COMMENCEMENT OF THE CLUTHA RAILWAY.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2523, 18 March 1871, Page 2

COMMENCEMENT OF THE CLUTHA RAILWAY.

The ceremony of tiirnijig the first sod of this work was performed to-day by his Excellency the Governor, in a paddock at the rear of Mr E, B. Cargill’s, Hi Iside, in the presence of about 300 persons. His Excellency, accompanied by the Superintendent and Captain Pitt, A D.C., arrived on the ground at half-past two o’clock, and was received by the engineer for the wo k, Mr W. W, Blair, and the con* tractor, Mr J. T. Chaplin ; and was addressed by Mr Blair as follows : “ On behalf of the contractors for the first section of the hue, and for myself as engineer of the Southern Trunk Railway, it is my privilege to introduce the work to the notice of your Excellency, and to beg that you will honor it by taking the first practical step towards its construction. Although the present beginning is small, it is a wry important one, being the inauguration of tho of the great railway system that is intended ultimately to embrace the whole Colony. It there:ore afforls all connected with it the greatest pleasure to think that a commencement can be made under such favorab’e auspices as that afforded by the presence of your excellency. 'Jhi people of Otago have fo' upwards of seven years looked forward to the construction of the railway as the commencement of a new era >.f prosperity, and strenuous efforts have been made from time to time to attain this object, hut hitherto without success ; therefore (he step which is to day taken by your Excellency will be hailed with general satisfaction throughout the Province. As your Excellency has had practical experience of railway construction in another colony, it may interest you to know that the Otago Southern Trunk Radway is laid of with a view to strict economy in o st, and a duo regard to convenient and sife working The slia-pest curve is ten chains radius, and the steepest gradient 1 in 50, but tho inclines at this rate are few and short. 'I here will be two tunnels on the lino, one 820 and the other of 540 yards, and the principal works of art consist of three viaducts, two river bridges, and four road bridges, all <>f iron and stone. It is universally admitted that railway communication is the most efficient mode oi tripifflt in ’modern times, and as facility of intercourse is tjje very essence of progress and prosperity, we cannot keep pnpg with the countries around us without availing our selves of its benefits, I therefore hope that this is only the first of many railway works your Excellency will commence, and that tko day is not far distant when your seat of Government will be within a few hours journey of Dunedin. I now beg of your Excellency to commence the Otago Southern Trunk ’Railway, by turning the first sod. ’HU read the following reply . “ Mr Blair and Gentlemen,^

“I have listened with much interest to the address which has just been read hy the engineer of this railway, and to the detailed description so clearly given by him of the great work which is initiated this day. I fully appreciate the importance of this inauguiation of the extensive system of rail* ways that is intended by the Government and Legislature ultimately to embrace the whole Colony. “ I am confident that every reliance may be placed on the vigilant superintendence of the engineer, and on the skill and experience of the contractors. When I opened, three weeks ago, the extension of the railway from Invercargill to Wintou, I addressed a few words of friendly sympathy to the artisans gucl working men, who by their successful labor bad rai*fid ?, structure scarcely more honorable to the heads that planned than to the hands that had executed it.“ 1 wish to follow this precedent on the present occasion. I trust that the men now or hereafter to be employed here, will emulate their fellow-work men elsewhere ip New Zealand, in preserving good order and that respect for the law which is one of the most promimnt characteristics of our race. I would remind them that, in a new country, the respective claims of capital and labor should adjust themselves according to the natural law of supply and demand, withou any of those artificial disturbances which, in old conn tiics, have often caused results disastrous to the true interests alike of the capitalist and of the laborer. I would remind them, further, that under the expansive freedom of our Colonial institutions, even more surely than ’ll tho parent is.les, Britain opens for alt her sons a cheering prospect of wealth and fame, if genius he combined with virtue and industry. “ Finally, I earnestly pray that the ceremony of this day may prove auspicious to all concerned. May the important public work now commenced realise all the hopes of .its promoters, and endure throughout the great future of this Province and Colony a source of permanent and ever-increasing prosperity.” Mr Blair then handed to his Excellency a spade, made expressly for the occasion, with which his Excellency lifted a s d which had been already cut into a harrow, and wheeling it a few yards, overturned it. The same process was repeated by Mrs Thomas Oargil l , after which three hearty cheers were given. The Lev. Mr Stuart then offered up a short prayer. The spade and harrow were of-local manufacture —the woodwork hy Messrs Craig Mid Gillies, and the ironwork hy Messrs A. and T. Burt.

After the conclusion of the ceremony, his Excellency the Governor, accompanied by his

Honor the Superintendent and several ladies and gentlemen, partook of an elegant luncheon, prepared, under direction of the contractor, by Mr Job Wain, jun. The usual loyal toasts w;re drunk, and his Excellency, in returning thanks, made several pertinent and appropriate remarks. With his customary liberality, Mr T. Birch, of the lirm of Wilson and Birch, presented two barrels of beer, the contents of which were freely distributed, and much enjoyed by the company.