TURNING THE FIRST SOD.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1068, 29 April 1879, Page 2

TURNING THE FIRST SOD.

Some two months ago, for want, we suppose, of other excitement, some persons m Hamilton got up a scare that underhand influence was at work to cause the junction of the Thames-Waikato Railway with the main line to be made at some place nearer Auckland than Hamilton. Even the Borongh Council became embued with the idea, and one worthy Councillpr, at a meeting of the Borough Council, went so far as to insinuate that this journal was stopping short of its duty m not falling tooth and nail on everybody whom an unreasoning terror assigned as the abettors of this anti-Hamilton' movement. "It was the duty of a local journal,? said our civic friend, " to look after the interests of the district which it represented," a truism which we heartily endorse. So far vre go unhesitatingly with him, but it does not follow that the " man m the street" is to dictate how or when or m what manner a local journal shall fulfill that duty. It must be left to the judgment of those who direct newspaper literature when to fight and how to fight, and when to use a wise discretion m maintaining silence. That there was no need that Don Quixote like we should charge the Windmills which a few amongst us imagined to be giants, hrn teen since ackaQW'

lodged, and tho originators ot the afor.esaid scare have wisely refrained from raisin;* it again. The Gazette of the 17th instant, received by Saturday's post, will, we hope, satisfactorily lay this Taupiri ghost, and put it beyond the possibility ©f re-appearing. That Gazette contains a proclamation by tho Governor defining the middle line of portions of the railway from Waikato to the Thames, including the branch line into Hamilton, which is really a portion of the Waikato-Thames line. The portions gazetted are the two extreme ends ot t c line : At this end, from lot 1, Te Rapa (Jolly's), to within fifty-five chains of the Waikato Swamp Company's land, and at the Grahamstown end from the goods wharf to the south, bank of the Kaueranga River. The lino is thus set forth m the schedule as regards the Waikato end —

Commencing at a point m Lot 1, parish of Te Rapa, Hamilton, Highway District, the said point being within the limits of deviation of a portion of the railway from Newcastle southwards, as described ih the Proclamation dated the 26th January; 1875, and published m the New Zealand Gazette No. 6, of- 28th January, 1875; and proceeding thence m a generally north-easterly direction for a distance of five (5) miles or thereabouts, passing m, into, or through, or over the foUowing lands, &c: Hamilton Highway District.. Parish of Te Rapa, Lot 1 ; Hamilton West Highway District or Borough of Hamilton, Township of Hamilton west, Lots 106, 107, 108, 109, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47 ; Waikato River ; Kirikiriroa, Highway District, Parish of Iftrikiriroa, Lpts2l9, 211, 223, 223a, 304, 240, 239, 238, 241, 242, and 302, and terminating at a peint fifty-five (55) chains cr thereabouts distant from the seuth-western bnundary line ef the Waikato Swamp Company's land ; including aU adjoining' and interventing places, Crown lands, lands, roads, reserves, streams, rivers, and wateacourses ; aU within the Provincial District of Auckland Colony of New Zealand ; ih the manner delineated on the map and plan marked PW.D. 6221, signed by the Honorable James Temple Fisher, Minister acting for the Minister for Public Works, deposited m the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Auckland, m the Provincial District of Auckland, Colony of New Zealand; the total length being five (5) miles, or thereabonts.-

If this be not enough, then we have the fact also that the Premier will visit Hamilton ;on Thursday for the express purpose of performing the. ceremony of tusning the first sod at this end of the line. Tnis will be done m a paddock on Mr Claude's farm, on the East side of the River.. At a meeting of the Reception Committee held ye.terday an address for pre. sentation to Sir. George Grey on this occasion was drawn up, and a full programme arranged, which includes either a luncheon at the Commercial Hotel, at half past one o,ciock, from which, those assembled will adjourn to the ground where tbe ceremony and speeches take p)ac6. Tho acting Mayor has called upon the people oi Hamilton and the district; to make Thursday a public holliday.