a gay and animated appearance, flags oferery description were displayed in all quarters of the town. The road to the railway terminus was thronged by vehicles loaded with passengers and crowds of pedestrians all making their way to the scene of the day's enjoy, ment. Arriving there about noon, we found the most numerous assemblage of people ever congregated together at one spot in Canterbury. On the whole it was the most English spec*, tacle that it has been our lot to witness in the ! province. The hooking offices, wool store, engine sberi, and other buildings connected with the railway, were ornamented with bunting 1 , flowers, and evergreens. Several refreshment booths offered apparently irresistible attractions to thirsty souls, and perambulating orange vendors were plying a profitable trade. There was an extensive demand for ginger beer, and the prices of dyspeptic pastry and sticky confectionery ruled high. On and about the platform promenaded a crowd of elegantly dressed' ladies aud gentlemen, and everybody seemed 10 he impressed with the necessity of shaking hands with everybody else as frequently as possible, while healthy, happ3 r , smiling faces everywhere met the view. But above all and about all, and through even thing and everywhere, circulated dense clouds, or rather waves, of dust, as if the unaccustomed earth stirred up to wrath by the remorseless trampling of thousands of feet, and lashed to fury by a fierce north-wester, had turned again and was working out its vengeance in iis own peculiar way. With the assistance of a pretty hot sun, it played strange pranks with the ladies, and discomposed the gentlemeu ; it tickled your nose, and made you .sneeze ; it powdered your hair and beard j it ground your teeth to an excruciating edge, reduced your eyes to a chronic state of theum, defiled your pocket handkerchief, and brought you generally to a state of grirainess impossible to desciibe. Apart from the main body of the company were little knots of holiday keepers enjoying dusty rations, bottled porter, and babies, and everywhere t' e expression ofcoritoiitmeist, fun, and determination to be jolly, depicted on every countenance, was a sight to see.

Going down the line we found the engine ir a state of polished brass and oiliness, and ap> parently totally indifferent to the excitemem which pervaded everything else. We were informed that it is from the workshop of Messrs Slaughter, Gunning and Co., of Biistol, that its power represented about 50 horses, that the action was reversible, so as to render turninc uniiFcessiiry, tint its curious inverted conical funnel was constructed so as to catch the sparks as they fly upwards, and that it could draw with ease a weight of 200 tons The passenger carriages, of which there are four, two first-class and two second-class, are rather comfortably than expensively fitted ; they are built of Australian timber, in a very substantial manner, with all the latest improvements, and are from the manufactory of W. Williams, Melbourne. Besides these there are about 30 box and billlast waggons. It is expected that the rolling stock already on hand will meet the requirement* of all the traffic which will pass over the line for some time to come, bat another' engino is on its way from England, and other stock will be procured as soon as necessary. We were shown through the offices, Sec., which contrast in a very favorable manner with some of the Government offices at Christcburch ; the Indies waiting room is very neat and chastely furnished, although as may be supposed rather small. The engine shed is a commodious building of timber and corrugated iron, the same may he said of the wool shed ; in short the whole of the arrangements seem eminently adapted to the purposes they are to serve. It had beeo currentlvreported tbatbis Honor would be oh the ground or rather on the train at half-past one o'clock. The time arrrived and with it no Superintendent. By this time the spectators were wound up to the greatest pitch of impatience and dust, so that it was with great satisfaction we saw the carriage drawn by four greys, postillioned, and dusted also, enter the ground a little after 1.30. The arrival did not seem to attract much attention, and it was found that a futtber delay was unavoidable, one carriage only could be procured for the conveyance of his Honor and the Executive Council, and that one being too small t'» take the whole party in one trip, had to return for a second portion, andarrired about 2 o'clock. Without further ceremony the party, consisting of his Honor the Superintendent, the members of the Executive and heads of departments, took their places in the first passenger train ever drawn in Canterbury. Everything being arranged at 2.3 p.m., the train started with an almost imperceptible motion, soon quickening into a pretty fast pace, landing its contents without the least interruption at Ferrymead at 2.13 p.m. exactly. The train returned to Christcburch in the same time, which, considering the shortness of the run, may be called pretty good worlc. Arrived at Christchurch, the carriages were speedily filled by an invited party, but so eager was the public to test. the capabilities of the iron horse, that Messrs Holmes & Co,, with their usu:il anxiety to please, attached fire open carnages, which were speedily filled to overflowing, as many as 853 going by this single opportunity. The truins continued to run incessantly backwards and forwards, till nearly 8 o'clock, to the great delight of hundreds who availed themselves of the kind permission of the lessees to make their first railway trip in Canterbury gratis. It is calculated that 3,500 people travelled up and down the line, the arrangements being most satisfactory. The goods shed was nicely decorated with flaps, and the pillars were clothed with a profusion of evergreen foliage. At the one end was displayed the motto, " God save the Queen," on either side " Success to the T.yttelton and Christchnrch Railway," " Railways and Progress," and at the other end of the building " Advance Canterbury." The ornamental festoons of blue calico had an exceedingly pretty effect, affording an excellent contrast with the white walls of the interior. ; The Aims of of England and Canterbury em- j blazoned on shields were suspended upon the gides of the shed at intervals. Upon two tablps running nearly the whole length of the building was arranged a magnificent dejeuner, comprising all the delicacies of the season, and reflecting great credit on the caterer, Mr John Birdsey. The tables were tastefully laid out and embellished with evvrgnei filed with flowers, adding much to the general effect. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon his Honor the Superintendent entered the building and took a seat on *be side under an arch of evergreens ; Bext to him were the Lord Bishop of Christcburcb and Mr Holmes the contractor. The invited guests to the number of 500, then took their seats, und alter grace had been' said by the Bishop, a brisk attack was made upon the good things spread before them. Perhaps the most amusing part of the proceedings were the pic nician makeshifts of those who were unable to procure seats at the tables ; down one side of the shed a row of waggons were placed, some werecovered over to do duty as sideboards, others were empty, into these latter incontinently went the unseated, and. arranged in groups, catered for themselves. We saw one party of nine, amongst whom there were only three knives, one of them being a carver, and two forks. We saw one gentleman insanely attempting to carve a bam with a penknife no bigger than a knitting-needle ; another demolishing a fowl in a very primitive manner ; but notwithstanding all these drawbacks, it is a strange fact that the choicest dishes accumulated in a most mysterious manner round these apparently outsiders. During tbe dejeuner the band played the quartette "Come where mj lovelies dreaming," and other airs, with good effect. At the conclusion Mr Holmes in an appropriate speech proposed the health of the Queen, which was drank with great cheering (Band, National Anthem.) Tbe next toast, " The Prince of Wales and Royal Family," was also drank with great enthusiasm. Mr Holmes then gave the health of " His Excellency Sir George Grey," which was well received. (Band, the British Grenadiers.) Mr Holmes, in proposing the health of his Honor tbe Superintendent, said that in the business transactions be had had with him relating to the railways, he bad always experienced the greatest courtesy. He believed that bis Honor was actuated with a strong desire to further the interests of the colony in which be had a large slake, :snd he respected him as an honorable and upright gentleman. (Great cheering.) His Honor S. Bealey, Esq., returned thanks, in an appropriate address, for tbe kind and hearty way his health had been drank. Mr Holmes then gave the health of the City Council, coupling with it the name of their chairman, Mr John Oilivier. Mr Oilivier returned thanks on behalf of the Council, and remarked that bad there been" no City Council they would not hgve enjoyed the advantages of the great improvement in load communication effected by them, und he concluded by proposing tbe health of ihe Lyttleton CUy Council, to which Dr Donald responded. , The Yen. Archdeacon Mathias in proposing the next toast, said that be could not do adequate justice to its importance. When they heard the toast he had to give be had uo doubt they would make the ceiling echo with their cheers. It was ♦* Success to the Lytlleton and Christchurch Railway, and with it the name of William Sefton Moorhouse. (Long and continued cheers.) When that gentleman first proposed tbe making of the railway he had nrt with considerable opposition, and it was due to the untiring energy displayed by Mr Moorhouse, and his disregard of clamorous oppo-

i sition and unjust censure, that they were thtj - day assembled to inaugurate the commencet rrtent of a mil way system. He was one of (he - earliest setlleis of ibe province, and when he ? looked back at. nil that had passed since the 5 beginning of the colony, he bailed ibis day with j pleasure and jrr.i tit ude. r Mr Mookhousk said thatbehad looked forward I to that day with anxiety to realise what he knr-w 5 would be an astounding fact. Year--: ;><?<> he i bad imagined Unit railway train rolling over ihe . plcins nf Canterbury as vividly, .ts he had seen i it that day. He bud seen the practicability of it, - and anticipated the advantages likely to arise. from increased prosperity to the province. The , project had survived all opposition, although the promoters l.ad been opposed by the ben vest intellects in the colony. It w;is the inauguration of a new Jera in the history of the settlement, and although their resources were limited as compared with some, vet they had set an example which could bft followed by their aeighbors in the South with advantage. Canterbury was but in its infancy, and not being weighed down by the prejudices of the decrepit old world could move onward with all the energy that ! characterises the sons of England. He b'elisved the time was not far distant whdYi they could bieakfast at Christchurch and dine'at Timaru ; ■ in fact they would journey to the extreme limit of the province transact business and return to I town in a day. It was not a mere fanciful or theoretical idea, but a great mercantile fact The government of the province could not stop in the onward career in store for them, and he expressed a hope that the Superintendent would iv >i comparatively short time take action for opening a line south of Timaru The railway would tend to the improvement of the pastoral districts, so that where one sheep is now upon the ground there would be seven. If the people expected the government to do well for them they must do well for the government by breaking up their lands and employing 1 labour in the cultivation of them, as upon this the success of the colony materially depended. The speaker coreluded amid a storm of applause, the band playing- " For he's a jolly good fellow." The Supebintendent, in a short sneeeb, proposed the health of the contractors Messrs. Holmes and Richardson, which was enthusiasticaly dr.inlc. j Mr Holmes in acknowledging the toast, said when the tunnel was completed it would be an eyelet hole for Canterbury, which would connect them closely with Australia. He hoped to see the time when the whistle of a locomotive would echo from every hill and valley in Canterbury. Several other toasts were given and responded to in the most hearty manner. The assembled guests then left the shed, and proceeded to the platform to witness Ibe arrivals and departures of the trains, filled to overflowing with the crowds of delighted excursionists It i* gratifying to think that not a single j accident, or disturbance of any kind marred the pleasure of the day.