ORETI RAILWAY.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 63, 25 October 1864, Page 2

ORETI RAILWAY.

PUBLIC OPBOTNG- ARRATN T GKEMENTS. .--Thanks to -the ■- energy -and perseverance' of- a of our citizens, the^aiTangement^. foi;. the public festivities .to-d^i^.hpn^^l^^ic^lej' "bration of the opening of the Great' Northern "RailwayaYeliow all but completed;-rand:bidiairt to be attended- witfoveSyeyjr success. All that is panted npw'is acpntmuance of '.propitious weather, "to "render ~^ues^y,',tiiß. 2s% fiWctobyc, 1864, one . of the mbst; reJTiarkable ? days* : in-the aunals of-the-,Province. e7 So Jar -as-.spac^wjll -..permit, 5 we will 'ha'e.bVi^-ruii^o^iv.&^.pjp^ainme bfrtjie day's \ festivities'. ' ""■- •- = ---•■-•■'•■•- ._ .- -. -s |T5 V .? A .'•■.-,;? *.-i. 7 -' : | It has been arranged; that free trains will leave the Railway Station Jat' the following hours, viz;,' .9.. a.m.,, 10.3<} a.m./; If, .noon,, and,' l.3o. p.m. The return trains ■, :w£l . leave -the , Makarevya Bridge as ' follows : — ;3.30 p.m.. * 5 | p;.m.^ 6.30 p.m., and. .the last train, about 8; o'clock, or as soon as can be conveniently arranged. Tickets, are issued of various colors, to suit,., the different 'trams,'and re.tura^liecksAVuLlbcj handed to the excursionists when they take seats/ The school children will proceed Jnvthq train leaving at 10.30 a.m., and 'return by the one, leaving t the Makarewa at .3.30 p.m. DuV precautions have been made to guard agams<r]"acpidents, and, to pyeVent as nrupli-as possible lany^ehance of confusion lin the awangemeuts. iL" staff _of. efficient porters 1 .have been kindly. .supplied bs', ; Ml\ T ;l)ayi,es, to watch' the trams as tliey,.depai't ; .; o iia.- addition to I which ifoiir .'members o£. committee ,will superin-j-tend and proceed .with f aclv .Each train, it | -as expected, will' carry ,JLOO passengers; but tickets-' j.haye been issiied'for mor^v than this .number^as^ .it is' expected 'tliaVmore^tiiWjonjB f ji4cJ:ely._iDay liaye" fallen. into the hands,', of .' s6me;partie§,7which cir-.-ciunstiuics 'will" therefore'- not greatly'; disturb the o -in-inal estimate ,of . Hie number pi . °," „,THE SCHOOI^CHTLXXKEK -, i; -^ . The masters of the Tariousj sbhpois.intown will, : with their scholars, march . m; procession; from their respective schools to the Presbyterian?^ Church, Tay-street, where they awe expectied ; to arrive not' later than a quarter before teu o'clock. They will then form again into , a ' procession, and march to the railway station. Their train is appointed to start at 10.30 a.m., returning at halfpast three o'clock in the. afternoon. A^ we before inthnat3ci; Mr. Janes, of " the Southland ; Cliib Hotel, w-ill provide gratiutous refreshments to the school childi-cn, in the shape of bims, ; tarts,' citk'e, &c- A plentiful supply of ginger-beer will likewise be fHi-nishedby this gentleman, to regale the juvenile excursionists; in addition the Committee of Management have arranged' ; tli at a suitable supply of milk' shall be in readiness for them. They may therefore expect to be' well caved for, on the way, and well treated when on the scene of the day's festivities. , SPORTS AT THE MAKAREWA. During the day there -will be a ; variety of sports at the Matarewa. The Sport's Committee, hare been busy at work, arranging the ground for 6h« purpose, and there can be little doubt but some rare enjoyment will: be afforded, to- those who witness the various friendly contests as well. as. to ; those who lake an active part in them. The programme of the Committee of Management will; be found in our advertising columns, but in addition to their arrangements, we understand there will be many otluv sports on the ground. There is also to be a steeple chase for, hacks, for which no doubt there will be a good many entries.: The competition. will be. free to all coiners, and the._ stakes 10 soys. for the winner. We might here mention that there will be a photographer on the ground for the purpose of talcing views, which many will highly prize as mementos of one of the gala days of Southland. The Provincial Brass Band will be on the ground to enliven tie scene. THE TOWN" DECORATION. , 1 A sub -committee of fourteen gentlemen were ' appointed to make arrangements far seeing that the town should present some appearance of gaiety on the occasion. We observe, however, that their efforts have been chiefly directed to the erection of a grand Triumphal Arch across Eskstreet, leading to the Railway Station. Much labor and expense have been lavished on this arch, but those engaged in the woi*k have now the satisfaction of knowing that its appearance when finished will amply repay the cost of its construction. It is composed of upright and transverse beams so arranged that there is one principal or centre entrance, with small arches on either side. Above the centre arch is displayed the word " Welcome " in prominent characters, and immediately over this •ia a large painting of the Royal arms, prepared expressly for the occasion. Radiating from this as a centre I there is the Royal standard placed upright; with a host of other banners placed'all around it ; and we understand that there will be placed this, morning over all the significant words, "Prosperity to Southland." Then the arch proper is completely covered with a perfect profusion of evergreens, airanged so that the woodwork of the structure may not be perceived, and imparting a richness and freshness to the -whole which is very pleasing, and which evidences great taste on thepart of tlie designers and contractors for the work, Messrs. Carter and Co. It is intended that photographic views will be taken of the arcli to-day, at favorable opportunities. THE BALL. The Committee entrusted with the ball arrangements have not been behind hand in the 'work assigned to them, and it gives us pleasure to . state that it bids fair to prove .a great success. The interior, as well as the exterior of the Theatre Royal has been bedecked with evergreens for the. occasion, and now presents a fresh and extremely gay appearance. . Dancing will, commence 'at nine o'clock, and wo are glad to be able to state that all duo care has been taken — while carefully guarding against all exclusivism — to issue tickets of admission to those only whose respectability is unquestioned. This "may 7 relieve the minds of many who would be desirous.. of being present, but who, from the fact of the company being pf so mixed a character, might otherwise have determined 'to be absent. The Provincial Brass Band have been engaged for the evening. Refreshments of every kind will be procurable on tho premises, a caterer being specially provided for the occasion. Admission to the visitor's gallery may be had on payment of three shillings. Ifc is expected that this part of the house, as well as- the lower, will ; be; crowded. ' ! ' : : ; ; We have now run over the principal features" in the day's enjoyments,._which, as .we haye before stated, only require the favorable assistance 'of : propitious— weather to render them- entirely successful. ' ' .-....'. ..,..-.. „-*._. ,'..,..- |