The Waikato Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 14 1877. OPENING OF THE RAILWAY.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 805, 14 August 1877, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 14 1877. OPENING OF THE RAILWAY.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuasion, religious o political • # # • #

Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain

Yesterday was a red letter day in the annals of Newcastle, in particular, and of the 'Waikato generally. It witnessed the arrival of the first passenger railway train to the upper portion of jthe Waikato district. Nothing can T be more suggestive of the inflexible and rapid advance of the civilization of the pakeha than the advent of the Iron King at the very tomb ot the late King of the Maori race. Nothing more, certainly, proclaims the universal law, that where the white man puts his foot the black or the red man must give way. A wholesome lesson may be gathered by our Maori friends from this event. It is this, that resistance, active or passive to the progress of civilization is hopeless, and can only end in absolute extinction, and that their wisest, most prudent course is to amalgamate with, and if possible to rival and outdo their pakeha compatriots in the race of progress. We have been, and are an earnest friend of the Maoris. They are possessed individually of every quality which tends to ensure success, advancement, and prosperity, and it is our earnest desire to foster those qualities and promote that cordial spirit of CD-operation between the races which must be so conducive to the welfare of both. We cannot, therefore, let this opportunity slip without strongly commending to their attention this last example of the unerring certainty with which civilization progresses. Let them reflect that it is barely fourteen years since Potatou reigned at Ngaruawahia,' and the ground over Which the ' iron horse now rushes was theirs and the inheritance of their children. Let them reflect upon the result of a conflict, which might have been avoided by even a slight show of desire ontheii' part to act in unison with the pakeha. Let them consider that fourteen years has sufficed to thickly people the whole district or Waikato, to cover it with flocks and herds, to build townships, to form roads, to construct railways, which would enable as, in one tenth of the time formerly required, to throw masses of men over their frontier. Let them ponder on all this, and say whether it is not the wiser and the safer course to drop the attitude of sullen hostility which they have hitherto disj. layed, and by cordially uniting with the white man) to secure to themselves and their posterity some portion of the benefits that will accrue from an increasing civilization and an assured peaceful prosperity. But we have done homilising, and must return to our history. Sunday, the 12th, gave very little promise of fino weather for the morrow. Towards the evening heavy clouds gathered to the northwest, and a soaking rain soon commenced to fall. By the morning, however, matters had mended, and although ac different points along the line there was a heavy f >g, yet towards ten o'clock the sun' was shining brightly and the weather everything that could be wished. On arriving at the Auckland station we found that ample preparation had been made for the accommodation of intending excursionists. It had been arranged that, from Mercer to Newcastle, the Hue should be free, but the usual fare was charged to Mercer. Three locomotives were attached to thirteen cars, and these were taken possession of by about 250 people. The foremost engine was decorated with two Union Jacks. At all the stations along the line, the number or

passengers was added to, until* on the arrival of the train at its destination, there could not have *beeri fewer than. 500 people on 'bo^rd. ,T|ie. journey up was enlivened by the strains of bagpipes, played by a well-known Highland piper, Simon Eraser. A. triumphal arch had been erected?at the Mangavvaia bridge, near Taupiri,, which did credit to the tast^/ of the. inhabitants of that rising township. The greatest admiration and astonshment was excited at the curve between Tuakau and Pokono, those in the carriages behind waving to their companions in front, who seemed to be executing a countermarch upon the rear. Only one .slight accident occurred. One of the breaks gave way, from what cause was not. at the time, ascertained, arid the, train had to v be stopped, in older to remove the broken gear. On arrival at Newcastle, the passengers were considerably astonished to see themselves borne through the township in the direction of Hamilton, and still more astonished to. find that it was not due to greasy rails or defective breaks, but to the fact that the " station " was half-a-mile nearer Hamilton than it should be. Seriously speaking, the present arrangement is most inconvenient to passengers to Newcastle. - They are carried right past the place where their business lies, and then have to cany luggage, etc., back over a distance of nearly forty chains. We cannot help thinking that a landing platform in the immediate vicinity of the township is a boon which the inhabitants have every right to require at the hands of the authorities. Soon aiter arrival in the township, it became evident that the event was.to be commemorated after the manner of Englishmen, and there was a general resort to the Delta Hotel.