THE OPENING OF THE RAILWAY TO FEATHERSTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5452, 17 September 1878, Page 2

THE OPENING OF THE RAILWAY TO FEATHERSTON.

We take the following, which is apparently au official communication, from the Post of yesterday ; The final aud conclusive arrangements for the opening of the railway from Wellington to Featherstou were made this morning, when the Wairarapa members, Messrs. Bunny and Beetham, M. U.K.'s, waited upon Mr. Lawson, Commissioner of Railways for the North Idaud, and Mr. Stone, General Manager of the Wellington and Masterton Railway, to confer together on the subject. After careful consideration definite arrangements wore made, which differ materially from those previously in contemplation. It is now decided that the “ official" opening of the line shall take place on Saturday, 12bh October, instead of Monday, 30th September, as previously intended. The opening will be strictly “ official'* only one train being run from Wellington to Featherstou on that day, aud only the invited guests will be conveyed, the total number being limited rigidly to 250, which, it is estimated, will be as many as can be taken with safety and comfort. The special train will start from Wellington about 0 a.m.‘, aud will be drawn by two of the powerful four-coupled Avonside engines to the Upper Hutt, where a third engine will be taken on to assist the train up the heavy gradient of 1 in. 35 to the summit. At that point the three ordinary engines will be detached, and two Fell engines will take the train through the tuuuel aud down the incline. The journey from Wellington to Fcitherston will be performed in about four hours, that place being reached about one p.m. Although, as already stated, no other trains will run to Featherstone on that day, aud, only those invited will be conveyed by the “special," the ordinary’ trains will ruu as usual to Kaitoke, and it is expected that elaborate coaching arrangements will be made privately by the various coach proprietors, so that persons who desire to be at the Wairarapa celebration festivities, but cannot obtain passages by train, will be able to travel easily and comfortably by coach from Kaitoke. We direct the attention of- the various enterprising proprietors of vehicles to the chance which offers of a day’s golden harvest. The railway authorities have made the best arrangements, iu their power, with the limited engine-force available, lo accommodate intending excursionists, and it is not their fault that they are obliged to limit the number who can “ assist" personally at the official opening. The “ public" opening for regular traffic will bo on the Monday following, viz., October 14, on and after which date tivo trains will run each way daily between Wellington and Feathers bon, the first leaving Wellington about 8 a.m., and reaching Featherstou in .4 hours 10 minutes. This appears a long time to take in running only 45 miles, being at the rate of only about 104 miles au hour ; but it must be remembered that one length of 24 miles itself occupies half au hour, and the gradients all the way from the Upper Hutt to the Rimutaka summit, . nearly 20 miles, are exceedingly severe, lin 35 being the general rate. Liberal arrangements have been made for the accommodation of. excursionists during the first week. Return tickets will be issued to Featherstou at single fares,(first class, XOe, fid., second, /s. fid.) every day between Monday, 14th October, aud Saturday, 19th October, inclusively, available for return until the.following Monday, 21st October. This should give general satisfaction. It is hoped that the Commissioner aud manager will take into early consideration the practicability of saving a little of the time occupied on this 45 mile journey, by arranging that the trains which run through to Featherston shall not stop anywhere between Wellington and -Upper Hutt. If that were done the level 19 miles to that point could be run easily in 40 or 50 minutes, instead of occupying 75, as at present, while au earlier stopping train could pick up the Wairarapa-bound passengers at the various wayside stations, arriving at Upper Hutt five or ten minutes before the express train. This is now the universal practice in England, and is found to work admirably, enabling au immense amount of time to be saved on long journeys.