THE CLUTHA RAILWAY.

Evening Star, Issue 3376, 15 December 1873, Page 2

THE CLUTHA RAILWAY.

On Saturday afternoon the trial trip was made on this line to the point at Green Island where the rails are at present laid, just past Mr Samson’s recently sunk coal pit. The train consisted of live carriages and all were comfortably filled with gentlemen who had been invited by the contractors to assist at the proceedings. Among those present were the Hon. Julius Vogel, Premier; the Hon. W, H. Reynolds, Commissioner of Customs; the Provincial Solicitor; His Worship the Mayor; Messrs Jas. Smith, I. N. Watt, L. O. Beal, Logan, and others, together with Messrs W. N. Blair, C.E., Jerusalem Hipyth, and Walter Bell. At about a quarter to three a start was made, the engine being driven by George Amos. A fair spec 1 was attained, the trip taking twenty minutes, giving a rate of about eighteen miles an hour. The Caversham funnel, which is about 1)00 yards in length, was passed through in ninety seconds. On reaching the present terminus a halt was made, apd ip a few miputes Mr Walter, who was caterer, and his assistants had spread a supply of refreshments in a paddock adjoining the line, and on the return of those of the party who had studied about to inspect the neighborhood, the little ceremony of the day was commenced. Mr J AMES Smith said he felt great pleasure at having been requested to propose a toast at the formal opening of the railway, and it must give all present great satisfaction to see amongst them the author of the scheme of railway construction in this Colony. The toast he had to propose was “The General Government, coupled with the name of the Premier.”— {Loud cheers.) Mr Youkl expressed his thanks for the compliment, and Iris satisfaction at being present at this opening of the line, and trusted that ho should assist at the ceremony of opening it through to Clutba. Every step the “ iron

horse ” took went to increase the prosperity of the Colony. -(Cheers.) It was now some time since he had commenced arrangements for starting the line, and he had to contend with many difficulties.. The Colony had set its face against borrowing money ior works of the kind, and it was therefore attempted (but vainly) to carry out the plan by a system of guarantee. Mr Carr Young was sent Home with this object, but. was not successful, and finally the new policy was inaugurated, and the Clutha line was authorised to be constructed out of borrowed money at a cost ot 1-5,000 per mile. He (the speaker) was sent to England to negotiate the loans, and told Mr Blair that he would give him eight days to reduce the scale, so that the cost should he 1/250,000 instead of 1-400,000. Mr Blair acquiesced, and redeemed his pledge. These railways would open up the undeveloped I resources of 'Otago and the other Provinces, and with its vast resources New Zealand could not hut have a great future before it. He was speaking now to some who had shown their desire to make the most of the means at their command, and who had, by their energy and enterprise, made him regard Dunedin as the Chicago of the Colony.—(Applause.) However, much remained to be none, and Otago must do its part. The opening up of the country by railways must force one consideration upon them - will not their land command a higher price ? However, that was a question not before them officially that clay, and therefore he would not comment upon it, but content himself with again thanking them for the toast and the hearty way in which it had been received. Mr Vogel then proposed, “ Prosperity to the Dunedin terminus of the line,” coupling the name of Mr Mercer with the toast. No one took a greater interest in Dunedin matters than did he (the speaker), it being many years ago that he first became acquainted with it. He then was under the ban of being a “new iniquity,” while Mr Mercer, their worthy Mayor, was an “ old identity but the two elements, mixed together, worked well. In those times he had hearcl Dunedin compared to a piece of paper over which a fly, previously immersed in ink, had crawled, leaving blots here and there, these representing the scattered positions of the houses: but now it was the handsomest city in New Zealand. He was glad to think he had had something to do with effecting its prosperity, for it had raised him to the high position he now occupied in the Colony. Success to Dunedin and its Mayor!- (Loud cheers.) Mr Merger said that if ho had known a speech would have been required of him, he would scarcely have walked about so much. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than to see the way in which, as Mr Vogel said, the “ new iniquities” and “old identities" worked together. Little did he think, in 1848, that he should ever live to see a railway running where they stood. He felt great pride in being there on that occasion, and at having his health proposed by no less a man than the Premier. He thanked them for the way in which his health had been drunk, and would propose “The Contractors.”

Mr Blair, C.E., and Mr Jerusalem Smyth, responded, the latter expressing a hope that in fifteen months’ time they would have a bigger “ show ” on opening the line to the Clutha,

Mr J. Copeland then proposed ‘‘The health of the Hon. W. H.' Reynolds,” saying that though some might differ from his political opinions, still he was one of their oldest citizens and politicians, and a member of the Government under which they were now prospering— (Cheers). Mr Reynolds said if any differed from him in sonic particulars, all were agreed on one point, which was to advance the interests of the Colony. Twenty-one years ago he owned 408 acres of land where they then stood, and never dreamt of seeing a railway there. He thanked them for the toast, and said he should always look after the interests of the City and Colony at large. At 4.23 preparations -were made to return, the superfluous bottles of while and spirits being distributed to the men working near, and Dunedin w r as reached in eighteen minutes, all parties highly pleased with their excursion. Near Mr Samson’s coal pit we noticed that the railway contractors have come Rpcm a quantity of splendid gravel, which will be of great service in many ways.