OPENING OF THE RAILWAY TO INVERCARGILL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1539, 23 January 1879, Page 3

OPENING OF THE RAILWAY TO INVERCARGILL.

[Special Wire] Invkbcakgill, January 22. The opening of the Invcroargill-Christ-church Railway has long bt en looked forward to by the Southland people a 8 the anß by which its rich plains and fertile valleys would become known to Northern colonists. This baa become so impressed on tho inhabitants of Invercargill that, for the pa*t two montha, the day of oponing has been eagarly watched {or, and sometime since, in response to the

nvitition of the Municipal Council, the public, in a meeting, elected » representative committee to take charge of the demonstration. This committee have been meeting daily, and every minor detail had been well provided for. This morning the weather gave promise of being exceedingly fine, and during the day fliigs were hung across the streets at every vantage point, whilst for days past the gas fitters have been erecting handsome gas devices on the public buildingß, mercantile and other esHbhshneats. At 3.30 this afternoon the volunteers assembled, and wore marched to the railway station, forming a line from that point into Deo street, ready to receive the visitors by the special train from Christchurch. Enthusiasm reigned here supreme. Hundreds of people lined tho block of land facing the railway station and the Crescent. The artillery had planted their cannon ready to welcome the arrival of the train, and nothing romained undone that could have been foreseen. At this time a telegram announced the sad accident to Mr Conyers, Commissioner of Railways, who, having been so long a resident in this town, was universally known. Never was greater sorrow expressed at a public calamity, and the telegraph office was besieged with persons anxious to obtain exact particulars of the accident. Tho consequence was to some extent a block, for no communication could be made with Gore until shortly after five o'clock, when it was announced that the train had departed from that township, leaving Mr Conyers there, under the caro of Dr. Skao, who was accompanying tho party to Invorcargill. Precisely at a quarter past six, the train reached the station, and its arrival was announced by a salute from the artillery. The Mayor, chairman of the County Council, and the members of the demonstration committee met the visitors on the platform and welcomed them, exchanging congratulations on the connection of the towns of Christchurch and lnvercargill, but expressing their sincere regret at the sad accident which had marred the day's proceedings. The visitors, preceded by the garrison band, walked to Dee street, where the band continued playing popular airs, the visitors being accompanied to the hotels engaged for them. The train being two hours lato delayed tho banquet; indeed it was discussed by the committee whether it should proceed, but it was decided that it could not be well postponed. THE BANQUET. The banquet was held in the new theatre, Dee street, which is not quite finished. The upper portion of the house was filled by ladies, and the whole of the seats at, the table, 300, were occupied. The chair was taken by the Major. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, in which Colonel Brett indulged in some patriotic sentiments re the Russian Czar, The toast of " Success to New Zealand Railways," was proposed by the Chairman, who referred to Canterbury and Southland as being in happy case in at length joining hands. He referred in flattering terms to Mr Moorhouse and Dr. Menzies, and regretted that the fates had in years gono by been against Southland. The Hon. Mr Reynolds replied, in the absence of Mr Maeandrew. He said that, while Mr Moorhouse and Dr. Menzies were connected with railways between Canterbury and lnvercargill, to Sir J. Vogel belonged the credit of having initiated the line from Christchurch to Dunedin. [Applause.] He said he had had a hand in naming the town. It had been proposed to call tho place Browntown, after their then Governor ; but he (Mr Reynolds) sugge'led that Ciiptiin Cargill's name should be associated with the place, and it was therefore named lnvercargill. The Chairman announced that since the train had arrived a telegram had been forwarded to Sir J. Vogel, congratulating him upon the completion of the Southland railway lino.

The "Parliament of Now Zealand" was proposed by Mr Cuthbortson, and was responded to by the Hon. Mr Reynolds for the Legislative Council, and Messrs Geo. McLean and Ed. Wakefield for the House of Representatives.

Mr Eeynolds said that whatever the constitution of the Council, it was absolutely essential, as it ofton interposed to prevent what might be disastrous results. Mr Gt-eo. McLean said that he believed that the members were conccientious in their actions. He asked the constituents to truat their representatives, and not to degrade them to the level of delegates. Mr Wakefield expressed his regret that so few Canterbury members were present. He excused them on the ground that they were busy harvesting and shearing. He said that the great want of members was that they did not know the wants of the various parts of the colony. It would have been a good thing if all the members had been there. He believed that a very great work had been commenced that day in Southland, which district had undoubtedly great prospects, and was a progressive community. Mr Mitchell proposed " The Miuistry."

The Hon. Mr Ballanco, in responding, stated that the Hon. Mr Maoaadrew very much regretted his inability to take part in the demonstration. He asoured them that it had given him great, indeed unbounded, pleasure to be present on that occasion. It was his first visit to Southland, and he was therefore in a position, perhaps, to judge impartially of its appearance and its resources. He Baw on every side the elements that would raise that part of New Zealand to greatness. Ht had been a close observer of the country throughout, and the result far exceeded his expectations, great though these expectations wero. From what he had heard of their district he understood too that the great agricultural land the railway passed through was no exceptional district, but simply a type of the whole of the Southern portion of Otago. He felt, however, that they required population more than any other accessory. It was sad to see such expanses of perhaps the finest land in the colony almost houseless, simply grazing land for sheep and cattle. It was necessary, so as to secure the greatness for New Zealand that they all desired, to see these lands settled and to witness the rising of a great and prosperous yeomanry. He thought all honor was due to Sir J. Vogel for tho conception of the public works achome and for the courageous stand he took in the face of the great opposition thereto. His colleagues intended to pursue that policy until New Zealand railways extended throughout tho length and broadth of tho colony.