TURNING THE FIRST SOD OF THE WAITAKI RAILWAY.

Evening Star, Issue 3141, 14 March 1873, Page 3

TURNING THE FIRST SOD OF THE WAITAKI RAILWAY.

[North Otago Times.]

Monday being the day appointed for the ceremony of turning the first sod of the Oatnam-Mocraki portion of the WaitakiMoeraki Railway, bunting was hoisted at the Government flagstaff, at the Northern Hotel, and at various business establishments in the principal streets. A bullock was roasted whole on the Esplanade, navvies galore walked about with huge junks of beef and bread, and washed them down with liberal potations of beer, supplied gratis by the Corporation. The day was observed as a close holiday, and at an early hour large numbers of visitors poured into the town from the surrounding districts, and by the time the proceedings of the day commenced the streets were thronged with equestrians and foot-passengers. A space‘was roped off on the Esplanade, within which the turf was to he turned, and a platform for the accommodation of th c ladies was th ere within erected. The c-pemony was performed by Dr Wait, fhe Mayor of Oamaru, and was witnessed by the members of both Houses of Assembly and of the Provincial Council, the representatives of Messrs Brogden and Sons, and by a large concourse of the general public. An address having been read by Mr A. J. Smyth, the contractors’ agent, and replied to by the Mayor, the latter proceeded to wheel a barrow to the point where the first turf was to be cut, and, having cut it with the spade presented, in the usual form, wheeled the barrow back to the platform, a well-given volley being at the same time fired by the volunteers. In the course of the remarks which Dr Wait afterwards made, he said, “ I wish to pay a just tribute to the member for the district, Major Steward, airl also to the hon, members of the Upper Hoiuc for the steady and persevering manner in which he and they have worked for the interest of the district In my opinion, ladies and gentlemen, if none of the lines constructed by the Government are of less utility than the Waitaki-Moeraki line, the money will not have been unprolitably spent. When railways open up and bring good country into quick communication with a port, they must be for the ultimate good of the country ; and I believe an>, one Avho has travelled through New Zealand will admit that we have the largest area of goo 1 agricultural land, backed by a very extensive pastov.d country, of any town or district in the Colony. It is only a few years since the site on which the town stands was part of a sheep station; and now look round you ladies and gentlemen, and you sec a largo and thriving town—the second town in the Province, substantially built, principally of the beautiful stone of which we have an unlimited supply in the district, and I believe, ladies and gentlemen, in a very few years it will be second to none in the Island for wealth and influence. Ladies and gentlemen, I will not detain you longer, but must take this opportunity of complimenting the engineers on their skill in laying off the line, the contractors on their enterprise, and the men in coming so many thousands of miles to make our railroads. And 1 feel sure they will continue to deserve the good opinion already formed of them for steadiness and civility ; and 1 also believe that after finishing their work they will settle down here, and become prosperous colonists.” His Worship having declared the railway duly commenced, cheers were given successively for the railway, for the Mayor, and Mrs Wait. Then came the serving out of beef and beer to the navvies, and shortly after three p.m. a dejeuner took place at the Northern Hotel, to which about forty gentlemen sat down. Dr Wait occupied the chair, supported by Mr Steward, M . H.R., Mr J. M‘Lean, the Hon, H. J. Miller, M.L.C., and Dr Webster, M.P.C. ; and the vice-chair by Mr Jerusalem Smyth, as the representative of the Messrs Brogden, In responding to the toast of the evening, Mr Smyth s:ud ;—“ He had hoard that some persons resident in thedistiiet had been endeavoring to induce the men to leave the employment of the firm. He thought this was most unwise, and indeed those present would be doing the men a service by advising them to keep to their engagements. This one thing he could safely say, that the firm he represented meant to push the railway on vigorously, and to complete it—win or lose. ”