THE START.

Southland Times, Issue 574, 5 October 1866, Page 2

THE START.

The time now rapidly approaching for departure being intimated by the peculiar bustle of the guards about the carriage, and the nervous puffing of the iron ... horse, I proceeded to occupy * ■eifc in one of the comp_rfcme_t»*

which was exclusively occupied by about eight. gentlemen, who were engaged (it seemed to me) in smoking against time. Of course, through courtesy, I was asked if I objected to the odour of the fragrant weed, and of course, not to ba outdone in politeness, I replied that it was an aroma above all others that I was particular 1 - partial to. But at the same time, tho ac+ion of a gentleman, who after slight difficulty, succeeded in lowering both the glass sides, to admit air, was mentally acknowledged by me as a most grateful favor. At last we started on our journey, and proceeded somewhat slowly, until we arrived at the embankment, where some men were engaged in making repairs, and where we stopped for a very short while, to allow of the points being regulated. . After all was made right, the shrill whistle of the engine warned us that once more we were in motion. It may, perhaps, be noticed that whilst running over the embankment it struck me that there was a slight oscillation, which ceased when we arrived on firmer ground. However, this might easily be accounted for by the fact that the embankment had not obtained its regular " set " — that the earth was more loose and springy than at other places. Arrived at the Mokomoko, where we stopped to take in a supply of water, my ears were greeted with the cry, from some facetious wag, of — " Ladies and Grentletnen — Mokomoko Junction — show your tickets," and my attention was directed to the branch line to the Mokomoko Jetty — that rnonumer-t of foolishness and inflated hopes, never realised. It struck me, however, that some of our merchants are keenly alive to the advantages that will be gained by the arrival of vessels from home at the JSTew River, in taking first delivery of their goods, which can be very cheaply done by the aid of this branch line, as soon as the railway is "open for traffic, and which will thus avoid all the expense of commission, &c, that would otherwise be charged. Again we were in motion, and proceeded

slowly until we reached the cutting at the Green Hills, or that portion of the line known as Ross and Aldrichs' contract. Here I was struck with the magnitude of the work accomplished. Por about 400 yards the eye rests on great masses of granite each side of the line*; indeed it resembles a perpendicular stone wall in some places, and the excavation must have given the contractors great difficulty to overcome. In viewing this work, I was impressed with the feeling that some day not far distant this locality will be opened up for quarrying purposes as supplying the material for road making, building, &c, which the facility of railway transit will greatly enhance. At this point occurred a slight contremps. It appeared that the Railway Engineer had received written authority from Messrs Dalgety, Rattray and Co., to bring up the engines and carriages, or such other rolling stock as he might require, for removal to the carriage shed -:t Invercargill, and that our journey was partly for that purpose. But the persons in charge conceived that a different interpretation ought to aoply to the authority in question, and had obstructed our progress by removing oae of the rails. We consequently came to a dead stop, and there ensued a very ludicrous scene. The men refused to allow the train to pass, anl we were all anxiously awaiting to see what would turn up. The guards in the meanwhile opened the doors, and we all got out to enjoy ourselves. His Honor, with whom was the Provincial Treasurer, Mr Nurse, another member of the Government, and the Railway Engineer, showed the written authority to pass, but all to no avail. The men would not stir an inch, but laughed at our dilemma, and thus, some thirty persons were kept nearly half-an-hour cooling themselves in the open air, a little knot gathering round the men, trying to convince them of their error, m not allowing the train to go through, but without result ; indeed, lam informed that one of the gentry offered to fight the " biggest man in the crowd," and there was a little chaff indulged in, of showing their extraordinary . development of muscle, and of walking round imaginary rings, and of holding imaginary bottles. &c. but all ended peaceably. The opposition offered was taken in very good part, and after a while his Honor, calling two gentlemen present to witness the authority under which he acted, produced the letter in question, which showed that the Government were authorised to pass along Dalgety, Rattray and Co.'s portion of the line, in order to bring up carriages, rolling stock, &c, and ordered the obstacles to be removed. A number of men being in attendance, acting under his instriictions, all things were quickly set to rights, and we resumed our journey to the Bluff without further impediment. I forgot to mention that one of the disputants mounted his horse, which was in readiness, and galloped to the Bluff, some five miles distant, and arrived there at the same time as the train, with the view of being present at another impediment that presented itself, somewhat similar to the