NORTHERN RAILWAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2504, 18 April 1882, Page 4

NORTHERN RAILWAY.

The passenger trains began running on Monday morning upon the section which has just been completed, and whioh was passed by the engineer on April 6ih, from the Waipara to the Waikari, as well as the section previously opened from Amberley to Waipara, but which has hitherto been confined to goods traffic, and a fair number took advantage of tho first train, although it was not, according to previous custom,ia free one, nor was there the usual inducement of a champagne luncheon at the terminus to enliven and duly celebrate tho event. For the matter of that, the public of Waikari look on the arrival of the railway at their doors either as a matter which they ought to treat with perfect indifference, or something whioh will interfere with their interests. If the latter surmise be correct, it is very certain that the opening of a line whioh taps the magnificent tract of agricultural country as yet undeveloped in the Waikari valley must be greatly conducive to the pecuniary benefit of the inhabitants of tho township, who might have displayed their pleasure at witnessing the advancing wave of civilisation by hoisting even one solitary flag, and receiving the first visitors at the platform on Monday with a hearty hand shako. Beyond the officials and Mr Holder, the energetic coach proprietor, whose coaches run to the Hurunui and Waian from the Waikari instead of Amberley, there was not a single resident of Waikari present to say “ How do ye do ” to ! Despite the stolid indifference of those interested to the grand stride whioh has been ’made in adding a most important link to our chain of railway communication which is to proceed northwards, tho day was a splendid oue, so far as tho weather and views of the scenery on the road wore concerned, and the trip one of the moat enjoyable and interesting whioh it has been the lot of some to experience.. Tho class of country through whioh this rail way passes includes now the best in tho Canterbury district, as well as some of the more romantic and picturesque. The journey from town to Amberley, tor instance, is, at all times, interesting, always fresh and green, innumerable good houses, extensive plantations, and verdant meadows. Through the Styx, Kaiapoi, Elaxlon, Eangiora, Ashley, and S.'fton districts extensive farm lands, in spring time covered with vernal crops, in autumn yellow with golden grain. Tho same features follow into the Kowai and Amberley districts, through whioh the line runs, and the charming aspect of the country is further enhanced by the view to the right of a long reach of the sea, extending over Pegasus Bay from Banka’ Peninsula to Motanau Island, and to tho right the sombre brows of the Puketiraki mountain range, including tho peak of Mount Grey, Beyond Amberley, in the sixteen miles whioh was opened for passenger traffic on Monday, the country is entirely of a new and varied character. To the Waipura bridge the line runs straight through an agricultural country, whioh it ia refreshing, after coming from the dusty plains of the south, to look upon. As the Waipara bridge is reached, the land seems mainly given up to tho free range of mutton and wool producers, with here and there, however, some largo arable farms and snug homesteads nestled behind bowers of tall blue gum trees. Away to the right from the bridge, after crossing it, extends the Omihi fiat. In the distance is seen the road meandering over the hills to Stoneyhuret and nearer to the line, as the iron ;horse speeds along into the GHenmark run, tho homestead, likewise marked by the very extensive plantations of Australian gum and English forest trees. To the right continues the main north road, over whioh many residents of thio city made a footsore tramp to the West Coast goldfields in 1864 6, at whioh period the road was in nothing like the trim it is at present, but when they at the Weka Pass first began to realise the realities of the swagger’s life, or that of a digger on the wallaby. Further over this road extend several large farms to the toot of the hills, and away on tj the Duke of Manchester’s estate. A mile from the bridge the locomotive begins to ascend a grade of 1 in 60, and its express speed slackens to a moderate pace. This incline at once shows the necessity for the last load of water which was pumped in at the Waipara river, as well as the adviaableness for keeping a full bunker, and tho constant coaling whioh is being kept up, in order to generate n full head of steam. A mile and a half of this brings tho train nearly to the entrance of the Pass, when a grade of 1 in 50 has to be taken, and here the engine, with the number of waggons and passengers’ cars on, commences to snort in loud tones. The train glides under a single face cutting, and the view over the plains to the rearward is at ones grand and impressive. It then shoots between two immense walls through which the lino is cut, and in a tortuous track over curves of seven and a half chains winds in and out till tho Pass is cleared. Some pretty sights are obtained of the opposite side of the Pass, of the premises of tho Passhonse, and as the aor’woster com mancas to spring up some of the passengers would fain tho train halted to allow time to refresh at “the hole in the hill." This is denied, and still ascending all the visitor can do is to look out for other scenes in the valleys, or to the hill tops for the peculiar rock formations whioh depict the form of the lion’s head, the seal, and other extraordinary vagaries of the band of nature upon the limestone, which, cropping out, abounds in unlimited quantity. At one point the rook is a mass of pure white chalk, while at another instant the train passes a mass of marly formation in which shells of oysters and pipis abound in thick strata, showing that either at the 600 ft, which has by this time been reached above aoa level, the ocean flowed up to that level or it had been tilted up by volcanic action to this position. The train climbs slowly but surely and perfectly safely along tho east side of tho pass till tho northern entrance is all but gained, when the line cresses the ravine. This is done over a timbor-huilt viaduct, in eight spans of 30ft each and two of 13;t each, giving a total length of 266 ft. It is 40it in height from the main roadway previously alluded to, along whioh vehicles pass underneath the line. The viaduot forms part of a curve of twelve chains in radius. With sundry outlooks and peeps into tho country, now from the right aide of the train, the locomotive commences to cough somewhat in its final ascent to the summit, at a height of 800 it above sea level, and then the climbing of over eight miles of the road is accomplished. A tublime prospect over tho Waikari volley, including hundreds of thousands of acres to the Hurunui river and tho far off range of hills, with tho neat and thriving township immediately below, meets the eye as the descent begins to the railway premises. There is still the commanding hotel called the Star and Garter opposite the largo stores of Messrs Vaughan and Cordner, Mr Beeves’ carriagebuilding yard, Mr McLean’s smithy, and other business premises, tho post and telegraph office, and district school. The latest improvements are tho ranking of footpaths. On the hill to the loft a very model of a parsonage, in stone, and a list of other buildings too long to enumerate, not excluding, however, tho two-roomed cottage and lean - to belonging to Guard Beamish, whioh arrived with a water train on the previous day from Amberley. It passed safely through tho rock cuttings, and was placed on piles and occupied immediately. Tho station premises as we are brought in are similar to those at the Waipara, and included the station with the usual waiting and

luggage rooms, and opposite a commodious goods’ shed. They are about three-quarters of a mile from the township, hut as it extends will be more conveniently situated as the sections near arc freehold, whereas many in the present town are leasehold, end the telegraph and post office will be moved. A movement is being made to have a platform nearer the township by the residents paying the cost of its erection. Mr Hamilton, late of Amberley, is the present station master. Mr W. Blaokmoro was the engine driver, and his driving was very careful, steady, and in to the minute at 11 a.m. 3hra 25mins from town—including stoppages at nineteen different stations. The distance is forty-eight and a half miles, which was run at an average speed of twenty to twenty, five miles on hour against a stiff nor’-wester. During rain the ascent of the incline must be slower than on Monday, Mr Orange, inspector of way, was on the train, and Mr Ashhy, traffic inspector. By moans of a water-pipe, which allows a flew of water on to the flsnge of the engine wheels on the curves the grating noise and much of the friction is lessened, and some of the best engines in the service are to be used on this lino. Though the line is taken over, and the contracts have all been faithfully fulfilled, there remains a few minor works to be carried out, which include the making of crossings and so forth. The work of formation was mainly done by the men who were unable to obtain other employment last and the previous winter, under the supervision of Mr IT. Withers, the resident engineer, and Mr Dunn. The Pigeon rook contract was carried out by Mr Johnston, and the summit excavation works by Mr Ooates. The contractor for the permanent way was Mr Ooates, and the overseer for this and the bridge works was Mr Look. The return to town was made in good time, the writer arriving at his hotel in the city at 2.30 p.m., having benefited considerably by the holiday, and hoping that many other holiday seekers will take advantage of the excursion fare® by this line, which leaves Christchurch on Thursday morning at 9.35 a.m., returning from Waikari at 3 65 p.m.