Opening of the Gorge Line of Railway

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 110, 10 March 1891, Page 2

Opening of the Gorge Line of Railway

The opening of the above; litre ttfok place yesterday tinder ther most favorable auspices, the weather being all that could be desired. The opening celebration was fixed to take place at Woodville, but the Palmerston people decided to entertain the official guests during their short there. Luncheon was prepared ifl a large marquee in the Square. ; At 11.1& the train, containing passengers, arrived from Wellington,amongst those on board, being Messrs McKerrow and. Hankey^ (Railway Commissioners), Hon. W.- P. Reeves, Messrs Macdonald, Newman,- Hogg and Duthie, M.H.R.s. The guests were met by the Mayor and Borough Councillors of Paknerston, and ■■ conveyed in buggies to the marquee, where the guests were duly welcomed by the Mayor, Mr Snelson. Speeches appropriate- to the occasion were ' made by Messrs Reeves, McEerrow and -Wilson. The train which left Palmerston for Woodville at noon consisted of 18 double carriages, containing upwards of 1500' passengers, and drawn by two engines. Tlie trip through the Gorge was most' enjoyable, the scenery being greatly admired/ The train arrived at Woodville at about. 2 p.m. j and was met by about [ 600 Wobdvillites. The Woodville reception Committee met the Ministers and Commissioners, who were driven in carriages to Murphy's Hotel where they were entertained at lunch, the Mayor of Woodville, Mr Burnett presiding. At the banquet -Messrs Seddon, Smith, Hogg and McEerrow made short speeches. The train returned to Palmerston at about 3 p.m. Everything passed off successfully, the train arrangements being excellent,' Among the passengers to Woodville 'were many old settlers from, Wellington and other parts of the Provincial district. Among others we noticed ' Mr Geo. Allen, Mr E. T. G-iUon, Mr J.B. Harcourt; ;Mr R, M. Simpson, and Mr Donald Fraser. There was also a good sprinkling of members of Parliament, including the Hon; Mr Reeves, the Hon. Mr Seddon, the Hon. Mr Bryce, Messrs Wilson, DV Newman, Dutbie, Macdonald.vHogg and Smith, M.H.R.s, Messrs McKerrow and Hanney, Railway Commissioners, Messrs Hales and J. T. ' Stewart, C.E.s, Mr Rotherarh, late district manager of the Wanganui section of y Railway, Mr Wallace, manager of the Maria watu Railway. The Mayors of Palmerston, .Woodville, and Feilding 1 were also present. The gathering was of 1 a most representative character; and the ' wish was generally expressed that before : long Eketahuna would be- connected by 5 rail with Woodville (sonic 15 miles yet uti--1 made); and thus complete the railway communication between the port of Welling- ! ton and the whole of the Provincial Dis- ' tricti, embracing Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa 1 and Manawatu. A meed of praise is due " to Mr McKenna, statiohmaster atPalmerston| ; for his excellent superintendance '■■ of the railway arrangements.: