Opening of Railway from Christchurch to Dunedin.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2984, 7 September 1878, Page 2

Opening of Railway from Christchurch to Dunedin.

The following is in continuation of the trip made yesterday on the above line by the Governor, Members of Parliament, and others:— TIMARU TO OAMAEU. We left Timaru amid loud cheers from the people who lined the station, and a salute from the Timaru Artillery. Oamaru was reached at 12.30, and here also great preparations had been made. ' The station yard was kept clear of all by a line of volunteers, and a dais had been erected, upon which the Mayor and Councillors were waiting to present, yet another address. This ceremony having been gone through, and his Excellency's reply made,; the Oamaru! folk being naturally anxious to show their breakwater to their Northern visitors, a. start-was made for it. His Excellency wmi ;met,>.on\ arrival by the Harbor Board, the, Chairman of which (Mr Sumpter)' read" one more address,—the formidable, rpl\ of which Captain LePatourelwas the 'custodian,— and his Excellency having replied* Mr Sumpter requested the Governor ttf perform the ceremony of christening the new wharf. .To, this he acceded, and haying broken a bottle of champagne, which was handed to him by a vpung lady, the Governor declared the njfte of the new wharf to be-Nornianb^rCjiich . was the'signal for immense cheeri'ig/ A move was then made to the Carriages, his Excellency and party and' the visitors generally having been invited by Mr Stewart, the genial Mayor of, Oanjtruvfo a luncheon. This was a capitaf spread, and-was laid out on the upper floor of a large, grain store. Fully 400 sat down, His Worship the Mayor, occupying the chair, with His Excellency ihe Governor, the.Hons. J.T. Fisher, and ,E.-.Stout, Captain Le Patourel, and Major' Lean on his nght : and left.. As time pressed, and Mr Cohyers was like Jhat, driver "of the stage coach spoken of by Brett Harte, -bound touget us through;in'time, the Mayor perforce commenced to -propose toasts before the guests had. hardly, commenced the luncheon. " The J Queen," "Prince of Wales and Royal 'Family," " His Excellency | the Governor,? and "His Excellency's Adviseri", followed each other in quick succession,' and then His Excellency gave ." Prosperity »to the Town and Trade of Oamaru," which was loudly, and a move, was, at pnee made—and here, as at Timarui we lost' some of the members of our party who laggedbehindpassirig through the. streets —or, rather, acrpis them —which were lined with'people: . - ,-j '; • ';cv"/ . ARRIVAL AT DUtfEDIN: v 5

Long befo:e we iun into th* station, we can see the coloured electric .lights and"illuminations with wtrch Dunedin is ablaze, anl on reaching the .station and remembering the undemonstrative man* ncr in which the' event' was 1 celebrated in Christchurch, w;e, begin, to think 'that the two cities 'have changed characteristics. Every nook and corner around the station is stacked with peoplo. As the electric lights .fall upon them \ve see a perfect forest of faces. The train rttns into the station, which inside is lined with Volunteers, the guns thunder out a salute, the vast crowd give cheer after cheer, and the marriage'of Mr Duaedin with.Miss Christchurch (as felicitously remarked by one of the speakers atthe-banquet in Christchurch) is an accomplished fact, v 1 Hia"Exoellencyis cordially > welcomed to, Dunedin by Mr B. H. Leary, his Worship the Mayor of Dunedin; add His Excellency briefly replies, expressive of the pleasure he feels fat being present on so auspicious an occasion, and being privileged;to,open a ,line which,,he ,feeli, will be of the greatest benefit not only to the two cities connected, but to the Colony at • large. His ''■ Excellency and party then drove off in a four horse drag to Fernhill Club." -; •

THE ILLUMINATIONS IN THB CITT. To-night Dunedin is brilliantly Hllimi•nated. There, are four, electric lights, viz., on''the Custom-house/ Watson's Hotel, and Gruthrie and Larnach's. The fire brigade w.ere stationed opposite the Times pffice, 7 with coloured lights. The various' shops' are brilliantly'illufaunated with Chinese lanterns and various devices. On, Sargood, Son,, and Ewen's was a pretty device 'in gas-jets, forming' the . words " Emulation. with Combination." On the Bank of New Zealand gas-jets . forming words." Christchurch and Ejanedia united." The Carghr monument 'was brilliantly' illuminated, and over the Prince of Wales Hotel was a transparency representing Sir, J. Vogel in a railway train. Over the Daily Times office' was " Chris tchurch-Dunedin, .welcome, tp.our Northern' visitors." The street! are thronged. "■ : ,*-,