NORTHERN RAILWAY.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 266, 19 April 1875, Page 3

NORTHERN RAILWAY.

Extension to Ashley Bank. By degrees the extension of the northern line of railway is being carried out. On April 29th, 1872, it was opened to Kaiapoi, a distance of twelve miles; on November sth of the same year, the line was finished to Rangiora, a distance of about tweDty miles from Chri tchurch; and on Saturday, a further length of one and a quarter miles to to the Ashley Bank township was declared to be open for traffic, trains to run regularly on and after to-day (Monday). The last piece of this important broad gauee line, which is looked upon as one day to form a portion of the main trunk railway through the Middle Island, includes that important work, the bridging of the Ashley river. It is here unnecessary to refer to the great number of fatal accidents that have happened to persons crossing this river in flood time, or the delays which Imve been caused to traffic by its being liable to sudden fresh in the event of heavy rain, which drawbacks have proved a serious barrier to the progress of the Ashley district. Suffice it to say, that the colonial Government, in carrying out their important scheme of railways and public works, now place accidents and delays among things of the past. The contract for extending the railway to Amberly from Rangiora was let to Mr E. G. Wright, at or about the same rate per mile as for the former portion of it. viz., £4900. The bridge contract was also taken by Mr Wright, in February, 1873, for the sum of £20,979, and the first pile was put down, under the superintendence of his foreman, Mr Thompson, on March 18th. A period of twenty-two months was allowed for the completion of this work in the first contract, but subspqueutly extended in a second contract, for which Mr Wright received about £6OOO, to over two years. The bridge was ready for handing over to the Government on February 28th last, but on MrCarruthers, Engineer in Chief, inspecting it, certain improvements were recommended and carried out before it was tested. The testing took place on March 6th, when a locomotive and laden trucks were taken over. Among the first to cross it on the engine were Messrs Triphook, Lock, Wither; and Wilson. The trial was most satisfactory, the deflections in no instance exceeding half an inch, forwhich more than due allowance had been made in the camber between the spans. The works on the line call for little comment, as in its construction the works are of no great magnitude, except in regard to the bridge, of which a description will shortly be given ; but the importance of the means of communication thus opened between the Ashley district and the capital of the province, is of no slight moment. At the time of opening the line to Rangiora it will be remembered that Mr Marshman, then manager of railways, made a statement urging the vast necessity for pushing on the line over the Ashley, computing that if it staid at Rangiora it would, in the course of twelve months, carry 4700 tons wheat, 2300 tons oats, 1500 tons barley, 4000 tons other goods, and 3500 bales of wool, but if extended would receive fcr carriage 6000 tons wheat, 3500 tons oats, 5000 tons other goods, and 7500 bales wool, the estimated receipts in the first instance probably reaching £9OOO to £IOOO, and in the second £13,000 to £14,000. Referring also to the statistics of population, the last census returns the population of the Ashhy district at 522, and the Kowai Hi«tric» 1752 From a return of lands, the district now immediately to be benefited by the railway includes 295,000 acres, of which, in April 1869, 52,529 had been sold, of which 13,500 was arable, 121,983 acres first-class for grazing purposes, and 66,300 acres as second-class for grazing purposes. A large propottion of that included in the latter classes has since been taken up and cultivated, to that the yield of the grain crop is equal to that of almost auy district in the province. The agricultural returns for 1873 gives the Ashley district seventy-two holdings, 4355 acres in grain crop, the produce of which was estimated—wheat, 15,326 bushels; oats, 20,753 bushels; and hay 44 tons, and potatoes. The returns two years later show a marked increase, which will certainly be improved upon in the succeediig two years, viz.:—Eighty-six holdings, 6224 acres in grain, the produce of which was estimated to be—wheat, 14,207 bushels; oats, 23,878 bushels ; barley, 2570 bushels; hay, 166 tons; potatoes, 61 tons. The Kowai district, which will also to a very considerable extent derive the advantage of this line, is represented in 1873 as having 190 holdings, 15,557$ acres in crop, the estimate yield being—wheat, 61.688 bushels ; oats, 2717 bushels ; potatoes, 179 tons. In the present harvest, 211 holdings, 21,275 acres in crop, estimated yield from which is put down as—wheat, 45.085 bushels ; oats, 100.772 bushels; barley, 5071 bushels ; hay, 277 tons; and potatoes, 157 tons. The land around is of average quality, and now that facility is given to the producer to communicate with, a market, no doubt a very large increase in the number of holdings will be apparent. The contract time for the completion of the extension of the line to Amberley, on the North Kowai, expires in about four months, but it is at present delayed for 6leepers, so that it is probable some little delay may occur. The committee appointed at Ashley Bank to carry out the celebration of the opening of the bridge had issued invitations to his Honor the Superintendent, the members of the Executive and Provincial Government officials, and a special train in charge of Mr Hesketh, drawn by No 5 engine, and comprising five coaches, two first and three second, left the Christchurch station shortly after eleven o'clock. Messrs Lawson.and Warner were also passengers by the train. The run from Christchurch to Ashley Bank station, including a short stoppage at Kaiapoi and Rangiora to pick up passengers, was accomplished in forty-five minutes, and over the bridge in one minute thirty-two seconds. During the journey up the Provincial Auditor and a few choice spirits who had taken possession of one of the carriages, made the fun fast and furious, and it was with some degree of regret that the end of the journey was reached. Arrrived at the Ashley Bank terminus, there was plenty of evidence of a rising township. A store, blacksmith's shop, school, church, and so forth, arc already in existence; but there is a great want for a post office. Now, however, it is probable arrangements will be made for a daily mail. On Saturday of course the Ashley Bank was gay with its flags, &c. An evergreen decoration had been placed on the end of the bridge, and an arch from the passenger station to the goods shed,'across which appeared the word ««welcome." On the tiain appreaching ia fight cheers were given by a

large assemblage on the platform. The passengers having alighted, his Honor the Superintendent, the Minister for Public Works (Hon E. Richardson), and the Provincial Executive, were received by Mr C. Ff. Pemberton, chairman of the Kowai Road Board, who read the following address:—

" We desire to give your Honor on this important and most interesting occasion a hearty welcome. •' The bridging of the Ashley River, whereby the Northern Railway is continued, is a great work to have accomplished, and evinces the desire the Government have to facilitate as much as possible communication with all parts of the province, not only by railways but other public works in giving, as we do on this occasion to your honor, the most hearty welcome. Although it may not be justifiable to enter into anything bordering on politics, we may certainly be permitted to express an opinion as to the policy which has been adopted during the time your Honor has held your distinguished office, and when we speak of the progress which has been made as regards railways and the public works, we are desirous not to confine ourselves to those works in making eulogium on your Honor's policy of acting, for it must be apparent to every unprejudiced person that since your Honor has held the office of Superintendent, there has been a continuing advancement in developing the natural resources of the province, and at the same time there has been that prudence in the distribution and management of the public funds, so as to place this province in a most independent and enviable position. " Before concluding this address, we desire to express to your Honor our high appreciation of the urbanity you have always displayed towards those who have requested your assistance and co-operation, "In conclusion, we beg to thank your Honor and the other visitors for taking part in this ceremony." His Honor the Superintendent, who was loudly cheered on coming forward, said—Mr Pemberton, ladies and gentlemen—l thank you very sincerely for the cordial manner in which you have received the Minister for Public Works and myself on this the occasion of the opening of this another link in the chain of communication which is gradually but surely being extended throughout the province. I need hardly say it gives me the greatest possible pleasure to be present to-day, and to have with me the Hon Mr Richardson, the Minister for Public Works—[cheers]— to whose energy and active cooperation with the provincial authorities is due the completion of these lines of railway. [Cheers ] By the completion of the work we this day celebrate, one of the great obstacles to the progress of this district is removed, inasmuch as the river which is now bridged has, from its tendency to floods and generally dangerous character proved a bar to your progress as a district. Now, however, that you have been brought into communication with the capital and the rest of the province, the natural advantages of your district will bejable to be developed.— [Cheem] As, by your kind invitation, we shall have an opportunity of speakii.g more at length presently, I will not longer detain you, but will again thank you for your very kind and cordial reception on this occasion. [Cheers."] Three cheers were then given for his Honor and the Hon Mr Richardson, and the assemblage on the platform dispersed. A little time was spent in inspecting the station premises, which are very commodioiiß and suitable. They were erected by Mr D. Reece. The passenger platform is 120 ft iu length, and the station placed on the same level. Opposite to it is a corrugated iron covered goods shed 100 ft x 40ft, into which waggons can be shunted, and the general arrangements of the station are an improvement on the old ones. The stationmaster ap a pointed is Mr J. Bowles, who appears to be a man well-qualified for his position. After this, several of the visitors walked back to the bridge to inspect the same. Two years ago, an extended notice of the structure of the bridge was given in th< columns of the Press. It is mainly built ol wood, on the truss principle, from a design made by Mr J. Blackett, first engineei-in-chief for the colony. Its exact length is 3055 ft, having fifty spans GOffc each; two spans 14ft Kin each; and two spans 13ft each. The piles used were Australian iron bark, averaging a length of 30ft and over, which were stoutly shod with iron and driven by means of a monkey weighing one and ahalf tons, worked by horse-power; the other portions are New Zealand timber. Each of the principal piers of the bridge contains eleven piles, eight bearing the upper structure and three foiming a cutwater, the whole being planked in so as to avoid, as well as prevent the collection of debris brought down during freshets. The piles are braced strongly by horizontal as well as diagonal braces. The capsills are formed of four 12 x 12 timbers bolted together, the corbels and struts being firmly bolted to these. Altogether, the style of the bridges over theWaimakariri, one of which—that over the south branch—is 627 feet long—seem far the best for railway purposes. Their construction is iron bark piles, and the upper part entirely Of iron girders and bearers inclusive. To the Ashley bridge the Provincial Government wisely added a foot bridge by permission of the G eneral Government, which is erected outside the wooden walls of the railway portion, and proves to be a great boon to the residents of the district who attend the Rangiora market, and purchase stores there. Having examined this work it was announced that luncheon was ready, causing a general retreat to be made to the goods shed, in which four tables had been laid aloDg the landing, capable of giving accommodation to 300 persons seated, and a cross table, at which was seated the chairman and his supporters. This part of the day's proceedings was an entire success. Its management devolved upon alocal committee comprising—Messrs J. A. Cunningham, A. H. Cunningham, P. Fawcett, J. Thompson, Howard, Barwell, H. Blackett, J. Dixon, W. Dixon, D. Brock, Pemberton, Gorrie, Waiting. and F. Croft, who, by aid of donations in money and kind, h *d arranged a monster luncheon,|inviting all the Government officers the workmen on the bridge and line, as well as the school children, the public being admitted by tickets at 2s 6d each. The spread included every item of a first-class cold collation. A considerable amount of trouble had been taken to decorate the room with evergreens to render it as cheerful as the occasion required. Mr Button's band was in attendance and played several appropriate airs. During the day the train was run to Rangiora and back in charge of Mr Hesketh once or twice, for the benefit of such as chose to avail themselves of a trip over the new Use. To the little ooei tbu appeared to be

a piece of amusement which they heartily enjoyed. The chair was occupied by Mr J. A. Cunningham, Chairman of the Ashley Road Board, having on his right his Honor the Superintendent, the President of the Executive (Sir C. Wilson), and Mr A. H. Cunningham; and on his left the Minister for Public Works (the Hon E, Richardson), the Hon J. T. Peacock (Secretary for Public Works), and Mr J. Evans Brown, M.H.R. The vice-chairs were filled by Mr Wynn Williams and Mr Pemberton. Grace having been said by the Rev W. H. Horner, the business of luncheon proceeded. The Rev Canon Dudley having returned thanks, The Chairman gave the usual loyal toasts, which were drunk with enthusiasm, the band playing the National Anthem and " God bless the Prince of Wales." The Chairman then rose to give "The Health of the Marquis of Formanby, Governor of New Zealand." His Excellency as yet was new to them; but he was glad to see that he purposed paying the province a visit next week. He did not know whether his Excellency would pay them a visit at the Ashley, but he hoped he would. [Cheers. | The toast was drunk with cheers, the band playing " The King of the Cannibal Islands."

Mr Pemberton next rose to propose the health of his Honor the Superintendent, but owing to the distance at which the speaker was from our reporter, and the utter impossibility of hearing a word he said, a defect which was painfully apparent throughout the whole proceedings, his remarks were inaudible. The toast was drunk amid loud and enthusiastic cheering and musical honors. His Honor, who on rising was received with cheers, lasting some time, said—- " Mr chairman, ladies, and gentlemen,—lt gives me the greatest pleasure, I can assure you, to be present here to-day, and to meet so large a portion of the settlers of the province. The Superintendent, as you are aware, is supposed to speak with the voice of his advisers, but if I had ten advisers, and possessed the voices of them all, I fear I should hardly be able to make myself heard by all of you on the present occasion. I am pleased to be present to-day to receive at the hands of the Minister for Public Works of the colony, this portion of the great trunk lines of railway which are gradually being extended through the province. It is matter of congratulation to me to see the completion of this line, as it all tends to the one great end, that of bringing together in closer relationship the people in various parts of the province—[cheers]—and that one of the large rivers of the province has now been bridged, and the trouble, delay, and danger formerly attendant upon crossing it done away with. [Cheers.J In the completion of this work also we have to celebrate the success of science and art over natural obstacles in a new country where population is to be developed by the improvement of means of communication, and more especially by the rendering safe the crossing of the large rivers which intersect the plains. I remember well in the session of 1870, the hon Mr Stafford moving for a return of persons drowned in the rivers. It was a melancholy return, and one that fully justified Mr Stafford in moving for it, containing as it did a mournful list of lives lost in a young country like this where life is so valuable. It is therefore only to be expected that we should congratulate ourselves that one of the results of the policy of the colony iu o ening up trunk lines has been the construction of a bridge across the River Ashley, which though dangercus, to-day looks like a thread over the plain—a fact which renders it doubly dangerous. I say that what we want is that the main trunk lines should be pushed on so as to bring the East and West Coasts of this island into closer communication—[Cheers] —and thus bring together the producer on this side and the consumer on that. | Cheers.] We have large producing power on this side of the range, and ample room for increase of population. The latter will be supplied by the increase of facilities of communication, and the former will, as a natural result, be stimulated by the opening of markets for the disposal of our products. [Cheers] I feel therefore the utmost pleasure at seeing this part of the province—which to some extent owing to the cause I have alluded to has been isolated—brought into closer relations with the other portions. You have here a splendid down country, which has only been scratched, scarcely half developed, and which will amply repay the industry of those who have colonised it. [Cheers.] We all, I am sure, feel gratified that to day we have amongst us the Minister for Public Works. [Cheers.] A debt of gratitude is due to him for the way in which he has pushed on the railways in this province. | Cheers.] It has been said that gratitude is an expression of hope for favors to come, and he will no doubt be able to tell us that the General Government intend energetically to push on the completion of these trunk lines, and I believe myself that nothing will conduce more to the prosperity of the colony as a whole and the development of its resources than the pursuing of a vigorous policy of pushing forwards the great trunk lines. By this means centres of population will be formed, and each line that is opened will be yet another link in the great chain of communication which will, we hope, ere long bind us together throughout these islands as a whole. [Cheers.] Gentlemen, I beg most heartily to thauk you for the kindly reception you have given to myself and those who act with me. [Cheers.] Mr C. J. Harper proposed the next toast, "The Colonial Ministry and the General Assembly," coupled with the names of the Hon Mr Kichardsou, lion Mr Peacock, and Mr J. E. Brown. With respect to the Minister for Public Works, he hoped to hear from him some explanation of the reason why the line had not been opened to the South Kowai as promised by the Government. On the 24th July, 1874, in the House of Representatives, the Hon Mr Richardson said, in making his Public Works statement— li In Canterbury the first main line to be mentioned is that from North Ko vai to Rangiora, including the very large bridge over the River Ashley Itis*all under contract and progressing satisfactorily. The whole work is in the hands of Mr E. U. Wright. The line should be open to the South Kowai early next year." [Cheers.) They were now in the fourth month of the year, and he (Mr Harper) thought that the hon Minister for Public Works would be glad of the opportunity of explanation. The toast was then drunk with loud cheers, the band playing " Yankee Doodle." - Hon Mr Richnrdson, who was loudly cbuered ou rising, said—Mr chairman, ladies,

and gentlemen, I am afraid that as I have considerable difficulty in making myself heard at only a short distance, the greater part of the very large assemblage I see before me will be unable to hear the remarks I have to make. In the first place, let me thank you cordially on the part of my colleagues in the Colonial Ministry for the warm manner in which you have received the toast, and also for myself, and to express the gratification I feel at meeting so large a section of the people of this province as I now see before me. [Applause.] Gentlemen, bis Honor the Superintendent has been kind enough to say that it has given him great pleasure to see me here to-day, and I can assure you it is a source of great gratification to myself to have been able so to arrange my business as to be here to-day to take part in the opening of a small portion of the great system of colonial lines and to hand over this line to the province. [Applause]. I say a small portion, but 1 do not mean this as refers to importance, but simply as having reference to the whole scheme. To-day we celebrate the completion of the first bridge over these large rivers carried out by the General Government. There is another bridge nearly complete it will, I believe, be ready to be opened in a few days. I allude to the Ashburton bridge, which is also in the hands of my friend, Mr Wright; [Applause.] And here, gentlemen, I will take the opportunity of saying that I am convinced, after the experience of two years, which you will allow should enable me to judge, that there is no man from one end of the colony to the other, who can carry out these large and important contracts so thoroughly well ,as Mr Wright. [Cheers.] To Mr Maxwell, the engineer-in-chief and the district engineer, as well as to the contractor, we owe it that we are enabled to be hear to-day to celebrate the {Completion of so large a work as this. [Cheers.] My friend, Mr Harper, has alluded to what has taken place in the Assembly, and has read you some remarks made by me. Now, I must certainly say that when I accepted the kind invitation of the committee to be present to-day, I had no idea that I was to be catechised regarding what I had said in the House of Representatives—[Laughter] —to our masters there. However, I am not at all sorry that Mr Harper has mentioned this, because it gives me an opportunity of saying something on the matter. When that statement was made it was done so by me in perfect good faith, under the impression that very large supplies of labor were coming into the colony—sufficient labor that is for all wants, and to spare. But such turned out not to be the case, and I do not believe for one moment that you will blame me or my colleagues for not pushing on the work when the result of so doing would have been to enter into competition with the industries of the colony in the labor market. [Cheers.] Had we done this and pushed on the completion of the line, I think the inconvenience would have been far more serious to the district and province generally than the slight delay which has taken place. [Cheers.] The work is in Mr Wright's hands, but has been kept back from causes over which he has had no control. The General Government agreed to supply him with material, but we have not been able to do it as speedily as we should have desired. However, as there will be no further delay, no doubt by September at latest this line will be still further extended by being opened to the Kowai. [Cheers.] Now I want to claim your indulgence for a few minutes to say two or three words about these railways. I wish to do so more particularly because I have seen considerable discussion in the papers of the colony about the question of the paying or the non-paying of these colonial railways, and as this is a matter of considerable importance to this province, and indeed to the colony at large, I must trespass for two or three minutes on your patience while I lay a few facts before you. I came across a statement to-day of the cost and earnings of the Victorian railways for the past year, and I will take those figures to illustrate what I have to say on this matter. Now taking this return I find that at this date Victoria had opened 441 miles of railway at a total cost of eleven and a-half millions, and a cost per mile of £26,000. The gross receipts for the yes»r from whioh I am quoting, was £851,000, and the working expenses £374,000, leaving a profit of £476,000. The per centage of working expenses you will see was 44 per cent ; or an average extending over seven years of 48 per cent, leaving 52 per cent as the actual profit result on the working. The last opened line in Victoria, the North-eastern, is 187 miles in length. It has been constructed on the cheap system, iriz, narrow gauge, and its cost per mile was £9OOO. Now on that line since its opening what does the return show ? Why, that after paying all working expenses it paid 5 per cent on capital, and paid £17,000 into the consolidated revenue, or 4J per cent on the whole capital. I am not going to trouble you any longer with figures. With our lines at £SOOO per mile it is a very hard thing if they cannot be made to pay. [Cheers.] As an example let me select one in Otago, a line by itself, whi.ch has paid 52 per cent profit since it was opened. My object in making these remarks is to disabuse the minds of those who say that the rail jvays cannot be made to pay. [Cheers.] There is just one other point upon which I wish to speak, and it is this. My firm belief is that if those parts of the colony where railways have been opened wish them to pay, those entrusted with the conduct of affairs must rely more on those they put in charge of the railways. [Cheers.] Let them be entrusted with more discretionary powers, let larger latitude be given to them, and if they don't do their work satisfactorily and bring about satisfactory results, then let them be removed, and others put in their place. [Loud cheers.] So long as the Executive of the day interfere with the detail management of the railways, so long, in my opinion, it will be utterly impossible for them to pay. |Loud cheers.] I feel quite sure that the gentlemen in charge of these railways—gentlemen of such large and varied experience as Mr Warner and Mr Lawaon —would merit the utmost and implicit trust that could be put in them, and if this were done, 1 for one have no fear as to the result. [Loud cheers.] Gentlemen, I will not detain you longer, but simply beg, on behalf of my colleagues and myself, to thank you for the warm and hearty way in which the toast of the Colonial Ministry has been received by you. [Loud and continued cheers ] The Hon. J. T. Peacock, who was also warmly received on rising, said he desired to congratulate the district upon the completion of the line to the Ashley, and more especially upon thesuccessful bridging of theriver which had hitherto been such an obstacle in the way of progress, For the past four years

there had existed in the Provincial Council much inclination to delay the extension of the line to the North, but during latter years this had disappeared, and they now were met to celebrate the completion of yet another portion of the Great Northern line. He hoped that ere long the still further extension to Amberley would be an accomplished fact, and that the residents in that district might be enabled to participate in the advantages of direct communication with the market. [Hear, hear.] The Minister for Public Works —his big brother, if he might call him so—had told them what the intentions of the General Government were, and he (Mr Peacock) would therefore content himself by thanking them for the way in which the toast had been received. Mr J. E. Biown also returned thanks, expressing the pleasure he felt at the line being thus far completed, and hoping that the further extension to Amberley would be pushed on as quickly as possible. Mr Blackett then proposed " The Provincial Executive and Members of the Provincial Council," coupled with the names of Sir C. Wilson and Mr Wm. Montgomery. The toast was drank amid cheers. Sir Cracroft Wilson, who in rising was warmly applauded, said that his Honor had referred to a return furnished to the House of Representatives some years ago on the motion of Mr Stafford, and he might mention that that disclosed the fact that over 2000 lives had been sacrificed in the rivers of New Zealand. He (Sir C. Wilson) might say that he owed his present position in that meeting to the fact that he had formed an Executive to carry on the business of the province. He had done so because he had been asked by nearly every member of the Provincial Council to undertake it, and he need hardly tell them who knew him, that having once undertaken a thing he would carry it out to the end, whether that end be bitter or sweet. [Cheers and laughter.] He begged to thank them for the kind manner in which the toast had been received. Mr Montgomery, who was received with loud cheers, and the band playing "Seethe conquering hero comes," said that it gave him the utmost pleasure to be present on that occasion at the celebration of the opening of a new portion of the scheme of railways* He looked upon the extension of these lines as tending to make them a great people, by the development of the great natural resources which the province possessed. By this means they would in course of time become, if not a great nation, at least a great people, and therefore it was that he expressed a hope that the opening of the line to Ashley, with the promised extension to Amberley, might form a new era in the prosperity not only of the district immediately benefitted but of the Province of Canterbury at large. [Cheers.] Mr Maude, who was received with cheers, proposed the next toast, viz, " The Local Governing Bodies, coupled with the names of the Chairman and Mr Pemberton as Chairmen of the Road Boards north of the Ashley." The Road Boards had been the pioneers of public works in the country, and had done much useful work in the past, and he hoped would still dp so in the future. They had had a large amount of public money to expend, and had, he believed, expended it wisely and with good effect. [Cheers.J The toast was drunk amid loud cheers, the band playing " Come into the garden Maud." Mr Cunningham and Mr Pemberton briefly replied. Mr Fawcett proposed " The Health of the Local Members, Messrs Harper, Maskell, and Maude. The toast was drank enthusiastically. Messrs Maude, Maskell, and Harper, replied. The following toasts were then given and responded to, "Army, Navy, and Volunteers," responded to by Messrs Pilliet, Fisher, and Barwell; " General Government Engineers and Contractors," responded to by Mr Maxwell and Mr E. G. Wright; " Railway and Provincial Engineers," responded to by Messrs Lawson and Warner;" "The Foreman and Men Employed on the Work,'' responded to by Mr Foreman Thompson. The visitors then proceeded to the special, and after a pleasant run, town was reached about 4.30 p.m., after a very pleasant day.