SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK LINE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1103, 17 April 1911, Page 4

SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK LINE.

ANOTHER SECTION COMPLETED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Flaxbourne, April 15. . The Seddon-Ward section of the South Island Main Trunk railway, H miles i\ chains, was opened to-day by the Hon. R. M'Konzie, in tho presence of a very largo assemblage of settlers. The train brought a big crowd from Blenheim and Seddou. After short speeches by tho Minister and Mr. J. Duncan, member for tho. district, tho train steamed to the platform and severed a ribbon held by the two oldest lady residents in the district. After the formal opening the Minister was entertained at a banquet by the Railway League and Chamber oi Commerce. The Hon. H. M'Kenzie, in _his speech at' tho opening ceremony, said the seclion of lino from Seddon had cost ,CI3S,000, or nearly .£IO,OOO a mile. Ho claimed that the money was spent on the Main Trunk lino as quickly «s Parliament granted it. Estates should ho cut up Ixsfore tho railways were made. He instanced a case in the North . Island, where 42 people who wauled a lino owned 630,000 acres, valued at j:3,i)ll0,0C0. The Government was not goiuj} to build railways for those 42 people. ahe more estates that w;re cut up the better, added, the Minister. Tho (Jovtrnment was as anxious as the settlers to get the railways through, but they must build the most nectary lines first. Tho Midland lino to Arthur's Pass _ would probably bo completed in eighteen months," and if the same amount of money were voted then as at present, a lar"cr allocation would be made for the Mam Trunk line. He estimated that the lino would be completed in ten years, at a cost of .£IOO,OOO ixt annum. In conclusion, Mr. M'Kenzie stated that 35 miles of railway had been opened for traffic this week. After the line had been declared open, the Ministerial party and a, large number of settlers were entertained at luncheon by the Marlborough local bodies, headed by tho Land and Railway League and the Chamber of Commerce. Flnxbourne looks in good heart, and compares more than favourably with StarWough, which has suffered from the drought, and, as a result, bears a parched «.opearance.