THE RAILWAY DEMONSTRATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5444, 7 September 1878, Page 3

THE RAILWAY DEMONSTRATION.

SPECIAL TELEGRAM.

(prom orb special correspondent.) Dunedin, Friday.

The wholo of the arrangements for the special train were under the direction of Mr. ■ Conyers, the Railway Commissioner for the , South. Mr. Blair, the Engineer, not content with supervising, drove the American engine the whole distance. ' ; , , This morning, some time before daylight, the streets of were all astir, and numerous traps were picking up passengers for the railway station. By half-past five there were a great -many people on the platform, and before six all passengers took their seats. There were probably about three hundred passengers. The arrangements made by the Railway Department _ were ■ very good, and all got seated without any confusion or annoyance.. People were somewhat surprised to hear capital singing from one of the carriages. It appeared that several of the most skilled musicians in Dunedin had formed themselves into au impromptu glee club, and had a part of the carriage appropriated to the Dunedin City Council. When the train stopped along the lino the bystandeis got capital singing gratis. The Dunedin railway employes* baud, who travelled from Dunedin to take part in tho'colebration, played some excellent selections, under the leadership of ex-Major Atkinson, who was formerly in command of the Otago . volunteers. We were singularly fortunate m the weather, for there was a sharp frost and clear sky in the early morning, and daring the whole day it was ns pleasant as could be desired. Anyone who has travelled over the Canterbury plains knows the advantage of a bright sky and a cool breeze when crossing them. As the sun rose the snow-clad peaks of the main range looked very beautiful indeed, and for many miles they afforded a welcome relief to tho eyo that became wearied by the monotonous plains which stretched away on each side. Tho train went along on the level country at a fair pace, and nothing in any way eventful occurred until Ashburton was reached at half-past eight o*clock. Here his Excellency tho Governor was received by the Mayor, who presented an address. Then there was a general adjournment to a large hall, in wmch a bountiful breakfast was spread ; bountiful it must have been, for it withstood the attacks of over 300 hungry psople. Ashburton is a rather young but rapidly-iuereasing township. It is said to bo very prosperous, and appears to be so. Situated on the plain, there is no hunt to its extension ; and, os an Auckland man re- , marked, it might be as big some day as Christchurch is now. What struck strangers most was the absence of population in the country passed through. Houses were few and far between. Some day it will be very different, for thousands might ha settled upon these plains. The wide and undefined river beds of Canterbury greatly surprised those who had not seen them before ; but as all the rivers were very low no idea of their appearance when flooded could be gathered. From time to time the speed of the train varied very much, it being ruled apparently by the condition of the line. Sometimes less than 30 miles an hour was done and sometimes considerably more. However, there was a splendid spurt put on north of Temuka, one mile was ran in one minute ; another iu one minute seven seconds; and a third iu one minute twentyfivo seconds. There can he no doubt that for a time the train ran at the rate of 60 miles an hour. This is great speed for a narrow gauge line, aud v/hen the train was going at this paco the carriages kept steady. This is certainly the first time such a speed has been attained in New Zealand by so long a train. Timarn was reached at 10 minutes past 10. After an address had been presented by the Mayor, the Governor and suite and a number .of visitors wore driven round the town. Near the station there was a triumphal arch, and there were several other decorations. The volunteers turned out and formed a guard of honor. Timaru has progressed greatly during the last few years, but much needs a breakwater to ensure its permanent prosperity. This was evinced by the sight of a ketch and the schooner Dapwiug lying on the beach. There was no sign of the barque Melrose, which was lately wrecked, she having’completely broken up. At Oamarn some vessels sheltered by the breakwater daring the heavy sea were safe, being protected by the breakwater. One hundred and thirty miles had been travelled over by half-past 11, and exactly at noon the train was crossing the Waitaki, the boundary between Canterbury aud Otago. The passing of tho boundary was greeted by some with cheers, and the Glee Club sang “Glorious Apollo,” which for some reason was considered appropriate. The Oamarn people made the arrival of the train a great occasion ; the artillery fired and two corps of riflemen presented arms. The train then ran to the breakwater, when Mr. ’ Sumpter, the Chairman of the Harbor Board, presented ah address, and asked his _ Excellency to name a wharf erected inside the breakwater “The Normanby Pier.” In replying, his Excellency congratulated the Oamarn people on the success the breakwater had proved. He said the opening of the line would long be a bright spot iu the history of the colony. Pive of the most important districts in the colony were united by railway. He hoped that in a few months the gap between Dunedin and Invercargill would be filled, when there would be communication from Amberley to Kingston, a distance of 430 miles, without a break. After the visit to the breakwater, there was lunch on the upper floor of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency ’ Company’s store, and about 400 people sat down to it. The' Mayor, Mr. Steward, presided, and apologised for having to “ Speed the parting guests.” The train could not wait, and lunch had to be disposed of in fifteen minutes, Oamarn has gone ahead wonderfully during the last two years, and is now a thriving and handsome town. The large stores, densely packed with sacks of wheat, completely astonished Northern visitors,yet thisisa long time after the grain season. On leaving Oamarn the train was drawn by two engines of extra power, which were necessary in consequence of the many curves and inclines. The country from Oamarn south differs greatly from that in Canterbury, the hills being numerous, and the scenery much more diversified. There were still thousands of acres of rich agricultural soil; indeed, from Christchurch to Waikouaiti the good wheat-growing land seen from the train would grow enough to provide flour for all the Australian colonies. If the celebration of the opening of the lino does nothing but make members and others from the North Island acquainted with the unbounded resources of Southern Canterbury and North Otago, in this respect it will have done a listing good. At Palmerston there was an address by the Mayor, and a late lunch was laid out in the railway shed, which was briskly attacked, the journey having made people hungry. Prom Waikouaiti to Port Chalmera there are very numerous engineering difficulties, the curves being very sharp and tho gradients pretty severe. There were many places that mi"ht make a nervous man uneasy, bnt at Porokanui the fine rans along tho edge of a cliff at a height of 200 ft. above the beach, on which one could jump from tho platform of the car. Then the Deborah Bay tunnel and two or three shorter ones were run through before a junction was made with the Port Chalmers lino. Dunedin station was gained at half-past six o’clock, about three - quarters of an hour behind time, and the largo crowd that had assembled had got rather weary. The volunteers were drawn up in great force as a guard of honor, and the cadets mustered very well. The arrival of the train was notified by flights of rockets and very hearty Many of tho principal buildings were illuminated, and ’ four electric lights made the streets very brilliant. On Saturday night tho Mayor gives a banquet to about 500 guests. There will bo a trip to Lawrence during the day, and another to Mosgiel, where the Governor opens a carnival in aid of the Benevolent Institution. Altogether tho Dunedin people are keeping high holiday, and they attach very great importance to the opening of this largo section of the grand trunk hue. - '