The Sandon Tramway.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1509, 18 November 1885, Page 4

The Sandon Tramway.

THE OPENING DEMONSTRATION.

The long-talked of demonstration in connection with the opening of the tramway to Sanson took place on Monday. Shortly after eight o'clock intending excursionists began to arrive at the Foxton station, and an hour later, when the train left the station, three long carriages, and three short ones, were fairly well filled with people— ladies and children mustering in strong force, all on pleasure bent. Arriving at Carnarvon the two tram engines were hitched on to the train, and a start was made on the tram line proper for Sanson. At the various platforms along the line fresh additions were received, and after passing the Campbelltown schoolhouse the carriages became rather crowded. On arrival, at the platform at Hickford's corner, the bulk of the Campbelltown people— with the Marton band who had been driven over to join the train at that place— were taken on, a long carriage and a waggon having been left there the day before to accommodate the people. Sanson was reached about 11.30, and a large crowd of people attended to greet the visitors. The township in the vicinity of the terminus looked quite gay, the triumphal arch, on which the words "Welcome" and "Progress" were displayed on either side, looking very effective. A few minutes after the train arrived, the opening ceremony took place. A gailydecorated low-sided waggon was in readiness, and this serving duty as a dais, Mr and Mrs Wilson, Mr and Mrs Macarthur, Mr and Mrs M'Lennan, Mr and Mrs Thynne, the Rev J. C. and Mrs Dodwell, an 'others, were accommodated with seats. Mr Thynne, as County Chairman then called upon Mrs Wilson to declare the line open. The speaker said the line represented the hard work of a considerable number of years on the part of many people. He looked upon the tramway as a link in the main line going north to Greatford, which latter affected the interestso f all— both north and south, and remarked that the completion of the Iine so far was a monument of the unity and co-opera-tion of the people of the district. He had great pleasure in calling upon Mrs Wilson to declare the Sandon tramway open for goods and passenger traffic. Mrs Wilson then broke a bottle of champagne upon the engine, briefly dedaring the line open. Cheers were then given for Mrs Wilson and the County Chairman. At the luncheon over a hundred sat down, the tabled being laid in the old portion of the hotel. Mr Thynne occupied the chair, the vice chairmen being Crs Sanson, Davies, M'Lennan, Gibson and M'Kenzie. Mr M'Kenzie proposed "Our Parliament," coupled with the name of Mr Macarthur. In reply , Mr Macarthur expressed the opinion that the honor should have devolved on Mr Wilson, who was the member for the district, and a man of Tmore Parliamentary experience than himself. He remarked the representative of a district in Parliament was the reflection of his constituency, being judged by his capacity to obtain his share from the general scramble and so long as things existed as they were, and men were judged from this standpoint, so long would the present scrambling continue. The Chairman here read apologies from members of the Ministry, and Mr Bruce, M.H.R., who was unable to be present at the demonstration. Mr J. Linton (Mayor of Palmerston) then proposed "Success to the tramway.'' After referring to the fact that [illegible] years ago, when he was a member of the Manawatu County Council, he had been asked to move the resolution granting permission for the rails to be laid upon the roadway, the speaker remarked that there was nothing speculative in saying that before another fifteen years were over there would be a tramway to Palmerston from Sanson. Looking back to a few years ago, when there was simply a Maori track through what was now Sanson, the present progress was a matter for wonder. The Manawatu district had been greatly favored in having men who had doggedly worked on for the settlement of the district. No more persevering, dogged, or industrious man could be found than Mr Sanson, who

[illegible] worked [illegible] way. Dr Rockstrow, again, as much as any man had also worked [illegible] the line. This was a progressive country, and he held that [illegible] was re quired. Had the district [illegible] under one governing body, the tramway would never have been constructed, and the great progress the district had made was due to the fact that so many bodies — comprising so many men— were working and scheming night and day to ad vance the district. The time for this healthy comp tition to cease would not com till they [illegible] tramways, rails, and arteries all over the country. A great deal had been said and written about the system of logrolling but this, in his opinion, would never cease until borrowing was stopped. For instance, a loan of a million was obtained, and naturally the people of a district said— " We want £5000 as our share." The best thing a representative could say when he met his constituents was -"I've got you that road," or that bridge, as the case might be. This tramway had been obtained by the downright pluck and industry the people, and he hoped it would prove of even greater value to the district than it was now thought possible. Certainly the people had deserved it, fora more pushing, frugal, and industrious set of men could not be found. He had great pleasure in asking them to drink to the success of the tramway, coupled with the name of Mr Thynne, County Chairman. (Applause). „Mr Thynne, replying, explained he had been selected to reply to the toast not because he had done more than any other Chairman, but because he happened to be chairman of the Council at the time. He then gave a few particulars concerning the tramway, which he stated was I4 miles long, and was intended to form a part of the line connecting Horowhenua with Greatford. The man who had sketched the original scheme had large minds, and although the completion of that scheme might at present look rather distant, it would, he hoped, in the next few years, be an accomplished fact. He pointed out that the advantage of a train over a road was that the former returned what passed over it. The line had, so far, cost about £16,000, and a road over the same distance would have cost £1100 a mile and not even the most rabid objector to the line would grumble at the small difference, in the expense of the former. Whilst the line had been open for only 9 1/2 miles it had been worked at a loss at the rate of £300 a year. During that time the receipt averaged £37 a month. The three months had averaged £55 a month, the returns for the last month being £70. If the average of £55 per month kept up, there would be no loss on the working of the line (Applause.) The tramway would undoubtedly be of great benefit to Sanson and had also improved the trade of Foxton. It had also put into the coffers of the Government £400 for traffic which would otherwise not have been taken had the line not been opened, and the tramway was therefore entitled to more consideration at the hands of the Government, than it was now receiving. [Hear, hear]. The line was of great service to the people of Rangitikei. A person could now travel on the the Government line as far as Carnarvon, and then go on by the tramway to Sanson, thence proceed to Bulls and have an hour for tea, and join the same train that he had left Foxton by, effecting also by the change a saving of three shillings in cash! [Applause, and, It is a fact?] The County authorities deserved to be handed down to prosperity as some of the most public-spirited men that ever lived. The line had been laughed and scoffed at and spoken of as " that rotten tramway" but since it had been opened 3,300 different consignment notes had been issued, and over 5000 people had been carried on the line, and these figures would show the advantage and convenience the despised tramway had proved. (Applause). Mr Macarthur proposed; "The Manawatu County Council," which was suitably responded to by Mr Sanson who also alluded to Dr Rockstrow in eulogistic terms. Mr Davis, of Wirokino, proposed "The visitors," which was responded to by Messrs Snelson, for Palmerston, and Davis, for Bulls. Mr Sanson proposed "Our member, Mr Wilson, M.H.R." He said that it was in a great measure owing to the activity he had displayed in the House that the tramway was made at all. It was he who got the word "tramways" inserted in the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, and so enabled them to share in the advantages of that Act. Mr Wilson, in reply, thanked the previous speaker for his appreciation of the services he had rendered. He spoke of that time when it appeared as if the tramway was about to be completed forthwith, after the Government had made a survey by Mr. J. T. Stewart ; but " The best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley," and the work was stopped. However, they were not disheartened, and their present success was a monument of the renewed energy thrown into the work by Messrs Rockstrow, Thynne, "Sanson, and the other gentlemen connected with it. The county had also to thank Sir Julius Vogel for his assistance, which had been most cordially given. Mr Remington proposed the agricultural and pastoral interests of the district, which, was responded to by Mr Gower in a very telling speech in which he said that the opening of the tramway, and the consequent easy communication with Wellington, would compel the storekeepers to sell their goods at a less profit, otherwise the settlers would not deal with them. The toast of the ladies was proposed by Mr Jones, of Marton, and responded to by Mr Pirani, of Foxton. Mr Burcham proposed " The Press " in an excellent speech which contained passing allusions to every article used in a printing office, and was in its way a masterpiece. The party then broke up. The Sports took place in a paddock opposite the goodshed and were well patronised. The sister townships of Bulls, Marton, Palmerston, and Feilding were well represented , everything considered. More visitors would undoubtedly have been present, but the Committee of Management could not anticipate that so much real sympathetic interest would have been displayed, and the public of these townships do not appear to have been invited to take an active share in the fete, either by their subscriptions or their presence. However, the affair was a pronounced success, and reflects infinite credit on all concerned. A large number of ladies and children took advantage of the free ride in the afternoon on the tram, which proceeded several miles down the line and returned in about an hour. At five o'clock, a move was made for the station, and about half-an-hour later, amid rounds of hearty cheers, the Foxton visitors departed on their homeward journey. That the day's outing was thoroughly enjoyed by everybody almost " goes without saying," for the provision made for the comfort and amusement of everybody and the favourable nature of the elements left nothing to be desired. The committee deserve a special word of praise for their energetic efforts to please the visitors and the prompt and satisfactory manner in which they carried out the day's programme. The day's amusement was terminated by a display of fireworks in the township in the evening.