ACROSS AUSTRALIA BY RAIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 20, 16 September 1912, Page 6

ACROSS AUSTRALIA BY RAIL.

FIRST SOD TURNED AT PORT

AUGUSTA

THE KING'S MESSAGE,

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

(United Press Association.) Adelaide, September 15

Port Augusta is on foto at the turning of the ttrst sod of the transcontinental railway to Kalgoorlie, at an estimated cost"" of four millions. There is a groat influx of Federal and other parliamentarians and distinguished visitors. Accommodation is overtaxed, and many Parliamentarians slept in tents. Lord Denman, in performing the ceremony, read a message from die King expressing his keen sense of the importance of this groat national enterprise to "my people of the Commonwealth." He also read a message from the Imperial Government as follows:—"We aro convinced that this groat undertaking will redound to the strategic and commercial advantages of Australia." Felicitous speeches were made by Lord Denman, Admiral Bosanquet, Mr Fisher, Mr. O'Malley, Mr. Pearce, and others.

Mr O'Malley characterised the function as ono of the supreme" occasions prophetic of Australia's future greatness. Not in mammoth lightning machines on land and sea or aerial instruments had Australia placed her hopes, but in unhampered political and social progress. The great Christian party to which he belonged was determined to afford every person an opportunity to make good. The building or the'railway outward was an expression of the Government's ambition. EPOCH-MAKING EVENT. (Received 16, 9.35 a.m.) Adelaide. September 16. Lord Donman said the turning of the first sod was an event important enough to find a place not only in the history of Australia, but in the Empire. It would be of strategic importance and materially strengthen the weak points of the scheme of defence, resulting in a community of interest now scarcely existim; between Western Australia and the Eastern States. Tt would shorten the distance to England, and be another link binding them with the Motherland. It was a workworthy of the great statesmen of Australia. Others delivered similar speeches.