COMMENCEMENT OF THE LIVINGSTONE RAILWAY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 985, 16 June 1879, Page 2

COMMENCEMENT OF THE LIVINGSTONE RAILWAY.

Owing to the late hour at which the special train conveying those present at the turning of the first sod of the Livingstone railway at Windsor 011 Saturday returned to town, we were unable to publish our report in our last issue. On the arrival of the train at the scene of operations, Sir. Ussher, Resident gineer, on behalf of the Public Works Department, presented his Worship the Mayor with a spade, and called upon him to turn the tirst sod of the Livingstone section of railway,

His Worship, after divesting himself of his coat, proceeded to perform the ceremony, briefly expressing t-lie pleasure he felt at being present and assisting in the inauguration of the work. Having filled the barrow placed before him, he wheeled it some distance and tipped the load over in a very workmanlike manner, amidstloud cheers from the spectators, of whom there were a large number present. The formal business having been got through, the company partook of a very excellent luncheon, kindly provided by Messrs. John Reid and E. Menlove. Full justice having been done to the good things, The Mayor of Oamaru (Mr. Steward), in proposing the first toast, said that the work which had been initiated that day, although but an instalment, was yet important as a bona fide commencement of that communication with the interior of the province which for now nearly two years past the Oamaru-Naseby Railway Committee, the members for the district, and others had been earnestly endeavoring to achieve. As that day's proceedings marked the beginning of the realisation of their hopes, it might perhaps be permitted him to review briefly the history of the efforts which had culminated on that spot and at that time. To the hon. member for Mount Ida, Mr. Be Lautour, who took a great interest in the opening up of the interior of Qtago by. railway, was to some extent to be traced the origin of the efforts put forth in Oamaru towards getting an iron road, to the other side of the range. During a visit which that gentleman paid to Oamaru in March, 1877, he (the speaker) had a conversation with him, and it was arranged between them to ventilate the subject in their respective papers—the Mount Ida Chronicle and the North Otago Times. ; Accordingly the Mount Ida Chronicle opened the ball by a leading article in its issue of the sth April of that year, in which it was shown that there were three possible means of opeiir ing up communication between the Maniototo Plains and the soaboard, viz., via ' Shag Valley and Palmerston, via Strath-Taieri, and via Maerewhenua Pass and Waiareka, the writer urging that "if the Pass line were practicable " —and the opinion was expressed that it was—"the short length of the carriage placed it far before the Shag Valley or Strath-taieri lines as regarded Maniototo and Manuherikia." It was "also pointed put that a water-race had been taken from the very heart of. the Pass to Otekaike Downs, and the writer added, "the Pas? country does not appear more difficult than either of the others," This article was reprinted in the North Otago Tiipes of the 12th April, 1877; that journal having a leading article on the same subject. In "successive articles and in correspondence published in both papers the whole question was subsequently pretty fully ventilated, and public attention having been aroused, not only in this but in the adjoining districts, the people of Palmerston and the local journal next entered the lists, warmly urging that tlje .interior railway should join the piain line at that place, following the Shag Valley on its way inland. About this time lie (the speaker), as Mayor of Oamaru, comriiunicatgd with the Mayor of Naseby, Mr. Busch, on the subject, and. receiving the assurance of that gentler man's hearty co-operation, arranged for the calling of public meetings at both places, to consider the advisableness of taking concerted action. The Oamaru meeting was held oh the the. 16th' of May, in the Volunteer Hall, there being

fully 400 persons present; among those who took part in the proceedings being Messrs. De Lautour, Hislop, and Shrimski, M.H.R.'s. It was unanimouslyresolved that it was desirable that a railway should be constructed between Oamaru and Naseby, either (1) as a Government line, or (2) by private enterprise—the Government to give the promoters a concession of land ; and a Committee was appointed to take joint action with any similar Committee appointed at Naseby, with power to raise funds to carry out the object in view. The Naseby meeting took place on the 21st of May, but did not decide as to which route should be supported, a committee being appointed to collect statistics, and to cooperate with other centres. The Daily Times now took the alarm, beat the tocsin, arid called upon the citizens of Dunodin, and especially the Chamber of Commerce, to take action, lest Oamaru should be successful, arid tho trade of the interior come this way instead of, as from a Dimedin point of view ought to be the case, to Dunedin ; and forthwith what was termed " the battle of the routes " began, resulting, as they all knew, eventually, in the successful carrying through Parliament o.f tho Strath-Taieri routo as the course of the main interior line. That a line by that route would be a paying line he (the speaker) did not doubt, but so also would a line from Oamaru to the interior, and to the realisation of that line they were one stage the nearer by the proceedings of that day, But—to revert to the history of this particular enterprise—deputations were appointed by the Oamaru Committee to the Waitaki, Maniototo, and Waimate County Councils, and to the Borough Councils of Oamaru and Naseby, resulting in four of those bodies contributing material aid to the Committee's fund—the Waitaki Council voting LloOj the Maniototo L 75, the Oamaru LSO, and the Naseby L2s—towards the cost of the preliminary survey, for which, on the 2nd June, 1877, it was agreed to invite tenders, that of Messrs. Thornton and Bull, of Christcliurch, being subsequently accepted. On the 7th June, he (the speaker) and Mr, M. C. Smith, of Duntroon, the deputation to Naseby, addressed a large public meeting in that town. Mr. De Lautour, M. H.R., and Mr. Rolland, County Chairman (the latter a strong advocate of tho Strath-Taieri route) being also amongst tho speakers, and the following resolution was carried unanimously, viz., "That this meeting, after having heard the proposals and views of the Oamaru deputation, considers that this district, should co-operate with the Oamaru Committee for the purpose of forwarding the scheme for bringing the line through the Maerewhenua Pass, and recommends the County Council to join the Wajtaki Council in defraying the cost of the preliminary survey, and in an application to Parliament for authority to construct the line; an area of 100,000 acres to be set aside in each County,_tlie proceeds of which, by sale or lease, to form a railway fund." On the 2Sth June, Messrs. Thornton and Bull's report was considered by the Committee. Four several routes were reported upon, viz., (1) Duntroon to Naseby, via Livingstone; (2) Duntroon to Naseby via Otekaike ; (3) Ngapara to Naseby, via Livingstone ; (4) Ngapara to Naseby, via Tcaneraki. The route rooommeuded was routo No. 1. The estimated cost by this route being, however, owing to the increased mileage, considerably greater, namely, L 350,000, the (Committee resolved to recommend the line via Livingstone, but the question of whether it should be carried through to the Waiareka branch line, or to the Awamoko branch line was for a time adjourned, it being ultimately decided to go to Parliament with a Bill which had been drawn by Mr. Hislop, M.H.R., to create a Railway Board with power to construct a line either from tho Waiareka or Awamoko line to Livingstone, and thence to Naseby ; the Board to be given au endowment of land and borrowing powers, in order to enable the enterprise to be carried out. During the session which followed, both the members for Waitaki made a manful stand for the Pass route for the interior railway, but were overborne, and did not deem it expedient to try the special Bill, which had been prepared. Accordingly no further stops were taken in the matter until, when in Wellington on municipal business in April, 1878, ho, as chairman of the Railway Committee, interviewed the Minister for Public Works, and urged the importance of the railway being carried at any rate as far as Livingstone, as by so doing a large area of Crown land would be opened up, while the line itself would at once yield paying returns. Mr. Macandrew then promised a survey should be made by the department, and on the 21st June, 1878, Mr, Usslier, who had been appointed to that duty, reported on three several routes, viz,, Ngapara to Livingstone, Windsor to Livingstone, and Teaneraki to Livingstone, the line from Windsor being the one recommended at an estimated cost for 10i- miles of LBB,OOO. The next step taken by the committee was to prepare petitions to both Houses, which were very numerously signed, and last year the Minister for Public Works included the line in the schedule of lines to be authorised, the sum of LIOO,OOO being set down for line and stations, of which sum LSOOO was appropriated for expenditure during the financialyear,lß7S-9. Then followed deputations to Ministers urging that the detailed survey should be proceeded with, and the first section commenced, and the survey having been carried out by Mr. Gillies, the first barrowtul of earth had been wheeled that day, and next week work would be in full swing, giving employment, ho was happy to say, to all those of the unemployed who were willing to work for their bread. He thought they had cause to congratulate themselves on their efforts having been hitherto successful, and he felt persuaded that if they only worked as earnestly and unitedly in the future, ten years would not elapse before they had the iron road pushed right through the range. In view of recent information it was no chimerical notion to look forward to the harbor at Oamaru being capable in two years' time of sheltering vessels of 2000 tons, and to the consequent establishment of a direct import and export trade, and when that day arrived they might depend that strenuous efforts would be put forth on the other side of the range to secure the linking up by rail of the gap between Kyeburn and Livingstone, or to get the shortest road to the sea. From Kyeburn to Oamaru would be only 53 miles rail carriage, as against 92 from Kyeburn to Port Chalmers, the figure being Oamaru to Windsor, 13 ; Windsor to Livingstone, 16 ; Livingstone to Kyeburn, 24-53 miles; Kyeburn to Outram, G5 ; Outram to Dunedin, 19 ; Dunedin to Port Chalmers, 8-92. Then again were Kyeburn and Livingstone joined by rail, the journey from Clyde to Christchurch could be made, via Oamaru, in one day, whereas it would take two days to reach the Cathedral City via Dunedin. These were facts which must eventually lead up to the Windsor-Livingstone line being carried right through the range, and he thought that in view of that contingency they should endeavor to get the intervening distance carefully surveyed with a view to finding the most practicable route. In the meantime they had cause to rejoice in the attainment of so much as had been attained, and ha would now call upon them to drink to the toast of <( Suoeess to the Windsor=Livingstone section of the Qamarn-Naaeby railway."

The toast was enthusiastically received, and drunk in champagne. Mr. Sumpter proposed "The Parliament of New Zealand," coupling with it the name of Mr. Shrimski. He referred briefly to the many'services rendered to £he town and district by the members.

Mr. Shrimski, in responding to tlio toast, apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr. Hislop. He said that too much gredit was done to the Parliament of the Colony for the energy that had been displayed in carrying out the <n-eat Public Works scheme. When it was considered what had been done since 1870 by the various Governments, the conclusion must be arrived at that the Parliament of New Zealand deserves the respect of all colonists, for the Colony had been bv its efforts placed foremost amongst the Australasian Colonies. He and his colleague had done their best to further the work now begun. He had resided in this portion of the Colony for nearly twenty years, and had watched with interest tho growth and progress of the town and district of Oamaru. His one aim was to serve the district which he represents faithfully, and lie was sure that his colleague took the same interest in their welfare. Mr. Gibbs, in fitting terms, proposed the toast of "Our Entertainers, Messrs. Reid and Menlove," and both those gentlemen briefly responded. The Mayor then gave " The Engineers, Messrs. Ussher and Gillies." Mr. Ussher, in responding, said he was glad, and yet sorry, to have to respond to the toast—glad because he believed the work undertaken would prove a service to the district, and sorry because its commencement was rendered urgent in order to provide for the large number of unemployed in Oamaru. Mr. Gillies also responded. The following toasts were also duly proposed and responded to : Press," proposed by Mr. Shrimski in a very eulogistic speech, and responded to by Messrs. G. Jones and S. E. Smith. " The Ladies," proposed by Mr. Hardy, and responded to by Mr. T. H. Brown; and " The Chairman," proposed by Mr. E. C. Smith, and duly responded to by Mr. Steward, The party then returned to Elderslie, whero they were graciously entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Reid, and afforded an opportunity of spending some time pleasantly in inspecting the beautiful grounds. The special train left for town at four o'clock, arriving here about five. Many of tho visitors accepted the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Menlove, and prooeeded to Windsor Park, where they were shown over the grounds, and after partaking of tea, returned to Oamaru by the late train. The weather, although wet when tho special train left Oamaru, proved remarkably fine, and a very pleasant day was spent.