Wellington-Manawatu Railway

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 135, 24 April 1886, Page 2

Wellington-Manawatu Railway

(Communicated.) The Hon. John Ballance, Minister of Lands, having been desirous for some time past of inspecting the country through which the above railway passes, a special train left "Wellington on Thursday morning for this purpose. The following gentlemen intended to accompany him, viz. : : The Hon. the Colonial Socretary, Mr Buckley, Major Gudgeon, Major Shanuon (a Director of the Company), Captain Duncan (of the Wellington Naval Artillery), Mr James Wallace (Secretary of the Company), and several other gentlemen. But as Mr Bullanco was detained on the East Coast in connection with certain Native business, Mr Buckley could not leave Wellington, and Major Gudgeon was prevented by sickness in his family, therefore these gentlemen ware unable to accompany the party. Tho train loft Wellington at 9, and arrivod at Paikakariki at 1 1 a.m. The excursionists took coach thence to Otaki, where they arrived at 2 p.m. Horses were provided there to convey them to the workings, about five miles north of Otaki, where a special train, which had been provided by the Government Railway authorities, awaited them. On the way up the train stopped at Shannon, and the visitors went down the branch lino to inspect the Shannon wharf on the Manawatu river. After a short delay, the traiu started for Longburn, where it arrived at 5-25, in time to meet the Foxton train, to which the members of tho-party were at once transferred. On the journey through from Otaki they were greatly impreaaed with tho quality of the land, as well as its richness and extent. One block »f 33,000 acres, recently acquired from the natives, situated on the Longbura side of the village of Shannan, which consists of light bush and swamp, attracted considerable attention. From one point of view on the lino, a stretch of 14 miles by 6 miles wide can be seen, as level as a bowling green. This is covered with raupo, which at this season of the year gave it quite the appearance of an immense wheat field, while the glowing rays of the setting sun strikiug the green vegetation underneath gave the whole a most strikingly prairie- like appearance. We are glad to find that the Company have provided all the necessary plant for draining this magnificent tract of country. A Priestman's dredge has been imported (which now lies at Foxton), and punts have been built for dredging the Tokomairiro stream, which runs through the centre of the swamp. It is intended to throw up the spoil of the dredging on one side of this stream, so as to form a dray road through the centre of the entire property. Latteral channels will also be cut leading into this main artery. When this work is completed, one of the finest blocks of land in tho colony will be mad© available for settlement. Tho main line of railway will be open to Wellington before Christmas.