TURNING TIIE PIRST SOD OF THE MATAURA RAILWAY.

Southland Times, Issue 1631, 10 September 1872, Page 3

TURNING TIIE PIRST SOD OF THE MATAURA RAILWAY.

Friday, the <6tb of September, 1872, will be long remembered in the district as the day on w hich the construction of the Invercargilli and Mataura railway ■was inaugurated by the turning of the first sod. It wjis fitting that an occasion of such importance should be marked with appropriate ceremony ; and it is our agreeable task to describe the manner in which the arrangements made for thai; purpose were most successfully carried out. The day was observed as a general holiday, and the weather being all that could be desired, nearly all the adult population of tlie town, and a great many visitors from the country, mustered on the scene of the ceremony. Though all the places of business were closed, the streets presented an unusually animated appearance, as knots of welldressed spectators, including an unusual number of the fairer sex, and a stili more surprising proportion, or as it almost appeared, disproportion, of children of all ages, were seen wending their way to the rendezvous, all evidently bent on a day of enjoyment ; while flags fluttered everywhere in the bright sunshine, and the lively strains of the brass band were heard distinctly in the clear morning air, ill all directions, even as far as the outskirts of the town. The procession, which was very effective, was headed by the Invercargill Eifle "Volunteers, preceded by the band, and followed by the Cadets. The Volunteers started frem the Drill-shed shortly after eleven o'clock, marching down Dee-street and up Tay-street to the Union Bank grounds, where the school children were previously assembled, and joined the ranks in admirable order, under the superintendence of a few of the teachers and other gentlemen, who made the entertainment of the juvenile portion of the community their special care for the remainder of the day. The cortege then passed the Oddfellows' Hall, where the members of that Order, in full insignia, fell in immediately behind the Volunteers, thence through Deveron-street to the north side of Eskstreet, the Sons of Temperance joining at the Temperance Hall ; thence to the Council Hall, where His "Worship the Mayor and the members of Council assumed the place of honor directly behind the Volunteers. The Municipal Fire Brigade then joined the line, the flags with which the engine and other carriages were decorated, and the scarlet uniforms of the men, forming a- most effective feature in the display. The Artillery Volunteers, not yet having received their uniforms, did not take part in the procession, but took up a position on a convenient knoll at a short distance from the scene of action, from which they fired a salute of seven guns on the completion of the ceremony. The procession being complete, marched down Dee-street and Clyde-street to the spot selected for the ceremony in Tyne-street, where a large crowd of spectators was assembled. The adjoining block of the Gardens Eeserve, which had been previously tussacked and cleared, being somewhat broken, and rising here and there in gentle knolls, afforded an admirable site, from which nearly all the spectators present were enabled to view the proceedings, without crowding or inconvenience. The spot at which the sod was to be turned was marked by four flags, and the necessary wheelbarrow, spade, and plank placed in readiness. The wheelbarrow and spade, it may be remarked, were genuine serviceable articles, but finished and polished with an amount of elegance and care which •would have fitted them for ornamental objects of drawing-room furniture. The Volunteers and other members of the procession having been placed in position, the gentlemen who were to take more immediate part in the ceremony, including of course the Mayor and Councillors ; the Government Engineer, "W. Brunton, Esq. ; the representative of Messrs Brogden & Sjns, John Henderson, Esq. ; and others, took up a position in front of the flags. Mr Brunton then stepped forward, and having pointed out to the Mayor the precise spot at which the sod was to be cut, read the following address (which we may mention was neatly engrossed and illuminated by Mr George Baker) : — I have the honor to hand you the necessary implements to commence the construction of the lovercargill and Mataura railway. In doing so I beg t» congratulate yourself, the citizens of the town which you represent, and the settlers of the adjacent coTintxy, on being this day assembled to celebrate the inauguration of a work which, ie bo ' urgently needed, and which has been BO long and anxiously looked forward to. It is now generally admitted that the great desideratum to a new country is a cheap and expeditious mode of communication between the seaports, the market towns, and the country districts, enabling the settlers to procure their supplies at the lowest possible cost, and at the tame time to find a ready outlet for their produce. The^rwlway, the construction of which we have this da"y*lnet to commence, will be the means of opening a large extent of excellent agricultural land, and in conjunction with those already in existence, ought to, nay must, very materially increase the population, trade, and wealth of your district, and the prosperity of your citizens individually. In alluding to the railway already in existence —a railway extending from your port inland to a distance of 40 miles, and on the possession of which I most heartily congratulate you — I must «ak you to remember the very great difference in cost of that line and thia — a difference which is mainly owing to the great improvements effected in railway construction within the last ten years. The couDtry through which this line is to be carried is admirably adapted for railway construction. In fact, from the level nature of the country, and the absence of steep gradients and charp curves, this railway will be one of the cheapest of those intended to be constructed under the Railway Act, and can be maintained fit perhaps a less cost than any other. I may venture to say that a stranger landing in the province, travelling through the country, seeing the «xteneire cultivation and improvements which have already been effected, and the miserable state of the roads, would naturally be amazed at the absence of a railway, and wonder how you could have contrived to dispense with one so long. However, a new era has commenced, and let us give credit to whom credit is due. And we ourselves, and let us hope also the future generations in New Zealand, will have reason to attribute our prosperity to the far-seeing and energetic mind of the Hon. the Colonial.Treasurer, the originator,

1 and let us hope the successful carrier out, of our railway system. . I must further congratulate you on having the construction of this line entrusted to a firm of 1 such world-wide reputation in railway construction as are Messrs John Brogden and Sons. ' Iw conclusion, let us hope that this will be but the forerunner of a series of li'<es which will , ultimately connect the most remote parts of our ' adopted country, and by bringing the citizens of the various districts and provinces into more frequent contact, tend to abate or altogether 1 remove all party prejudices and local jealousies, , and by increasing our trade and allowing our . resources to be developed, to enable New Zealand tO fairly Claim the name which has long boen given to her io the mother country, that of the " Queen of the Pacific," or the etill more glorious title of the " Britain of the South." ; I beg now, sir, that you will perform your labor manfully. Mr Wood read his reply as follows : — I have much pleasure in accepting the implements you now hand me, and heartily reciprocate ' your congratulations on the commencement of the Mataura railway. The public have long felt the necessity of a cheap and expeditious mode of conveyance and transit through the country, and I fully concur in your views in this respect, and hope that the benefits you predict to follow the extension of railways will be realised. I have much pleasure in welcoming the firm of • Messr* Brogden amongst us, and feel assured that a firm so eminent and possessing such experience in the construction of large works will be ample guarantee that this railway will be carried to a successful conclusion, and be opened for traffic at an early date. I sincerely concur in the hope you express that thia line will be the forerunner of a series of linea that will ultimately connect all parts of the countrv, and more closely unite its people, increasing their commerce, welfare, and general prosperity, and tend to make New Zealand really the " Britain of the South." In conclusion, I have much pleasure in turning, under your direction, the first sod of the Mataura railway. The Bod was then cut by Mr Henderson, and the spade handed to the Mayor, who placed the sod in the wheelbarrow, wheeled it along the plank, and turned it over in the usual manner. The inauguration of the work waa then announced by the cheers of the spectators, the strains of the band, and, after a brief interval, by a feu de joie of three volleys from the Rifles, and a salute of seven guns from the Artillery. Cheers were then given for the Queen and Royal Family, and at intervals, for various persons more or less connected with the undertaking, including Messrs Brogden, the Engineers, and the Mayor and Corporation. " God Save the Queen" was sung in excellent style by the children, champagne was handed round, the Volunteers and other members of the procession — with the exception of the children — marched off the ground, and the company, after lingering for a while to enjoy the brilliant scene, gradually dispersed. The school children, as previously arranged, were collected in the neighborhood to enjoy the treat prepared for them by the committee who had undertaken that part of the proceedings, and which, in the opinion of many persons, formed one of the most pleasing features of the day's programme. A luncheon, suited to youthful tastes, had been provided on a liberal scale, and the preparations of the committee were further supplemented by voluntary contributions from Messrs Tulloch/M'Kobie, Cooper, and Cleave. Swings had been erected on the ground, and the materials for other games provided, and with the capacity for enjoyment peculiar to boys and girls, the children contrived to pass the whole of the remainder of the day in the pursuit of amusement with the greatest success. A bullock roasted whole—the gift of Mr J. H. Fmith— was a novel feature in the arrangements ; and it may be stated that the difficult operation of cooking, which, in the case of a whole bullock, is said to verge on impossibility, was in this instance achieved with unusual skill and success. Excursion trains were provided by the railway authorities at low rates of fares, and ran throughout the day from and to Winton and the Bluff; but it need hardly be said that they were chiefly made use of by residents in the country who desired to come into town to take part in the proceedings, and whose presence, in large numbers, materially contributed to the success of the celebration. The programme of the day's enjoyment included a dejeuner at three o'clock, and a ball in the evening. The dejeuner was given in the spacious apartment used aB a goods store in the Eailway Station, which was tastefully decorated for the occasion, and afterwards served as a supper- room for the ball. The dejeuner was provided by Mr Powell, of the Prince of "Wales Hotel, whose skill and liberality as a caterer are well known ; and it is sufficient to say that the arrangements left nothing to be desired, either m the excellence and recherche character of the viands and wines, or the elegance of the decorations. About eighty gentlemen sat down. The chair was occupied by the Mayor, thevice-chair by Mr Lumsden, M.P.C. The Mayor was supported on the right by Mr Henderson, on behalf of Messrs Brogden and Sons, and on the left by Mr Brunton, the Government Engineer. After the usual justice had been done to the good things provided, which in this case was anything but a mere form on the part of the guests, who had spent the day in the open air, the health of the Queen and the Royal Family was drunk with loyal enthusiasm, followed by that of His Excellency the Governor, which was also appropriately received. The health of His Honor the Superintendent was then proposed by the Vice-chairman, who spoke in high terms of His Honor's capacity for administration, and untiring devotion to the interests of the Province, qualities to which he believed the Province of Otago owed much of its present prosperity. Mr M' Arthur, by arrangement, responded on behalf of Hiß Honor, stating that His Honor's unavoidable absence was much to be regretted, and he was sure was bo by no one more than by Mr Macandrew himself. No man had been more intimately connected with the progress of the Province, from the very first, than the present Superintendent, and no man had its welfare more at heart. He had invariably manifested every desire to advance the prosperity of the Southland

1 district, and it would have given him the greatest pleasure to have been present on . thia auspicious occasion, the inauguration of a line of railway which in a few years would extend through the length of the island to Cook's Strait. The event which was celebrated to-day would doubtless be a land-mark in the history of a great country, and to have taken a prominent part in the proceedings was an honor of which any man might well be proud, and which the Superintendent regretted he was unable personally to share. The chairman then proposed the toast of tbe day, " The speedy and successful completion of the Invercargill and Mataura Railway," coupled with the names of the guests, Messrs Brunton, Henderson, and Smyth. Mr Wood referred in brief and appropriate terms to the advantages which might be expected to arise from the construction of this important public work, and expressed his satisfaction in knowing that the contract had been placed in the hands of a firm so well able as Messrs Brogden and Sons to carry out the undertaking without failure or delay. Mr Brunton, in reply, said that though he believed he could make a railway, he had always found it a much harder matter to make a speech, and therefore would not attempt it on the present occasion, but content himself with congratulating all present on the success of the celebration, and expressing a hope that when the line was finished they might all be able to meet again with the same feelings of cordiality and satisfaction as they now entertained. Mr Henderson said that he too, like Mr Brunton, was a better hand at making railways than speeches. He was delighted with the energy displayed by the inhabitants of the district in the celebration of the occasion. He had seen similar ceremonies in other parts of the Colony, but never had been better pleased than on the present occasion. The stalwart appearance of the Volunteers and others who took part in the procession, the brilliant array of ladies, and last, but not least, the incredible number of children, healthy, rosy, and happy, showed most unmistakeably that this part of the Colony is destined to be the future home of a sturdy vigorous Anglo-Saxon race, who, in a country teeming with resources, only wanted sufficient facilities of communication to attain a prosperity now hardly dreamt of. As regarded tbe line that day commenced, nothing would be wanting on the part of the firm he represented to construct a thoroughly good and substantial line, and to have it open at the earliest possible period. If the Government would only put them in possession of the rolling stock and materials, they would undertake to complete the line to Woodlands within six months from the turning of the sod. He trusted the step which had been taken that day would ere long be followed by the commencement of other portions of the great trunk line, which was destined before many years elapsed to connect tbe remotest parts of the Colony with each other, and inaugurate a new and prosperous era in the history of New Zealand. Mr Smyth, who was received with hearty cheers, in a short and clever speech, prognosticated the happiest results from the undertaking just commenced, and in returniug thanks for the compliment paid him, assured the citizens of Invercargill tiiat he looked upon himself as one of their number, though of late his occupations had led him to a different part of the country. Mr Lumsden, the vice-chairman, then proposed " The First Superintendent and Provincial Council of Southland." The grand policy, of which the present undertaking was a part, had been initiated by Southland nine years ago, and the Superintendent and Council which first originated it should now be acknowledged by all those provinces which, would ultimately benefit by its adoptiou. Southland had been blamed for entering upon a gigantic undertaking which it was not able to finish ; but the mistake they had made was in running to " cheap John" markets, instead of going to a firm possessed of character, standing, and means. They all knew that for a long time the boot had pinched, and that severely; but that had now been got over, and the Southland railways had proved a complete success. It was gratifying to know that the policy which they had initiated had now been endorsed by the whole of the Colony. Mr Pearson replied, as the sole representative present of that now extinct institution, the first Council of Southland. It was gratifying to meet with a recognition of the plucky energy, and courage which set tbe way in what was now considered a very great and glorious policy. Iu recalling tbe past he thought they might well condone all its errors, and write upon its tombstone, " requieseat in pace." The next toast, " His Worship the Mayor," by Mr Smyth, was briefly and gracefully acknowledged by Mr Wood. " Trade and Commerce," proposed by Mr Butts, was responded to by Mr Blackwood, who dwelt on the good effects the construction of railways might be expected to produce on the commercial future of the town and district. " The Agricultural and Pastoral Interest," by the vice-chairman, was replied to by Mr Brydone in an ad. mirablespeeeh. He said the agricultural and pastoral interests were the most important, being the foundation of all prosperity, the back-bone and sinew of this country, and of every other. The vicechairman had described them as the oldest industries in the world, and he believed they would also be the latest, aa the existence of man depended on the products of the field. Our own particular district produced wool which commanded a higher price in the London market than any Other district in New Zealand, and which had gained the Sydney prize against the Colonies for the most valuable twelve fleeces shown. The district could not be excelled for the growth of long-woolled and crosß-bred sheep. Strangers visiting Invercargill always remarked that they saw finer beef and mutton in the butchers' shops than in any other town in '<

the Colony, and he was decidedly oi opinion that this was the case at the present moment. The railway commenced that day would open up a tract of land difficult to beat in any country, specially suited for growing English grasses, oats, barley, and turnips, but which had hitherto been land-locked. From 60 to 70 bushels of oats to the acre was the average yield of the Mataura land, and heavy crops of turnips could be produced by simply scattering half a pound of seed to the acre on the ploughed land. One paddock of 450 acres, so treated, had fed 12 to 15 sheep during the winter, at a cost for production of 2s 6d per acre, exclusive of ploughing. Most of the sheep were fat, and had been sold at very remunerative prices. The Mataura railway would open up 200,000 acres of agricultural land, and he hoped that at no distant day the district would be able to supply the Melbourne market with all the oats and barley they required to import. The toasts of " The Volunteers," by Mr Kingsland, responded to by Capt. Wade, of the Rifles; "The Railway Committee," by Mr Henderson, replied to by Mr J. T. Martin ; and " The Mining Interest," by Mr Wade, responded to by Mr Blacklock, followed. Mr Henderson then proposed " The New Zealand Land Company," coupled with the name of their skilful and energetic manager, Mr Brydone. Tbe Company had furniabed the land required for 22 out of the 40 miles of the railway, and he thought their liberality deserved recognition. Mr Brydone responded in appropriate terms; and it being discovered that the time was approaching when the hall would be required for the arrangements connected with the ball, the remaining toasts, " The Press," " The Navvies," and "The Ladies," were speedily disposed of, and the company dispersed. A public ball was held in the evening, and proved a great success. There being no available hall in the town of sufficient dimensions to accommodate tho numbers who desired to be present, the railway station was selected as affording ample space, as well as an appropriate locality on the occasion. The large hall, used as a wool-store, in which the dejeuner had been held, was made to do duty as a supper-room, for which it answered admirably. A spacious ball-room was procured by closing the ends of the station with weatherboard, and constructing a temporary but solid floor over the space between the platforms. The ample hall thus secured was decorated with flags, i evergreens, and colored drapery, and ! brilliantly lighted ; and though the ex- | tent of the floor afforded abundance of | room for the dancers, the numbers present were sufficient to give the hall the appearance at first sight of being crowded. The only part of the arrangements with \ which the most fastidious could have found cause of complaint, was the inadequacy of the music in so large a building, although the performance in itself was excellent. It was hoped that the services of the Invercargill Stringed Band would have been secured, but owing to some misunderstanding they were not availed of. Otherwise " all went merry as a marriage bell," and dancing was kept iup till daylight. The arrangements, as a whole, reflected the highest credit on the industry and skill of the committee by whom they were carried out, and all present seemed to enjoy themselves to the utmost. A performance in the Theatre, by the Amateur Dramatic Club, also announced for the occasion, proved as usual a success, and afforded the means of passing a very pleasant evening to many whose tastes did not lead them to $he ball-room. The programme comprised u The Area Belle," and a little farce, entitled " The Barber's Shop in an uproar," with a stump speech from Mr Wotton, who, aa might be expected on such an occasion, was even more happy than usual in his local allusions. After the performance, the body of the Theatre being cleared, a number of those present joined in a subscription dance, which was kept up for some hours with great spirit, to the excellent music of the Stringed Band.