THE OPENING- OF THE CHRIST CHURCH-DUNEDIN RAILWAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1424, 7 September 1878, Page 3

THE OPENING- OF THE CHRIST CHURCH-DUNEDIN RAILWAY.

[By Teleobaph.] [FEOSI THE SPECIAB BEPOBTKE OF THE PEBS3.] Duxedik, September 0. The great event of connecting the cities of Christchurch and Dunedin by railway was consummated to-day. The train left Christchurch at six o’clock, so punctually as to cause several laggards to lose their passage, and they could bo scon from the train looking after us with rueful faces. The Dunedin Glee Club enlivened the whole of the voyage by their excellently rendered melodies, acT .companied by a harmonium, which they had in the carriage. The Railway Band also played “Auld Lang Syne” as wo steamed away. Shortly after eight, with a slight stoppage at Rakaia, we arrived at Ashburton. His Excellency was received, on alighting from tiro carriage, by the newly elected Mayor, Mr Bullock, and the borough Councillors, to whom ho was introduced by Mr Bullock, who had travelled in the train from Christchurch. The platform was crowded, as was also the street as far as the Town Hall, opposite which an arch was erected, covered with evergreens. On his Excellency leaving the carriage, the town clerk (Mr Charles Braddell) rend the following address To the Most Noble the Marquis of Normanby, Governor in and over Her Majesty’s Colony of New Zealand, and Vice-Admiral of the Same. May it please your Excellency,— We, the Mayor and Councillors of the borough of Ashburton, on behalf of the burgesses, beg to tender your Excellency a respectful and cordial welcome on the occasion of this your first visit to this particular part of the colony. Ashburton owes much of his progress and prosperity to the railway, the completion of which is being to-day illustriously signalised by your Excellency’s passage in the first through train from Christchurch to Dunedin. We heartily join in the general hope that the system of public works, already so plentiful in beneficial results, may be earned out, so as to further develope the resources of the colony. As representing the community, wo beg to assure your Excellency of our loyal attachment to the Throne and traditions of England. “'Further assuring your Excellency of our good will towards your own person, and of our trust in your Excellency’s Government, and respectfully wishing your Excellency and the ladies and gentlemen who accompany you on this auspicious occasion a safe and pleasant journey, We beg to subscribe ourselves, Tour Excellency’s obedient servants, Signed by Thomas Bullock, Mayor, the Councillors, and Town Clerk. His Excellency in reply, thanked the Mayor and Councillors for their hearty welcome, and congratulated them on the flourishing condition of the country, the prosperity of which Would bo still further bo augmented by the opening of the railway through to Dunedin, He would remind them of the old proverb, “ Time or tide will wait for no man,” neither would the Canterbury railways. His Excellency, together with his Aide-de-Camp, Capt. lo Patourel, the Mayor, and a few of the Councillors, then took their seats in Mr Bceenberg’s waggonette, which was in waiting, and wore driven to the Town Hall for breakfast, the rest of the party walking. The ladies of the party were entertained in the railway refreshment room, which was given up to their use. About 320 sat down to breakfast, which was supplied by Mr Shearman, of the Somerset Hotel, in capital style. As soon as breakfast was concluded a start was made for the train, and we were once more cn route. I may mention that a triumphal arch spanned the main street near the Town Hall, bearing the words “ Welcome to the Borough of Ashburton,” and that the township was gaily decorated with flags. At Temuka we stopped for a few minutes to take in water, and hero there was a large crowd to welcome the party. No time was lost in pushing on to Timaru, where great preparations had been made to receive the excursionists. , Timaru was reached at 10.10, and there was a very largo assemblage of people at the station and the adjoining streets. On alighting, his Excellency was met by the Mayor and Borough Council, and another address presented, and which was replied to suitably. His Excellency and party, together with the members of the House, then entered the carriages which had been provided for them, and were driven to the Grosvenor, where a slight refreshment was taken. The party then started out for a drive round the town, passing the schools, hospital, and other public buildings. They also drove to the proposed site of the Timaru Breakwater. Timaru looked very gay. The day was observed as a close holiday, and flags floated from every conceivable point. In George street, near the Railway station, a triumphal arch had been erected, having the word “Welcome” in the centre, and “Success to Agriculture, Trade, and Commerce,” and “ Advance New Zealand, Otago and Canterbury United. ” The Fire Brigade, with their engine, lined the street from the entrance to the station to the arch, and the Volunteers formed a guard of honour at the station yard. After about twenty minutes’ stay, Mr Conyers gave the signal to move on, and we left Timaru amid loud cheers from the people, who lined the station, and a salute from the Timaru artillery, Oamaru was reached at 12.80, and here, also, great preparations had been made. The station yard was kept clear of all by a line of volunteers, and a dais had been erected, upon which the Mayor and Councillors were waiting to present another address, which was as follows: — To His Excellency the Honorable George Augustas Constantino Marquis of Normanby, Earl of Mulgrave, K.G.0.M.G., &c., Governor of New Zealand, and ViceAdmiral of the same. May it please your Excellency,We, the Mayor’ and Municipal Council of the town of Oamaru, in the name and on behalf of the citizens, cordially greet your Excellency on the occasion of thisjyour second visit to thisdown. We desire to assure your Excellency of our warm sentiment of loyalty to her Majesty the Queen, of whom we receive you ns the representative, and of our attachment to her throne and person. We hail the visit of your Excellency on this auspicious occasion as signalising the completion of the Amherley-Dunedin portion of the Great Trunk Railway of the Middle Island, which, by rendering the means of communication easy between the cities of the North and South, must tend greatly to the progress of this part of New Zealand, as well as to the comfort and convenience of the travelling public, and we hope that the scheme of tire present Government, for a wide extension of the railway system of the colony, will be carried out, and that at no distant date all its various settlements will he linked together by the iron road. Wo are, your Excellency’s most obedient humble servants, Signed by the Mayor and the whole of the Councillors. His Excellency’s reply having been made, and the Oamaru folk being naturally anxious to show their breakwater to their Northern visitors, a start was made for it. His Excellency was met on arrival by the Harbor Board, the chairman of which, Mr Sumter, added one more address to the formidable roll of which Captain Le Patourel was the custodian. The address was as follows: —• To his Excellency the Honorable George Augustus Constantine, Marquis of Normanby, Earl of Mulgrave, K.G.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand, and Vice-Admiral of the same. We, the members of tiio Oamaru Harbor Board, desire to welcome your Excellency to the scene of our enterprise on this, your second visit to Oamaru. Wo also desire to testify through yon our loyalty to the throne and person of her Gracious Majesty the Queen, It is gratifying to us to bo able to point out the enduring nature of the work, which three years ago was opened for traffic in your presence, and to inform your Excellency that the Breakwater works, which hare been in constant progress since that time, have so far resulted in safety to the shipping frequenting our port. Wc beg to congratulate jyour Excellency that during your Vice-Regency vast strides have been made in the progress of this country, the occasion of the opening of the through line between Dunedin and Christchurch, which lias given us this opportunity cf meeting you, bong not the least significant evidence of that progress. His Excellency replied. Mr Sumter then requested the Governor to perform the ceremony of christening the new wharf. To this be acceded, and, having broken a bottle of champagne, which was handed to him by a young lady, tho Governor declared the name of tho uew wharf to be Normanby Wharf. This was tho signal for immense cheering. A fuore W«» then made to the carnages. Hia

Excellency and party and the visitors generally, having been invited by Mr Steward, the Mayor or Oamaru, to a luncheon. This, which was a capital spread, was laid out on the upper floor of a largo grain store, and fully 400 sat down, .His Worship the Mayor occupying the chair, with his Excellency the Governor, the Honorables J. T. Fisher and R, Stout, Captain Le Patourol and Ma jor Lean on Ins right and left. As time pressed, and Mr Conyers was, like the driver of the stage coach spoke of by Bret Harte, “ bound to got ns through on time,” the Mayor, perforce, commended to propose toasts before the guests had well commenced their luncheon. “ The Queen, Prince of Wales and Royal Family,” “His Excellency the Governor,” and “ His Excellency’s advisers ” followed each other in quick succession. Then his Excellency gave “ Prosperity to the town and trade of Oamaru,” which was loudly cheered. A move was immediately afterwards made, and here, as at Timaru, we lost some of the members of our party, who wero too slow in getting underweigh. Passing through the streets, which were lined with people, we cut off at rapid pace on the second stage of our journey towards the Melbourne of the South. The first object of interest which attracted the attention of visitors was after wo had passed the little township of Reidstown. This was a large quarry of the justly celebrated Oamaru stone, known as the Taipo Quarry, about seven miles out of Oamaru. Here we had a flying glance at the way in which the stone is got out by means of patent machinery, imported specially. The blocks are sawn out of the quarry as easily as though the hill side was made of cheese instead of stone, and they come out ready for working up. The land all along this portion of the line

is of splendid quality, and hero and there we get glimpses of bits of scenery, combining forest, hill, and ocean, which delight the hearts of the Canterbury portion of our company, used as they are to the flat, treeless and somewhat monotonous plains of that great district, A little further on we pass the Kakanui river, running between two ridges of hills sloping down to it on either side. Then we pass the township of Mahono, the Kakanuistation, and the township of Otepopo, hereafter to bo made famous by its slate quarries. Passing through a small tunnel, we cross two branches of the river, which are called Rookery and Otepopo respectively. The former is noted for trout, being a shingly burn running between two ridges. Just beyond this is the township of Hampden. A very pretty little township, scattered picturesquely over undulating country, backed by bush, and facing the sea, which is some little distance off. Wo ran in here at 2.43, and in a few moments were away again, Moeraki junction is the next point reached, and, without staying, we push on for Palmerston. On the way wc go over some heavy gradients, but our big American engine makes light work of it, and we reach Palmerston at 3.35. Here the Mayor and Council invite the party to partake of refreshment, which is served in the goods shed. After a short stay, the Mayor and Council proceeded to his Excellency’s carriage, accompanied by the Town Clerk bearing the inevitable address. This is duly read, and his Excellency briefly replies, and “all aboard” is once more the cry. Our American engine, which has brought us to this stage, is hero cashiered in favor of a double bogie Eairlie, which is better adapted for the steep gradients met with on this section.

At 4 p.m., amid the cheers of a very large crowd, we steamed out on our way. And now begins the most picturesque portion of the journey. Forest, sea, and hills all combine to make this the most enjoyable part of the trip. The lino runs in and out around the foot of the hill, with the sea on one side of ns, and, after a short run we pass through Waikouaiti at 430 p.m. From this to Blueskin the scenery is grand. The train winds close alongside the descent to the sea., and spread out before us like a panorama arc the townships of Waikouaiti and Blueskin bay. The pace from the nature of the gradient is exceedingly slow, but though all are impatient to get to Dunedin, the views every now and then are really so lovely that no one grumbles because wo are not going at express speed. At the Maori Kaik a deputation of Maoris appear on the high bank and dance a welcome, one old lady in particular waving a “ mere” in amost demonstrative manner. Passing through two small tunnels, Deborah Bay is reached, and then wo begin to draw near the end of our journey. Next we get to Port Chalmers, and as wo pass an artillery salute is fired, the red flashes of the guns lighting up the dusk, which is just beginning to fall. Then everyone is on the alert to gather up his belongings as we draw near Dunedin. Long before the train runs into the station, the coloured electric lights and illuminations, with which Dunedin is ablaze, are seen, and, on reaching the station, and remembering the undemonstrative manner in which the event was celebrated in Christchurch, opinions are expressed that the two cities have changed characteristics. Every nook and cranny around the station is packed with people. As the electric light falls upon them, a perfect forest of faces are seen. The train runs into the station, which is lined inside with volunteers. The guns thunder out a salute. The vast crowd give cheer after cheer, and the marriage of Mr Dunedin with Miss Christchurch, as felicitously remarked by one of the speakers at the banquet in Christchurch, is “un fait accompli. His Excellency is cordially welcomed to Dunedin by Mr R. H. Leary, the Mayor of Dunedin, and his Excellency briefly replies, expressing the pleasure ho feels at being present on so auspicious an occasion, arid being privileged to open a line which will be of the greatest benefit, not only to the two cities connected, but to the colony at large. _ His Excellency and party then drove off in a fourhorse drag to Eernhill Club. To-night Dunedin is brilliantly illuminated. There are four electric lights, viz., on the Custom House, Watson’s Hotel, Bank of New Zealand, and Guthrie and Larnach’s, The fire brigade was stationed opposite the “Times” office with colored lights. The various shops wore brilliantly illuminated with Chinese lanterns and various devices. On Sargood, Son, and Ewcn’s warehouse was a pretty device in gas jets, forming the words, “Emulation with Combination.” On the Bank of New Zealand gas jets, forming the words “Christchurch and Dunedin united.” The Cargill monument was brilliantly illuminated, and over the Prince of Wales Hotel was a transparency representing Sir Julius Yogel in a railway train. Over the ‘‘Daily Times ” office was “ Christchurch-Dunedin. Welcome to our Northern visitors.” The streets are thronged.