LITTLE RIVER AND AKAROA RAILWAY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 312, 15 July 1879, Page 2

LITTLE RIVER AND AKAROA RAILWAY.

The ceremony of lifting and depositing the first sod of the above railway was gone through at the site of the railway peg No. 15- M 60, just above Wascoe's Beach Arms Hotel, on the margin of Lake Ellesmere, on Wednesday, July 9, by J. T. Parkinson, Esq., Chairman of the Little River Road Board. The contractor, Mr M'Grath, with a-liberality, not new, invited the.members of the Little. River and Springs Road Boards, among whom were several members of the late Trust Board, as well as the settlers generally 1 , to partake of a luncheon at Wascoe's Hotel, on this, to the inhabitants of the Peninsula, important occasion. Considering the short notice, a large company assembled, the greater number from along the borders of Lake Ellesmere'. The;dinner provided by Mine Host " Wascoe, like most country dinners, was of a good and substantial character, and was done full justice to by those present. The weather being fine and pleasant, the dinner good, and j everybody 1 in good humoi, 'everything glided along like a fair ship impelled by a fair breeze. ;. Among the well-known settlers that ( were present may be mentioned J. T. Parkinson, Chairman of the Little River Road Board, who performed the.ceremony of lifting the first sod ; J. P. O/Callaghan, Esq., who undertook the office of chairman, at the request of Mr M'Grath ; Messrs Coop, Gebbie, Murray, Birdling, A. Joblin, the Rev.; R.-: Bradley, and. others. The ladies (except the Misses Coop) were conspicuous by, their absence, which was much to be regretted, as it only needed their presence to make tho lovliness of the scene complete. The company being assembled, the call was given, and all present streamed round the position appointed, when Mr Parkinson, having taken up his position with spade and- barrow, addressed the settlers as follows:— " Gentlemen, —rWe are here to-day to lift the first sod of the Little River and Akaroa Railway. The honor of lifting the first sod was what I didn't expect to enjoy. I am not very strong, but I will do my best to get up with the sod in the barrow to the appointed spot." He then wheeled up to the shingle bank, accompanied by the cheering crowd, and continued — .." Gentlemen, having now completed the ace of turning the first sod, I have to introduce Mr M'Grath; the successful contractor. As Mr M'Grath has executed contracts ere now for the Little River Road Board ; I may say that Ihayeknown him for some time ; I think you will join <in (cordially, welcoming him here to-day, when I tell you that he carried put all his contracts for the Board in a satisfactory ' manner, and that I have found him to be a straightforward and honest man. I feel sure that he will carry out his contract to our full satisfaction,' and with such to himself. I have nothing more to do but to ask you to welcome Mr M'Grath with three cheers."

• Three cheers were given with hearty "good will. • ! »■' Mr M'Grath thanked Mr jParkiason for the good opinion he entertained of him, and all present, for .their hearty welcome and good wishes. He was not a speaker, but'he knew well enough how to .do the work he had undertaken, and had no doubt that he could complete it in a satisfactory manner. _. Being called on .by Mr Parkinson, Mr William Birdling proposed the health of tlie workmen, which was responded to with three cheers. Mr Cone returned thanks on behalf of the workman. He thought that the welfare of the working man should be looked after, and was of opinion that Mr M'Grath had obtained first-class men to do his work, and again returned thanks on their behalf. - . Mr Wm. Coop said that nothing oould be done without the working men ; without them the country would have been still in a wild state. So much being derived from their labor, their welfare ought never to be overlooked. Mr J. Gebbie said he wished to endorse what had been said of Mr M'Grath. Whatever he had seen of him, he • was satisfied that he was an honest and straightforward maii, and he hoped he would largely benefit himself by his contract, which he (Mr Gebbie) was certain would be completed in a workmanlike manner. The ceremony of the lifting of the first sod being completed, the company returned to the hotel to dine. Dinner being over, and a smoke enjoyed, adjournment; was made to the large liont room, when Mr M'Grath was lequesied to lake the chair. That gentleman not feeling quite equal to the occasion, begged to decline,

and at his reqr.cf Mr J..P. O'Callaghan kindly consented to reign in his sieau. Having O'Cidjaghfnj a°l:cd all present io fill their glasses, and] said : " GprttlefllMn'-q-Irf}. oy£{V ifiS&Jmbly' of this" kitti-'tiurhsarlji &; Heroic* t Gracious Majesty the Ojrecrf-is always foremost, I now assk-yw+hcreforo to drink this toa&L in ihe us';al'l6y.al s ciauhe-r as v/e always do." _i .'.*": ■ This toast be;ng.,dnink with the. usual honors, the r Chamr.?fi' continued — To get on with' ilie'taaso-!."be/would now a=k them to dnink-tbo .health, of jtlw Go-, veirnr. Sh~ 11. ITulwkdr), and the , Cwtipl A rilinin«r J 'Mi* Montgrnoiv ITr Jul:. '7 .11. r.rd MrMLn&dfr Gi&v. tu hy.-xze a «^:» t .d-- f . i ja»QUf-jy,ffr Vf ihe"L'.U'-rtiM«? Riil,-. ..v. 7L ' tl'O"' I'.'ih'ey vero fo-'' pate.; in n ..'•"K-f-fc'plJP. &'U;tVsVvV Gtrti-i wr : of I-"„w 'a£ 'a.ah ft' 'icy ad 1 oew'-Vneir oV.t a . rfcs v.'i -^fr''- 51 "'? gf"i. j v', ll,'ll hi J cse:tii>ii3 vi. behall of Ibci'or-m^la.' 1 ', ' . , . -, This toast wH*--fl\unU w'ilh enthusiasm.' 'Che Ch-m.-m tii'_n taid'UE'iiad-a.viin to reqiK st uitin to ill! thuir* *he, | toisi lie had now to p. 'yoGse \:a* ihe health oi their ho ft, M ■ M l 'Uu'h, who had invited ihcm :hei-, hi so lAk.i 1 a manner liiil day. 1 Mi- M'liiath .vj-, n -vly kno=>n to him. Fir-t minrt'.Vo'is c./ net '.ilw.'.yj pale ot es. i;c'.iex~t: ad bed bean' paid byMr flirt !'o you'd be ior,nri. -io be, ths right-vn.ui the right.plhcr, as he had caiiiu' prt previb s cuVr* '? ' i the right He «ai vt r> 1 uth -ti with whr* Mi IVlh s. JV, t 1 4 all hould hclo '0 tan} obi Jl ~ a o ] ' "nd m j vi> IKoor' r co f nt lhat Mr 3i< iafh tj wol> to « oiic tC-i 111 c v to t- r d i T \ lingerer 1 nd by iir s: it, ' "., s a j y ie I itlhv*,' <&c. "V "V-vtitU J'li' Vwgwy eh loj Up 'h - tli j, had el i' li h M 'Tc nqf l bp "/culd be <bk oi i i o' ti >i t'iej h d toimed ,fi hup a mi ft his torn iv ~ i - *> t\i Pir*wc Inc I\lj.oi'll ip hm on MihUf ci it rt <-' !.> «• ob irnct ingh.ii in an} v/"i "' itry <-' T-ful woid lihv s ne ' i wsli >. ■"' in? Mi M nl one t dci gins ~ ' a » a i i"o-> '■-'tl—La ' the 1C r , t, , md \karoa iy .% c "-. r«. » »t»ft<i lii *hia 4 v i ( \ -, -th i j o T her line in J" 'L r 1 r t iiirih ed at .i ao con bin. J v th the . v r v * t t eixn "& here being jb , t j.elt - 'i fiec that the "sin'fV Ten" void I 1 r^relj "p, n(' J h n ioi i»d )*-t ip l ? U^des i i i jji ~.i f wf iinu j , ooi, v d f UL ' ' t+.,n t \ heic i no jo r-T , f c ild I eat tl c ,_ -,<,•- <Tt- p c"iN M-« ,r h' Ti c , -s ps v-til as . c lt ier\, ti'ttti «.-o 1 1} vi beauti ~ 1 -, li hip aid L<- ch<i\cd the .v. o jU he ' ..„» ded bj and 1 ] ( >£U lint the i.IK 1} s 1 ould bC i - ? i<£ ijj>"-* r I ,"" «n<l pei e\< ranee , i -.xPiiia jg th » of din c who yiio-eii th rum t-, "d ji T e or no 11 ow '3' if t»c ii lur% J u vi son con v Ly i Hi ri *ioei < p ii" to dunk mi l the 2i.c aid Akaroi oivti' f fftu l„iuty of healUi of Messrs , a* 15 idfrij r"a He.riik, who icturned 1 t 'Its in due coiric-e, Mr Biruhng remark- :• 0 i]>r' he J" p-d- that Mr Parkinson ■ii? said woii 1 o come tine. L.iiLbli.,m propc-hg the healths of. Co-p and V - ito b-d t! at Mr Par,KraOn Jiftvioj; cdin t-t. the subject, he )X"d JL£.JiUi£.J !V dn. btil +o a=.k to? fill J . r '"> U l»_ 0 2i t'ei' ihe had in7 r fVor ! i *-' a *"> ?nks c ri the toast v -_ i, rc»t», i L or t" (c ]' nstila trade v. 1' , - 'y: - Ii vi' gto the ".L.q'h .In - i- ihat tini g could t - np -a )»>■*-" - v ' ~<-T Jmded by uf-tji ~{ ti *>i ' gentlemen - .. irit . .ji v i r ft, I 1 and .' „ . 1i i, * I , rT id f d, wore v i .err ' - v ~. . , with v-l r L"^, 'I.* V °y f ri ,: .J. t- "stically, " ' L ■"■■i^ 1 ; •f „" <- i ual share jf tl on ri j." t w ' ..-St i' Ju C k r nan, Mr A. /ohl ii j i i ohu 'L he.den- ol the Little y,i y , .i '1' r ■>" 1) i <l c , coupled i i- ir. P.i'kinson and C r ''^g 1 ' -.i 10l l.n 'aid lhat before ' i . ' r * i > t ii> h be would hVI L'rier-iJ-' 11 ij lie quite igreed with IJ.I PTTifrt/Jl CMr Coop tnat the railwy t ' cu 1 * jo.c i great boon to the Ptninbula. \"« uh leierence to the Eoad Bocn's ho fji'l y that though they Bon-etiuK--.i .il* i■> they also did f giei*" ot al or y }' * n ould now s.iL v :c u.w.k „i i ' epltn ot the Eoad L'o i"' "hi '. ii-poidin/!} done. Il I '""■)', "n I'tMiiig tl nks, rer. 't; 1 ' 1 ! 1 '?'! ' in,i c bodies made mistakes at timch but thpt Uey did their best. :•■..:■ Mr O'Canagli.an followed Mr Parkinson, and.remarked-that Boad -Boards were be- ■ coming very- useful public bodies. This concluded the' business of the day,. ;s2id;tk3':mee.fjngf broke.'<agj concluding one of the pleasaittejit pieetings that has taken place indhe district for a long time.

Ministry as Minister for Lands. His ( acceptance of office will strengthen the ' -«'s ''sohib * Otago "''votes; iwhieh vfere doubtful are jiow considered safe. Mi-Brvce will be "the Mmisterial candidate? 'S CTiafrMian of Cotiimittes', ;and Juki - return'is considered'S-iirei 1 v'! i' f . <■. f rVndkt' the correspondent of the ) • i s rkss.]J , .•••>< Wkllingtoit July 12,. , Tlie Government supporters -were a little sulkj last night at having received no intimations from Ministers as to their policy or anything else," a majority of those- members think it was at least due to ■ tliom'<-that<' ithey ahould have' been called together in caucus and honored with the confidence of-Ministers in regard to their proposals for the session, j The mistake "was no sooner made than dicqvered ? and, the most active touting and hnttonlioling has-been going on allday with the view of soothing any irritation • engendered in the minds .of the Government followers. Mr Macandrev is making himself particularly useful in administering soothing medicine. , The Auckland contingent will support' Mr Thompson as Chairman of Committees in preference to Mr Bunny, who, they sarcastically observe, has 1 been too long " on sale." It is understood that, in consequence of the feeling excited over tlie election of Chairman of Committees, the Government declining to;; exercise their influence in favor of any particular candidate, Mr Bmiiiy will retire from the contest, and. the probable ; r.esult -. wil J.; be a walk over for M)\ Seymour 7, th" Government withdrawing opposition in consideration of the way in which-Mr O'Rorke's election was treated Opposition. -;■:;It is generally;: believed ■ that the loan the Government-will;ask for this session will be for four, mi11i0n5..,..,'