THE FIRST IRON RAILWAY IN SOUTHLAND.

West Coast Times, Issue 332, 16 October 1866, Page 6

THE FIRST IRON RAILWAY IN SOUTHLAND.

/ The following account of an Official Inspection trip of the Bluff and luvercargill •Railway, is condensed from a report in the " Southland Times " :— It has been a subject of considerable interest, indulged in freely by. all classes, ' viz :— the opening of the Bluff and Inver•cargill railway. The most opposite opinions have prevailed with regard to the^ feasibility of opening the line, and many were- not wanting to express grave doubts that, some imaginary obstacle— some im- y pediment that no one was acquainted with, but all feared I—would1 — would prevent, at the last moment, the much desired rajlway communicatioii with the most important seaport town of th£-Province. • At one time it was thought that there was some hitch with the contractors, and public indignation meetings were held to learn the why aud the wherefore ; on another occasiou, it was whispered that some fresh claim of Messrs Dalgety, Rattray, and Co., had sprung into existence, which damped the ardor "of the ..sanguine, and that time also dissipated ; agafn, it was confidently asserted by tbe " man-in thestreef' gentry, that tbe next sou-west <• buster" would effectually clear away tb.e embankment, and then adieu to the glory of Southland, and the BlufF Railway in _ particular. But at last these dismal forebodings were dispelled, and the welcome tidings were imparted that arrangements had so far progressed with Messrs ltattray and Co. as to "permit of the carriages and rolling stock being removed from the Bluff (where they have remained nearly two years exposed to all weathers) to Invercargill. Accordingly, it was intimated by the Railway Engineer, Mr Paterson, to the N Government,- that everything was in readiness to run a train to the Bluff, with a view of inspecting the line ; and his Honor the Superintendent, the Executive, a few of the officials, together with about twenty ladies, aud gentlemen, proceeded to the Railway Station, where au engine and carriage were in attendance to perform the first trip on riv iron railway in, Southland.