OPENING OF THE ROAD TO THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 283, 27 September 1867, Page 2

OPENING OF THE ROAD TO THE LAKES.

The formal opening for traffic of the main trunk rT>ad to the Wakatip took place on Wed nesday last, the completion of the self-acting punt at the Morven Ferry, Arrow Bluffs, sup" plying the last connecting link required to make the road between the Dunstan and Queens_ available for the passage of vehicles. The com. pletion of this road will eventually prove an immense benefit to this district, particularly to the townships of Clyde and Cromwell, as a very large portion of the traffic will be diverted in this direction which Up to the present has passed through Southland, Supplies of timber for mining, fencing, and building purposes will be obtainable at much cheaper rates, and farm and dairy produce will also find its way down here, instead of coming from Dunedin and the Taieri, and thus a large amount of money, hitherto sent out of the district for consumable articles will he retained in it, for it must be borne in mind that, situate as we are on the main line of road, the increase in number and prosperity of our neighbors higher up country must, to a considerable degree, be par tieipated in by ourselves. In fact, wo may go even further, and say that, in all probability, the Dunstan will become, to a great extent, the market for the Lake District. The magnificent scenery of the Wakatip will, without doubt, be a great source of attraction to tourists, and those who have never seen the land of " mountain and of flood" should avail themselves of the first convenient opportunity J to do so. With the completion of the large

steamer now in cours3 of building by Messrs. Robertson a source of recreation and amusement will be opened to the pleasure-seeker and sportsman not hitherto obtainable, and it is almost unnecessary to say nothing 'can be more delightful than a trip on the Queen of the New Zealand Lakes. The cost of construction of itSie road from Clyde to the Morven Perry has been very considerable ; on the Cromwell Bridge alone, something fike £25,000 was expended ; the *emoval of a portion of the Nevis Bluff required for the road, was a most formidable undertaking, and upwards of 25,000 cubic yards of rock had to be dislodged; this piece of work reflects great credit on the District Engineer, Mr. W. Greenlaw, in many of the other portions of the road, great difficulties had to be overcome in the course of construction, and with a few minor im provements, that can be easily made, the Pro. yir.ce can boast of an undertaking, the engineering skill-of Nvhich, is of the highest order. A few minutes before four o'clock, everything being in readiness, Mrs Bridge the wife of one of the proprietors of the Ferries, ■christened the punt by the breaking on Ue structure of the authodox bottle of champagne, and naming the Ferry the" Morvern Ferry "after a high conspicuous hill in the close vicinity, the announcement was received with loud and prolonged cheering, the christening ceremony being followed by a general health drinking, and ex° pressions of no end of good wishes for the success of the undertaking. Dr Douglass, in an appropriate speech, proposed the health of the enterprising lessees of the Ferries, Messrs Owens, Edwards, and Bridge, dwelling at some length on the advantages the mining and agricultural interests would derive from the opening of the road. lleplied to, by Mr Owens. Mr Hallenstein proposed his Honor the Superintendent, and Members of the Provincial Government, the Pvoad Engineers department, coupled with the name of the 1 istrict Engineer, Mr. Walter-Greenlaw :-Said that although the completion of the road had been long delayed, it was better to come late than never, the people of the Lake District had many things to complain of, but this one of the difficulties, was at last removed, at the same time the road would not be complete, till a bridge was erected across the Shotoverat Forster's Ferry, forwithout that, the real advantages of the road would notbe available. The Provincial Government had been guilty of many misdeeds, but he would not go into particulars, there was an evident desire now to do better, believed the present Government was an able one, one of its leading members had had great experience on the Goldfields of Victoria, and he doubted not that when the present existing difficulties respecting the two governments were removed, things would go on in a satisfactory manner. The Engineers department possessed a worthy member in the person of Mr. Walter Greenlaw, and his efforts had been ably seconded by the road and ferry contractors, Messrs Owens, Edwards and Bridge Mr Greenlaw made a suitable reply. Mr Weaver of the firm of Whittingham and Weaver proposed the Municipal Councils () f Queenstown, Cromwell, Clyde and Alexandra. Mr M. Fraer a member of the Queenstown Corporation replied, and Mr Cope for Cromwell Clyde, and Alexandra. Mr.|Fraer made a very apspeeeh on the advantages of Municipal Instituturns, and the benefits they had conferred upon the communities in which they had been introduced, and hoped to see their influence extended to the jurisdiction of many local works, now under Government supervision. Mr Bridge proposed the Visitors. Responded to by Mr Mr Fowell proposed the Ladies. Mr. Henry Holmden replied. Mr. Fraer proposed the Press, Messrs Manders and Cope responded. Mr Cope proposed the Mining, Pastoral and Agricultural Interrsts. Mr. Johnson, a miter made a very suitable reply. The speech making and responses having con eluded, and music being introduced, dancing on the platform of the punt followed, and was kept up with much spirit, the punt in the meantime being worked alternately across and recross the river. A respite being granted to the votaries of Terpsicore, a team, loaded with goods from Dunedin, for Mr. E. Pritchard of ArrowtoWn, was successfully crossed, followed by other traffic of a lighter description. Dancing was again resumed, and kept up till a late hour.