WAITOTARA.

Patea Mail, 18 September 1880, Page 2

WAITOTARA.

[Thom uuu correspondent.] Friday Evening. At Kai Iwi yesterday morning, Mr Wbitny, overseer for Mills & Co., of Wellington, was presented by the men who have been working under him with a clock, aneroid, and field-glass, valued together at £27 10s, which amount was subscribed by forty-three men.

OPENING THE RAILWAY.

Friday Evening. The excursion tram yesterday arrived at Waitotara station between one and two o’clock, stayed about ton minutes for refreshments, and returned to Okehu, where the banquet given by Mr John Handley was waiting for the excursionists. A number of Waitotara people who were on their way to the station to see the train come in were too late, and returned considerably disappointed, not to say disgusted. On the return to Okehu, feasting and speechifying became the order of the day ; and the party returned to town in tlie evening*, after a pleasant outing*. At the luncheon were Mr W. H. Watt, in the chair : Messrs Rothcran, General Manager, J. T: Stewart, the District Engineer ; L. Whiting, contractor’s overseer, and Mr Dawson, the Assistant Engineer • the vice-chairs were filled by Mr J. Ballancc, and the Mayor of Wanganui. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were honored. ill vA I. PORTS. Mr Watt proposed the health of the host, Mr Handley, and said in is opinion the Public Works policy had been overdone. Ho had had a hint that it was the wish of the present Government to retard railway operations in this district. He had been informed that after the next contract to Waverley the work would cease. He knew that Major Atkinson had a partiality for New Plymouth, but he ftlic speaker) -was unwilling to believe such a feeling would operate to the disadvantage of this part of the colony, It would be a neglect of duty if such were the case. It would be a great mistake to retard the progress of the railway from Foxton to Waitara. There was no doubt jealousy of Wanganui on the part of the New Plymouth people. They believed that New Plymouth ought to be the capital of the colony, but he knew' the locality, and their harbour scheme was a delusion. What they w'erc doing in New Plymouth was imposing a heavy burden on the people in the shape of rates, and thereby retarding the progress of the country. The New Plymouth Harbour "would never be made. But, if finished through, that line would bo one of the best paying in the colony. The toast rvas drunk with musical honors, and Mr Handley thanked the company for their kind expressions.

WANUANUI UAllliOK. The Mayor of Wanganui toasted the Harbor Board. Mr Ballancc, chairman of the Board, said in reply that they were trying to make Wanganui one of the best harbors in the colony : and he bad great faith that their efforts would prove successful. The expenditure required was not beyond their means. An expenditure of £50,000 would suffice to get 14 feet of water on the bar at low water. He must soy the railway had not been pushed on as it should have been. Ten years iiad passed since it was first projected, and the contract time for the completion of the Waitotara section had expired 12 months ago. It was different on the northern end of the line ; there was more energy there, and the railway would soon be completed to Hawera. The country through which the line passed warranted the expenditure. Other toasts followed, and the company sang u Auld lang syne” before departing. Native Lands Court.— The enquiry into the native ownership of the Kaitangiwlienua block concluded to-day. Ilaumati and the Whcnuaknra natives are excluded, Judge Symonds said the evidence of Kauika and his people was clear and conclusive. Judgment for the claimants. A small reserve is to be cut out, leaving about 95,000 acres which passed the Court as to title. The natives arc jubilant. Judge Symonds and secretary left this afternoon by coach en route for Wellington.