THE GOVERNOR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 40, 12 February 1912, Page 6

THE GOVERNOR.

TURNS THE FIRST SOD OF THE EAST COAST RAILWAY. A FOUNDATION STONE LAID. (Per Press Association ) .Gisborne, February 11. The. first sod' of tae norhioru end of the Gisborne-Napior railway was turned by the Governor yesterday. Lord Islington said tiiis was the most important function of the many he had been invited to perform in Gisborne. He was instructed tnat (the line would pass through considerable natural obstacles, but looking broadly over the Dominion, and taking into consideration the short time (comparatively) this Dominion had been a British colony, the mileage of projected railways was rigntly creditable to the people of New Zealand. The day’s ceremony he hoped would form a new era to the whole trade and prosperity of Gisborne and the neighbourhood, because it had not been so fortunate as some other towns in New Zealand. He thought all might be fully assured by the duplicate ceremony at Napier a few days ago that there would be for certain from this date simultaneous development at both ends of the line, and he hoped f or the early completion of the work, hhich was proceeding excellently. Ho said it was the most gratifying announcement in the district during recent years, and congratulated them upon the increased population and increased trade and commerce, which was highly satisfactory. ” Lord Islington commented favourably upon the marked development in the cultivated area in the neighbourhood ,of Gisborne and the corresponding increase of settlers established in the district. This had all taken place in recent years, in spite of the fact that the district was without railway transport. He thought it was a great credit to the people that such developments had taken place. Noav they had reached tins stage of robust maturity, railway facilities of urgent importance, and he realised the benefits that would be obtained therefrom. It was also urgently needed to still further develop the splendid land that lie had passed through, and thus add to the sinews of commerce of Gisborne and the whole Dominion. (Applause.) The Mayor, Mr W. (Pettis, in thanking Lord Islington, commented on the fact that this was not the first occasion on which a railway was started in Gisborne-. - Twelve years ago the Premier turned the first sod of a Gisborno-Napier railway, which had now reached fMbtu, some -JO miles away, and had been of considerable benefit. Concluding, on behalf of the district, |the Mayor presented Lord Islington with a gold spade, suitably inscribed:

Representatives of other local bodies spoke, also Mr J. Hunter Brown, chairman of the Wairoa County Council, and Mr ,F- W. Williams and 2\lr D. Whyte, representing the Hastings Chamber of ComrA'crCe. When laying the foundation stone of the now hospital, the Governor said ho thought it a good thing combining legislation for hospital r and charitable aid boards, and lie thought the public was better situated bore than in England, where the hospitals had to depend for a considerable part on public subscriptions. The Governor was here presented with a silver trowel.

His Excellency left this evening for Napier, cn route to V. e.ling ton.