GISBORNE-TE KARAKA RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1430, 14 April 1905, Page 3

GISBORNE-TE KARAKA RAILWAY.

- a ceiegram wa as follows “J. Townley, Esq., Gisborne —Regret exceedingly I am unable to bi with you at the important ceremony to-da* if the opening of the Te Karaka railway Chough not with you in porson I am with you in spirit, and I congratulate the district very heartily on the opening of this ine, which will do so much good and add lo the future development and prosDerity ot the district. The end is not yet, a'nd it is to be hoped that provision for necessary extension will be cheerfully granted by Parliament. Kindly convey my apologies for not being able to be present. I cordially wish the fenotion every sucoess. R. J. Seddon.” Cheers were heartily given for the Uinisters. mn nl, u t 1 1 /*(1 •

*= .x--, VHOULUBU, sal it was a day for congratulation, and alsi for suitably acknowledging tho energi displayed by Mr Carroll. Firstly, thei" thanks were due to him and then to tbi Government for having done what thej had. Had Mr Carroll not stuck to the agitation for the railway it would not bt as far as it was to-day. The visit to the district would convince Ministers that the line was necessary, and would be a remunerative one. They should urge as strongly as they could the claims of the district for further extension, and that the work should be greatly accelerated. At his call cheers were given for Mr Carroll. Mr F. Pattullo, on behalf of Karaka settlors, thanked those in power for completing the railway to its present stage, ind urged that it should be continued. Phe people could well demaud the work ihould be pushed on, not as a favor, but is a right, because this was one of the ichest districts in the colony, and one in vhich there had been less expenditure han any othei. He referred to the roads a the back blocks, constructed at settlers’ j wn cost, and said there was often vexa:ous delay in getting loans to pay for ieae roads. (Applause.)

Jur riciana Hood said his duty was a very pleasant one of welcoming the visitors. He expressed the pleasure of all at seeing Ministers present on this occasion. He was one of those who had every faith in the fairness and integrity with which public funds were administered in this colony. (Applause.) It was a question whether the public works policy was adequate. He humorously described how Ministers had to seek to allocate funds, but they did it as fairly as possible. They were now in the centre of some of the richest country. Looking at it from a district point of view, he pointed to the timber, the energy and the enterprise of the settlers. It was to be considered whether advancing the railway at the rate of two or three miles a year wa3 sufficient to meet the energy and enterprise of the district. He referred to the richness of the Mangatu and Waiapu districts. The colony could not go wroDg in opening up Poverty Bay. Mr John Brown had said to him that day—“ This represents thirty years’ progress in To Karaka. What will the next thirty years do ?” They heard visitors talking of the possibilities of tho district, but ho wanted Ministers to go away impressed with the gigantic certainties of thie district. He called for cheerß for Ministers, members, and their ladies. These were duly" given, also a cheer for

Mr 3. A. Ctesar briefly joined in extending a hearty welcome to tbe visitors and in tbe congratulations. • At his call cheers were given for the ladies., Tbe Hon. Mr He)]-Jones said no one present was more pleased at the openiDg of the railway than himself. Ho knew the value of roads and railway connection. They had one of tbe finest little countries on the eartb. He had been much pleased with the appearance of the country they had passed through that morning. Karaka had been more kind than Gisborne was at the time of the turning of the first sod, when there was such a deluge of rnio. This was a first step to a connection with the trunk line, It had been urged that the line should be carried on with more vigor. There wore many other parts with equal claims, and they had to allocuto the money so that it would be of tbe greatest good to the greatest number; i£ was all a matter of pounds, shillings, aod ponceIn 1899 he had nearly become a settler at the Motu, and as ho saw tbe beautiful country he regretted that he had not done so instead of going into politics. He would perhaps have been healthier, happier, and better off. He was astounded to see the marvellous progress of the district. They had only just started. They must get away with the wild pig spoken of by Mr Hood, and put settlers on the land. He was pleased to see dairy factories, and also that they wero sanding stock to Canterbury. It was marvellous the volume of exportation of this country. Thera was not another country that could equal it. It was so thanks to the enterprise of tbe settlers and their wivos. It had all been done in a few years. They did not produce one-half of what they would yet do. It was for each of them to do tbe best they could. As far as tbe work of the k-imstry would go their interests would 1 not he lost sight of. Thanks-,to the porseTcranse of their member' thoy bad done They started tbe lino in 1500, open'®' 2 t 0 'Ormond in June, 1902, Knitarata.* 1 ' November. 1902, and to To Karaka (IS nnleej) that day. Bailway constructL*' ls in Now .Zealand was a big thing, and .must be continued. Bridgebuilding and food-making must also ho contmued. The lino bad

COMPLETION OF-TE KARAT?A • SECTION.

THE OPENING CEREMONY.

o con-1 ... al T on Sh heavy showers foil yostorc thout / ffn rn i ns ’ f ho wcathor turned out boat j fully for tho opening of tho To Kara I section of tho railway, a distance of I !u' 03 ’ A ,': oc - v lflr fio crowd assemble I tho proceedings wore characterised wi 12. I ““oh enthusiasm, and everything went * the 1 Pleasantly. Te Karaka was gay with flag rawl- f ® nd *“0 pretty sports grounds, nestling t j *nr 0r bark, formed a charming piotur I the Ministerial party wont out by the 1 I a,n ?: tra * n , and as tho train neared tb J station tho two engines sot up a joyfu 2. ] ccch-a-doodJo-doo, and tho orowd ohoerei has j Mosdames A. M. Lewis and I ited J Datlullo hold a ribbon across tho line, anc heir I *hero was a ohoor as it was sovorod by the I advancing train. A guard of honor was I by tho Gisborno Rifles and cadets, 1 and tbs Ministerial party and district re- , .1 P res °Matives were conveyed to the sports ’i I Ki. onnc b Wa ero the speochifying took place ■ml I Cheers were given ; tho City Band plaved 'n i I natlohal anthem, and His Worship 'the ng ! Mayor of Gisborne was the first to address I the assembled people. I I f Townley referred to the importance I I ot tho occasion, mentioning that there I I were not only three Ministers present, but | 1- I rS, ot Mr Herries, member for the Bay | s I m^-^ 0D , fy l. wa3 w **b them for tho first time. | v / X ,u ßy S* a “‘Y welcomed him [as well as the I f," I o jb or visitors, because tho people I 1J - , ta at district were taking great I I interest in the progress of the I uce, which must eventually give / I connection betweon tho two districts. He | I Wls bea to impress upon Ministers the rioh I I ness of this district. Having been a set- / . I tier here for 30 years, he said they bad I j I patiently borne the burden of the day, IR I whilst other diislriots had had their rail- I 7. I ways. Tho capital value of Whakatano, in I Look, Wniapu and Wairoa counties was I 1 over £6,000,000, and their area 6000 square I B miles. These wore faots for members and I - (K Government to work upon. He was sure I that members would see the necessity for I tha railway. The member for the district I A did all he conld, but he and the Ministers I -a must have tho people at their back, and I MC agitate for the continuation of the lino I J’°n They should see good reason for this by the’ I aftl benefit from tho short length completed. 17 miles. (Mr Hall-Jones :IS miles) I Continuing,.the Mayor urged that a trial I should be given of eleotrio traction, , Hero I was a district in which they might first I well try tho experiment. They had the I water power, there was no oxponsivo plant HH fio b& - disturbed, and the -Government I should seeJj io make use of the great power I Apri at hand. Mr Townloy oonelnded by say- I mg he had ’ v telegraphed oongratu- l—ations to one who x would have much I ] iked to have been with them, the Premier I Applause). ’ I

boon fairly oaay in tbo course of construction ; £7lßl was the averago ooßt for the past nine yoars per mile. The ooat of this eeotion was £5900 per mile, whioh, oonsidoring there was a bridge and tunnel and heavy cost of land, was a oomplimont to the engineers who carried out the work. The wool and meat industries would cause them to make great strides. Referring to Mr (Townley’s remarks he said the water power would be utilised, and New Zealand would become the manufacturing country fcr the Southern Hemisphere. 'While this was going on they would have their population doubled and oven treblod within our time. He referred to the poverty existing in England, and Baid, 11 God forbid that it should extend here.” Ret them all work on their part to keep that poverty awoy. Ret them do thoir best to make New Zealand a moral country and place it on the high pinnacle it deserved. The Earaka line was going ahead ; it was not going to stop here. Ho was going, before he left, to authorise a further extension —(cheers) With the persuasive eloquence of their member he was sure they would have fair provision made. Mr Herries was present, and he asked him to back him up if he got into trouble in the House over the vote for this railway being overspent. He was pleased to meet them at a time when the colony was so prosperous. They could all help "in this, and must make roads and railways. The amount voted for this electorate last session was £14,000 for roads. The Government’s efforts were only limited by the funds at their disposal, and tho interests of this district would not be neglected. The railway had been started in February, 1900. He formally declared the lino opened, and wished this distriot continued prosperity. Tho Hon, J. Carroll, member for the distriot, expreßßed tho greatest satisfaction at tho railway being opened to this point, and his gladness at hearing his colleague announce that he would authorise a further extension. He only hoped that on the principle of a stone rolling down a hill the further the line went the faster would be its momentum. They were satisfied .with their distriot, and should stiok to their railway. All money mußt be applied to the effectual oarrying out of the public works of the colony. He believed the line would proceed and connect with the Bay of Plenty, and hoped that the junction would soon become a marriageable fact. He hoped they would have reason to be satisfied in the future with the progress of the publio works m this district. (Cheers.) Mr Herries expressed pleasure at seeing the opening of this railway. The settlers at Opotiki and Bay of Plenty district were just as anxious as them to be brought into oonneciion. They could count on his help and that of all the East Coast members. This was not a party question. Mr Carroll and ho sat on opposite sides of the Houso, but as far as the East Coast was concerned they were one. He considered that the district had been neglected in tho 1 past, aDd they should not rest until justice was done. Until tho East Coast was connected with the main railways in the colony, he did not consider justioe would have been done. Speaking for the visitors, he said the people of Poverty Boy had treated them like kings. Mr J. McCosh Clark, representing the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, was called upon to speak, and tendered his hearty congratulations. Ho said Auckland people were now waking up to the fact that there should be communication between Auckland and Gisborne, and he hoped to seo tha lino oxtendod until the connection was established. The Hon. Mr J&cGowan said as far as the railway was concerned they looked at the in which it would help their own district. Many years ago he advocated at a public meeting at the Thames thi3 very railway. Wellington people wanted all linos brought there, but they should go through the loud that would produoe products to support the railway. He would always be ready to help in the construction of the Ea6t Coast railway. If it had been constructed 15 or 20 years ago they would have had much more settlement than they had now. He hoped that he might live to see the railway carried through to the rich goldfields, where they would have an abundant market for their produoe. (Applause). Mr A. R. D. Fraser said his one word to them was “ Many happy returns of the day.” It was well for members from other districts to visit thorn to see for themselves the wants of tho district. He would favor a close session for Parliament to send members through the constituencies to see the requirements. The district was one that spoke for itself; its potentialities were great. He was pleaeed to see tho keen interest everyono took in the district. They had the British pertinacity of a bulldog. Government helped those who helped themselves. He was ploased that every deputation hero had been to the Minister of Public Works: There had not been one to the Minister of Justice asking him to enlarge tho gaol. (Raugbter.) It showed that they were a clean-living and prosperous community. The Mayor called for cheers for Mr Viokerman, engineer in charge ; Mr Armstrong, resident engineer; and Mr Marshall, overseer, who, as stated by Mr HallJones, bad carried out the work so satisfactorily. Cheers were heartily given, aDd a similar compliment was extended to the visitors.

Mr Hall Jones called for three cheers for a geDtleman who was his ideal of a Mayor for a town —Mr Townley. He had known him for many yoars, and he was an ideal man, having an eyo to the welfare of the country as well as tho municipality. Cheers were then given for Mr and Mrs Townley, and also for Mrs Hall-Jones. The To Karaka people deserve to be warmly congratulated on the way in which they carried out their portion of tho arrangements. Mr A. M. Rewis was chairman of the committee and treasurer, and had with him as joint secretaries, Messrs P. J. Sefton and J. Dovery. The committee comprised a very ltirgc number, who all ably assisted. A capital luncheon was provided for the visitors and representatives.

Shortly after luncheon tho Ministerial party drove to Mr Hutohinaon’s homestead, Waihuka, which was reached, at 4 o’clock. Hero they found afternoon tea set on tables on the lawn and the guests were ropeived and attended by Mesdames F. Sherriff, J. Hutchinson, and Misses Hutchinson, Sbaw and Crowley, while Messrs A. E. M., and John Hutchinson, Sberriff and Richardson were also present to welcome their guests. From tim homestead a bird’s eye view was obtained of the proposed track of the railway to the Motu. By the kind invitation of Mr Hutohinßon the bujk of the party (about 20) remained there overnighf in order that they might leave for the Motu early this morniDg. The others returned to Te Karaka and caught tho train for town. The Gisborne Rifles were undoc the command of Rieut. Lewis and the Cadet'were under Capt. Beere. The City Bs/d and the Rifles Band were also in att'-jd-aoco and enlivened the proceedings. The sports programme was carried through with vigor. The complete results /ame to band too late for this morning's issue,