THE MANAWATU RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2368, 8 December 1908, Page 5

THE MANAWATU RAILWAY.

acquisition by government.

BANQUET AT WELLINGTON

IRbess Association.] WELLINGTON, Dec. 7

About 150 persons attended the o a liquet in the Town Hall this afternoon to celebrate tne taking over by me Government ol the manawatu railway line.

.Ur. J. Kirkcaldie .the chairman of directors, presided, and stated that , iiu Government had done well in the interests of the Dominion. He thankee Uio Premier for the patient and courteous manner in w'hicii the negotiations had been carried ou. The value of the railway, he said, was only appreciated by those who knew tlio condition of affairs existing at the time when the railway was first opened. the land ot the company being smd at an average of 26s txl an acre, and all those who hud entered into the purchase had done well by the transaction. During its period ot active Working the company had earned, in round figures, seven millions oi passengers, and the gross earnings iiau been £2,400.000, ot which £670,oeo had been paid away in wages. Ho expressed appreciation of the generous support extended to the company hy the citizens and merchants gf the country. In conclusion, he wished ’.lie line the. success under the Goverinnent that it had achieved in the past. He also handed the Prime .umister a silver key of the Mauaw.uu railway station in celebration

oi tiic transfer from the company to tilt* Government, a presentation that was greeted with cheers. - The Premier said that the sale had been effected on terms satisfactory to both parties. The Manawatu railway was practically the last of the private iines in the country. He believed that the result would bo beneficial to the country, as the vholo traffic to tiie Manawatu railway contributed by tlie Government during the last ten years amounted to no less than £642,792, an amount which gave many chances of friction, if there had been any desire it. On all sides there had been evidence of the progress oil the line, and, in this connection he had a word of high praise to say about tlio late general manager, Mr. AT. M. Hannay, and tlie engineer, Mr. Marclibanks, for the work they had done. Tlie work of both these gentlemen had been most valuable. These gentlemen were nob joining tho Government service,. but as to those who were joining, he feltsure they would as in the past do their duty faithfully and well. As to the purchase money, the £91d,000 ivas raised without difficulty on the most advantageous terms. The acquisition of tho line would increase the travelling facilities of the public, and be the means'of helping tlie development- of tho business and passenger traffic of the Dominion. He spoke in terms of praise of the p ion eel's who promoted the line in the early days, remarking that the present occasion would be one of intense interest to those who inaugurated that valuable w r ork in the early days. The toast of the originators and promoters of the company was proposed by Mr. 11. D. Bell, who mado fitting reference to their enterprise. Mr. D. J. Nathan, in reply, stated tha the idea of constructing the railway emanated from the local Chamber of Commerce. The Wellington Harbor Board scheme was evolved at the same time. The originators of tlio railway never went into the work as a speculation, but in the interests of Wellington and the country as a whole. In view of tho demand for railways he questioned whether private enterprise should not be encouraged.'