Railway Progress.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 60, 2 July 1914, Page 5

Railway Progress.

JUBILATION IN WHANCA.

COUNTRYSIDE REJOICES. SPEECHES BY THE MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS. Yesterday broke very unpromisingly for Whangamomona’s function—the official opening of the railway to Whangamomona. But as the train from Stratford proceeded eatward, it picked up a quota of passengers from all the wayside statioins, and by the time Whangamomona was reached the train was a full one. As the train went eastward the weather improved, and the whole of the celebrations were carried, out in nothing worse than a Scmch mist.

As the train drew into the township the whistle of the engine was blown for a good time, giving notice, if any were needed, of the opening of the section.

There was a big crowd of district residents on the station platform, where Mr T. A. Bradley officially welcomed the Hon. Mr Herries. Mr Bradley said the arrangements for the day were not quite perfect because they had only had since the previous Friday to get things going. DEPUTATIONS. Just after the train arrived a few deputations were introduced to Mr Herries by Mr J. B. Hine, M.P. Whangamomona Domain.

Messrs Court, Bradley and Aylvvard, members of the Domain Board, asked for a Government grant- to carry out the extension of the ground. They explained thtat they had previously had a Government grant of £IOO, and had collected about £260 locally. Mr Henies said the matter was not in his department, but he would refer it to the Minister for Lands, Mr Massey. Railage of Metal. Messrs McCutchan (Whangamomona County Council), W. Hathaway, J, Thomson (Stratford County Council), Court and Bradley (Whangamomona) were next introduced, their request being in respect of the railage charge on road metal.

Mr McCutchan said the matter of freight on metal was a'very important one to the district.' Nearly the whole of the country in the vicinity was papa, with no hard metal at all. The metal on the roads' came from 50 miles away, and cost 16s 6d a yard to put on the roads. ‘ . Either the settlers must have help‘from the Government or they w’oultT have to do without roads. The - Government carried lime on the railways fr6e, and he thought ithe same!"should be done as regards metal. Mr Hathaway said the people of the district were much handicapped by the price of metal. It had cost the Stratford County Council 14s 6d per yard to spread metal at Te Wera. The Government should show more liberality towards Settlers who had helped themselves to such an extent. The Stratford County had raised loans to the extent of £132,000. < These loans were a heavy burden and the roads were all worn out. Mr Court said there was a concession granted, but the concession was a big thing to them. He knew of a case where six horses were required to pull fifteen hundredweight of metal along a road. In connection with the metalling of .tie main road near Whangamomona the County Council had taken pains to procure metal, but the contractor who undertook the laying of the metal had to withdraw his plant owing to the fact that the metal could not be brought in quick enough by the Railway Department. As a result, the Minister would see the township still in a state of mud.

Mr Bradley endorsed previous speakers’ remarks. Mr Herries said that he had lived in the backblocks and he thought assistance should be given to outlying settlers. The question he had to consider, however, was this: If the backblocks needed assistance, should that assistance be given by the Railway Department or the Public Works Department? It was impossible for the Railway Department to give a concession to one County and not to another; and if it was conceded to all counties, it would mean a great loss of revenue to the railway. The, Department carried metal when most convenient. The Department would like local bodies to have their metal railed in the winter and stacked until wanted. In many places there was room for the metal to be stacked in the railway yards—ho could not say if there was room in the Whangamomona yard. He would consult with his colleagues, especially the Minister for Public Works, and see what could be done. Personally, he thought that a. way out of the difficulty would be to increase the subsidy to local bodies. It had to be remembered that he had to undergo a good deal of criticism regarding the earnings of the railways. The service would, no doubt, be better in view of the fact that the Railway Department would control the whole ’of the haulage.

Hardwood Timber. Messrs McCutchan, Hathaway, and Thomson then waited on the Minister regarding the extra railway freight on Australian hardwood. Mr Hathaway said that hardweod

had to be used; and he hoped that County Councils could be eased in the matter. Mr McCutchan said that two bridges in the' township had been built fourteen years ago, had been recently re-decked, and would soon need renewing. No timber hut Australian hardwood would do for the climate. No doubt it was the same in other parts of the country, Mr Herries: Is rimu no good? Mr McCutchan: It’s life is only about ten years, and matai is not much better.

Mr Herries said the extra freight on hardwood had been imposed at the time when a great deal of Oregon pine was being imported. But he did not want to tinker with the- railway tariff. He was engaged on a thorough revision of the tariff. The matter would receive consideration, and he thought there was every juft-* tification for the claim. The wish of the deputation would be granted if it woufd not mean too great a loss of revenue.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING. GREAT ENTHUSIASM. , At one o’clock the Minister officially opened the section, the crowd at the time being numerous and enthusiastic. The Minister entered the cab of the engine, which was driven through a blue ribbon held by Mesdames Mctvor and Davis, two of the first women residents of Whangamomona, and cut by Mrs D. Wildermoth. The train passed through amid rousing cheers.

The Minister’s Speech. Speaking from the railway carriage, Mr Herries heartily congratulated the residents on the opening of the section, which would do away with the ; previous dual control of-thodine. He could see the capabilities of the district and he could see the difficulties contended noth by the early settlers, who had to fight against adverse circumstances and great distances. : Ho could see that the pioneers had don© what everybody expected of the New Zealand pioneers. All honor was due to those pioneers who had gone to the backblocks and carved out the homes they saw that day. New Zealand should be proud of such men and women, and New Zealand was proud of them. Referring to the section being opened, Mr Herries said that pending the completion of the bridges east of the tunnel a tern-* porary tramway was laid from th© tunnel exit into Whangamomona and was used for nearly two years to con--1 vey heavy material for the construction works ahead, besides proving of great service for the conveyance inwards of supplies and stores for settlers in the locality and the haulage of their produce to the rail-head at a time when the means of access by road was far from satisfactory. The tramway had since been pushed ahead up to the Tahora tunnel and was still serving the same useful purpose up to that point. Th© Public Works Department should not be blamed for the fact that the section was not opened earlier. The construction was heavy and big slips had to be contended with. So far as he could see the Department had carried out the work capably. Th© Public Works Department had provided commodious and convenient yards and stations along the line, and this would relieve him greatly—it would probably be many years befor© extensions were necessary. At present the line was fully equipped, but no doubt there would be need for an extension of the yard at Whangamomona in the near future, as he believed the production of the country would expand greatly and the Hh© be one of the best paying in the Dominion. The policy of the Government was to meet the wishes of customers as far as possible. In conj elusion, Mr Herries expressed the hope that the children would keep the day in their minds as a red-let-ter day for W hangamomona and th® country generally. They would bo able to tell their children that except ■ for the weather the function was on© j of the best in the history of the Do- ! minion. He had been present at | many similar functions, but had never I seen such enthusiasm as had been disi played that day.

Three hearty cheers were given for the Minister at the conclusion of his speech. The Member for the District. Mr J. R. Hine said words failed him to express his gratification at th# opening of the section. He had

worked for tlie line even before lie was a member. As a young farmer 'at Toko fifteen years ago, lie bad joined with those who advocated the line. He was proud of the line and proud to be able to say that he had watched it grow from the turning of the first sod. He hoped lie would see the last sod turned. Ho had no intention of leaving Taranaki, and Taranaki showed no disposition to leave him. The time was coming when Taranaki people could get to Auckland by rail without going the long, weary cold journey via Martou He was surprised that the Whangamomona people had not applied to have foot-warmers ill their train so that they could travel to Stratford in comfort. In conclusion he thanked them heartily for their reception to the Minister, who had given part of his busy time to open the section. THE OFFICIAL LUNCHEON. NEEDS OF THE BACKBLOCKS. At two o’clock a complimentary luncheon was tendered to the Minister and the visitors at the V. hangamomona Hotel. Mr W. A. McCutehan occupied the chair, and among, those present wore the Mayor of Stratford (Mr W. P. Kirkwood), Mr W. H. H. Young (vice-president of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce). Mr W. A. Collis KtepntyMnyor of New Plymouth). Mr J. E. Armstrong (district traffic manager), Messrs Hathaway and Thomson (of the Stratford County Council), Mr W. C. Malone, and numerous other representative people. Apologies for absence were read from Messrs E. Jackson (president of the Stratford A. and P. Association), A. Meredith (chairman of the Whangamomona County Council). J. If. Pickards (president of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce), W. A. Hewitt (lion, secretary of the same body), and Messrs Okoy, \\ ilkinson and Pearce. M.P.’s.

Parliament. ♦ After the toast of the King had been honored, Mr McCutehan proponed “The Parliament of New Zealand.” He said that at the elections men were put up because they were acceptable to one or the other political party, though at the same time they might not bo acceptable to the majority of their constituents. That should not-be so. Great questions should be decided by members without reference to the political party they belonged to. The bulk of the feeling of rancour was not, ho was convinced, on the part of the majority of the people, but on the part of the Parliamentary representatives. All big questions should bo dealt with in a spirit of candour, and then' was nothing so successful as candour in settling important questions. Mr Homes, in reply, said he quite agreed that New Zealand would benefit greatly from a diminution of party rancour. So far as the present Government were concerned, there wore two questions, licensing and Bible-in-schools, which were being kept out of the region of party politics. From what he had seen of it lie had to congratulate- the people of Whangamomona on their district. As tin old farmer he could voice the opinion that the district was one well worth opening up. The Government he represented was bent on opening up the country with roads and railways, and their policy was to put a railway wherever there was anything to be carried. Some people said the Government was against borrowing, but if it wa s necessary to borrow to open up the country they would not hesitate to borrow. All they wished to see was that the money was pronerly spent. Whether or not, as Mr McCutehan had suggested, the length of a Parliament should be increased, lie was not prepared to say offhand, though he thought good would result if the life of each Parliament was extended for a year, hi conclusion, he expressed his thanks for the kind welcome extended to him. Mr J. 15. H [nc, M.P.. said that no matter to what party a politician belonged bis first duty was to the country and bis next duty to h?s constituents. He desired to pay a tribute to past Ministers for their consideration for men on the opposite side of the House. The Whango.momona district had been noil looked after both, by the past Ministries and the present Ministry. He hoped they would see Mr Henries again soon, to open the next section. Mr McCutehan : Within six months. Mr Mine: Say next January.

Public Works Department. Mr Bradley proposed “The Public-. Works Department.” Mr Kellehef, engineer in charge of construction work, apologised i'or the absence of Mr Murray, District engineer, who much regretted nis rnability to be present. He said they were celebrating a triumph in opening the line to Whangamomona, and though the Railway Department took charge that day it should not ho forgotten that the Public Works -Department had clone the work. Credit should be given to the men who had faced the climate and d.<«u» the narcl slogging work. Mr Hill, foreman in charge of the construction work, said that in los opinion the Public Works Departlinept was one of the greatest concerns in the country, and was responsible for the spending and carnjinjr of large sums of money. The work cm the section had boon very hoavv, and the work done by the men had been of a strenuous nature. He had been connected with the Be-

part men t for a number of years and had always found that the farmers appreciated the Department, being willing to help in any direction. Lccai asdics. Mr tV. G. Malone proposed “Local Bodies,” paying a tribute to members of local bodies who stood between the ratepayers and the Parliamentary representative. They got more kicks than ha’pence, but they did their work industriously and, what was more, honestly.

In reply, Mr V/. P. Kirkwood said Borough Councils did not usually have the strenuous linancial worries of County Councils, and he had great sympathy, for County Council members, who had a great deal of country to cover. The local bodies of the province were glad to see the line opened to Whangamornona, and no doubt the people of Whangamomona were anxious to see the line carried expeditiously towards Okahnkura. They did not want to see the line stand still, and as it progressed it would mean more trade for Whaugamomona. At Eltham, Mr Wilkinson, M 15.,l 5 ., had spoken of an ElthamToko line being built in the future, hut ho (the speaker) thought he would he removed from this life before that came to. pass. Mr Hathaway said he had boon in Whangamornona eighteen years ago, and he then formed the opinion that it was a criminal policy to put settlors on fifty or a hundred acres of the land eastward of Whangamomona. At that time the road could hardly he called a road at all. He was sorry to see that some of the earlier settlers had left theirs holdings, hut he understood that in many cases two holdings had had to ho taken by one man in order to enable a living to ho made. Local bodies had an uphill fight to fight. Between New Plymouth and Wellington there was no piece of country the settlers of which had done so much for themselves as the stretch from Lepperton to iSormauby. Of late years the cost of roads had gone up in the Stratford County. At ...one time it used to cost £SO per mile for the upkeep of roads, but the cost now was £l2O. Tliis extra cost was not caused by milk carts, hut by foreign traffic. The Government subsidy to local bodies should be increased. If the Stratford County had received ~y. in the pound they would get £2750 per year, while at present their subsidy amounted to only £1520. If in the past the subsidy had been at the rate of 5s in the pound the Stratford and other counties would not ho in the had financial position they now were. In a' good many cases the valuations of land were extreme. The Government of the day was strong, and lie thought that after next election they would be stilt stronger. That day he had almost converted Mr McCutchau. (Laughter.) Mr McCutchau, in the course oi his reply, stated that before Mr Malone became an eminent lawyer and an eminent soldier, he had been a>. eminent farmer. Local bodies should not look back, but should look forward remedying, in the light of past experience, their shortcomings as they proceeded.. They had been promised reform of the local government law but it had come piecemeal though the present Government had not yet had an opportunity of bringing down an amending Act.

The Chairman.

The Hon. Mr Herries proposed the health of the, chairman. They were really old friends.. Previous to that day lie had not mot Mr McCutehan, hut his people lived in that paradise of New Zealand, the Bay of Plenty. Mr McCutehan, in response, said the Minister’s speech had impressed, him as. being a compliment to the settlors of the district through him ('the speaker). “OPENING” THE POST OFFICE. A BELATED CEREMONY. About half-past three a crowd gath. cred at the Post Office, which the Minister formally declared open, the operation not having been carried out previously. The Minister said that, looking at the date on the building (1911) ami remembering that the present year was 191-1 suggested the policy with which, a s Native' Minister, he was blamed—the “tailioa policy.” (Laughter.) He had greatly enjoyed his visit to the town. “He wished them such a prosperous time that in two years or so they would want a new post office or at least additions. In fact, ho was sure that on Ins next visit he would be told that the post office needed-enlarging. He was so greatly impressed with the country that ha expected soon to hear that not only the post office but the railway yard also needed enlarging. Mr McCutehan also addressed the gathering. He said it was a great day for all of them. It was just twenty-five years ago since'the first wave of settlement came over the Whangamomona hills. Ho desired especially to'speak of the pioneer and the primary producer, for the mar. who worked and primary products were- the most important things in the world. About a hundred yearago Bonaparte, lighting against England, bad referred to' the English as a nation of shopkeepers. Now Prance was an ally of Britain and had seen the nation of shopkeepers penetrate to the ends of the earth. They had improved natural harbors everywhere, and had erected artificial ones, and in Now Zealand they had the example of the Motnroa harbor. where an ocean liner had recently beou berthed. Tha German people were sometimes represented as enemies of Bri-

tain, but the two peoples were really kin, and a new German shipping combine had included A’ew Zealand ports in the run of their steamers. In their jubilation that day they should remember those who had done the nard work of pioneering and had since passed away. It was a source of congratulation to the people of the district that they were out of their trouble through the railway being opened. There was also cause lor congratulation in the state of the world’s markets. Previously the supply exceeded the demand, hut now the demand exceeded the supply in the world's markets. When the train whistled on its way into the town that morning it indicated that the district was in direct communication with the outside world, but though some of their troubles had been overcome there must be no relaxation of their efforts. He concluded by congratulating Stratford on the big contingent of visitors it had sent out.

RETURN TO TOWN.

The ceremony at the Post Office concluded Mr Berries’ part in the celebrations, and ho and his party left by train at -1.15 p.m. for Stratford. Mr Homes proceeded on to Wellington by this morning’s mail train.

UN CHARGE OF AFFAIRS.

The residents of the township did not have very long notice of the proposed function, hut they managed to arrange everything wonderfully well. Tfc was found impossible to use the Hall for the luncheon which had to he held at the Hotel, the result being that space wa s rather limited. Host Rothery provided an excellent luncheon, and Mr Berrios remarked that if Whangamornona' people in future should say they were in the hackhlocks he would he disinclined to believe it, as the entertainment provided for him was aa good as he had seen in much bigger centres. Evei - thing went off smoothly and it is safe t say that all enjoyed themselves to the full. The following committee had charge of the arrangements :-—T. Bradley, L. T. Aylward, J. Garhck. S, Mills. 1). Wiklormoth, A. White, H. Hill. L. Bacon, Dr. Hitchcock, W. A. McCutchau, Ik. G. Fawknor and A. McMeekau (secretary).

progress of the line. The following data regarding the railway will he of interest at the pie sp">t juncture;—First sod turned hy the Hon. W. Hall-doncs, March 28th, 100] ; Toko section opened. 6 miles 26 chains, August 9th; 1902; Douglas, 4 miles 72 chains, March Ist, 1905 ; Huiroa, 4 miles 50 chains, April Ist, 1908; Te Worn, 0 miles 77 chains, line 9 0th 1910; Pohokura, 8 miles 55 chains, August Ist. 1912; Whangamomona, 6 miles 13 chains, duly lßt , 191! ; Tahora, 9 miles 07 chains, in hand : chainago at Whangampmona, 37 miles 53 chains, Tahora section 9 miles 67 chains; distance Stratford to Okahukura, 97i miles; total cost to March 31st, 1914, £578,841. Whancramomona section; .Cost, £132,500; Tahora section, £120,200; Whangam muon a tunnel, £31.464; station buildings, £4363; aggregate water drives, 1414 feet; bridges, 999 feet; tunnel, 30.62 chains; grade maximum, 1 in 45.83. Elevations above sea level: Pohokura 741 feet, tunnel 786 feet, Whangamomona 605 feet.

progress of the province. The Hue lias had a good deal to do with the progress of settlement in the province, and no doubt as it advances settlement will increase still further. The following figures indicate the progress of the province during recent years : 1900. 1911 - Population ... 38,000 51,569 Valuation land £7,000,000 17,159,439 Total land in cultivation lac.) 736,000 1,358,271 Horses211,000 298,160 Dairy cows 83,000 134,241 tjjjoep ... 509,000 824,248 Total imports £83.000 174,704 1900 1909 £ £ Total exports ... 512,000 1,549,000 Butter 345,000 581,000 Cheese ... 55,000 523,000 ,Frozen meats ... 70.500 212,000 Wool - 45.700 109.000