The Wellington Manawatu Railway.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1462, 23 September 1885, Page 3

The Well ington Manawatu Railway.

(Tuesday's N. Z. Times) The first regular passenger trains began running on tlie Wellington-Miina-watu Railway yesterday, when the line was opened as- far as Parerhata, 16 niil»s from town. The total number who left theThorndqn Quay station was 89, and of these 59 <went out by the morning train. The day's takings, for passengers and goods, amounted to about £30. The various trips were got through m good time, and the ease ot the new carriages as compared witli the old was a subject very generally d^ns-wd among tho passengers. As soon as the line to Plimm*rton has bean ballasted and passed. by the Government Ensrinee'r, some very^ phcap excursion trips, will be instituted by the Manager and "Directoro, PHin merton is one of the most favored localities on this side of Paiknkariki fur excursions?, as it is close to Porirna Harbor. The spot, where Teßauparaha ■^lay m his whare when captured by Sir George Grey's orders, is not far distant, and the site has* been, reserved by the Government.

Considerable dissapointmftnt is felt amongst the {ravelling public 1 that the long and rather weary overland journey to Foxton is not, for the. present,, to be lessened by the. opening of the railway to Paretnntfl. The coach could not by any possibility catch the evening train *t Foxton if it waited the arrival of the first morning train at Parematn. One reason for the train starting at 10 minutes past 9 o'clock, instead of 7 o'clock, as originally intended, is that the same supply of steam will answer for the return trip. If thb train started early m the morning, it would be necessary to get up steam for the return journey to town. Another reason for the economical mode of working is that the Company's supply of engines is rather limited, as they have three ot them at work on different contracts: It is an-, ticipated that the railway will be opened a( the other end of thq' line as far as Qtaki by next March, when the troubles of the " overland, ronte" will be much lessened.— "S.Z. Times.