The Opening.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1913, 9 October 1884, Page 2

The Opening.

Another of the principal public works of the district has boon disposed of— the Cambridge branch railway has been completed and is now open for traffic. Yesteiday morning the train commenced running according to the advertised time-table, and tho line was duly dedicated ti» the interests of the district through which it passes and in which it terminates. It is usual on occasions of this nature to state that the district which is being brought within railway communication is about to enter upon an era of prosperity hitherto unknown ; but if the influence of the Cambridge railway merely sustains the prosperity which the district lias hitherto experienced there will be no cause for disappointment. The carrying out of this work affords a fair example of how long public works of the tiist impoitance may be in serious contemplation before they are finally given effect to. No matter how urgent a work may seem, the inevitable vicissitudes of Government administration must be experienced as something indispensable to the execution of the project. In this respect the Cambridge line has been no exception, save that the experience referred to lias been more maiked in this case than in any other which has come under our notice. Though the pi oject of a railway to Cambridge was conceived many years back, it cannot be said to have taken what may be termed a practical form until the year 1879, when the growing importance of the district, its speedy settlement, and the marked development of its resources made the .settlers alive to their requirements. An active and influential combination was therefoic called into existence to promote the claims of tho district to railway communication, the project soon took a definite form, and up to thp present has never once been lost sight of. In January W9 during tho visit of Mr Sheehan, the then Native Minister to Waikato that gentlemen was waited upon by a deputation, who, in addition to other matters, bi ought under his notice the need of the continuation of the railway to Cambridge. The usual Ministerial promise " that the matter would be bi ought before the Government at an early date" &c, was given but beyond thp temporary encouragement which it afforded, the piomise was altogether barren. In Maich the «,mie year the Hon. F. Whitaker, while before bi* constituents at Combridge, was questioned on the matter. The Government, he said, had realised the impoitance of the woik, a flying survey would bo made as soon a* possible, and an estimate made of the piobable cost. He uiged tl.e .settles to continued action, piomising the nutter lii-> earnest suppoit. His advice was acted upon, and repiesentation* weie immediately forwaided to Wellington by the County Council and other local bodies So detei mined were the settleis on immediate action that at a public meeting held at Cambridge, in November of the same year, a deputation was appointed to pioceed to Wellington, to bring the mattei more foicibly under the notice of the Go- \ eminent, whose sincerity was now beginning to be doubled. But perhaps the most impoi taut agency instituted foi the fuitherauce of the project was the Railway Committee. This committee was appointed in J.muaiy, 1880, and consisted of the principal settleis and piopeity holdeis in the district, and was of a \eiy lepresentati\e and influential clnuactei. They took in hand to " see the mattei thiough, ' and proceeded to deal with the question m a practical and business-like manner. Two linens weie proposed, one junctioning with the Waikato-Thames Kail way about three miles fioni Hamilton. This line was known as Breakell's line, and the committee instructed Mr Gwynneth, C.E., to suivey and report upon the probable cost of the alternative line, or that via. the Narrows. A considerable sum of money was subscribed towards the work of survey, and Mr Gwynneth went over the ground and leported on the route accordingly. He lepoited that the length of the Narrow*, line would be 13 r miles, and tliat it would cost to construct £18,(500, or, including rolling stock rails, &C. £28,(500. Indeed, so confident was he of the coirectness of his estimate that he offered to do the work, finding tho necessary appioved securities, for the sut* named. ' This report cost the committee £21>~). The Government had declaied in favour of this route, but subsequently declaied in favour of the altei native loute junctioning with the Waikato-Thames line. The settlers along this line offeied tha land for the railway to the Government for nothing. Subsequent reports confirmed the choice of the Government, and it was duly settled that this loute should bo adopted. In the Public Works Statement of 1881 the Hill Government announced that " giound would be biokeu on tho Cambridge line, 13 miles. Tho countiy is easy, and the line will be much below the average cost." In the Estimates bionght down a few days later it was stated that £45.000 was required for the line and land, £12,000 for expenses, 1881-1882, and £27") for engineer. It is needless to detail all the vicissitudes thiough which the proposal passed befoie the woik was finally enteied upon. During the visit of the Hon. John Hall to the district in the same year he was waited upon by a deputation at Tainaheio, who pointed out to him the advantages of the Nariows' loute, and endeavoured to induce the Government to alter its decision in respect of its choice. But the Public Works Department was immovable, and with erection of the the Waikato t.ulwav biidge the construction of the line to Cambridge may be said to have been enteied upon. We are all aware of the, delays and interruptions with which this lemaikable woik was surroundedj-.and the gloomy foieboding* of all who watered its election We all know how well it served the ends of the Government to stave off the commencement of the woik.s which depended on its completion. Within the past few months the patience of the settlers who had been looking forwdid to having the,ii harvest produce forwarded to Auckland by rail had become altogether exhausted, and their injured feeliii'/s had begun to find expression in strongly- worded iesolutioiiH and indignation meetings. The repeated disappointments to which they were subjected caused them consideiable los«, but now that the railway has come at last they have shown a readiness to forget the troubles and grievances of the past in the satisfaction and and rejoicings of the present. The Cambridge railway is now an accomplished fact, and we trust it may lealise all that has been expected of it. The Cambridge railway passes thiough one of the most foiwaid and piospeioussettlements in the North Island, Though the land in the immediate vicinity of tho line between the Hamilton and Fen Court Stations is not of that character which favourably impresses the visitor, all who are in any way conversant w ith the counti v on either side, with its unbiokeu line of prosperous farms will be easily convinced that the Cambridge i ail way will be of the most paying character. Junctioning with the Waikato-Thames railway at Kuakura, [ the line starts thiough some of the swamp I property of the Waikato Land Association. The Ruakura station is a veritable inland, for though the swamp is well drained on either side, it is approached by no road, and with the exception of the railway it has no weans of communication with the outside diwttiet, A pumping station is being erected here for the accommodation of both lines, The Mongonui [This is the spelling adopted by the railway authorities. It should be l"Mangaonua,"j station u in the cei^re df a arge pastoral distnct, and should contribute a fair quota to the traffic of the line. The Mongonui bridge is an immense, wooden structure spanning the entire gorge through which the creek runs, and is the only structure of ifcs kind on the line. The land between here and Tamahere is very swampy, but only to the extent of a few acres on either side. It was expected that Tamahere would be accommodated with good station buildings ; but the Public Works Department has evidently thought differently, and a station of the orthodox salt-box pattern has been provided. Good cattle yards have, however, been 'erecjbed for the convenience of the settlers, and'we thfnk ttyaj; before long the Department will find ipqepessary to appoint a stationmaster to loqk after flje accoinmodasion of £h.e l?"b.lic in this quarter. 3}ejbiyeen Tamahepß and Fen* Cou'rf >he }jne P'7-SSOS wpmn frnofter lqns stnp qf drajned siyqjnp wjtha very jj^hfc aprin^i'ng of bush fco the right ; but a few piiafns beyqnd tho land ifi of first-class quality, and almost every acre i> under cultivation. On reaching Fen Court (a mistake has evidently occurred here, as what is called Fen Court by the' railway authorities should be called Hautapu, and vice versa), attention ja won attracted to tir

homesteads, the well stocked and subdivided farms of a long settled district. Nearing Hautapu station the prospect becomes still more encouraging. The immense tract of improved land of the Auckland Agricultural Company io on the left, the well designed and pir.tureague homestead with its largo herds of pedigree stock being within view, On the right a series of valuable farms and small homesteads are passed. The site of the Cambridge Dairy Produce and Bacon Factory is here, on Mr Allvvill's property, to which a biding will be laid off at an early date. The line now enteia the Victoi ia-road and proceeds on a straight run thiough a flourishing of country to Cambridge. On an mil at Cambridge the visitor cannot fail to be impiessed with the rising impoitance and growing prosperity of this centre. Indication*, meet the eye on all sides of the pnterprise which, more particularly for the past few years, has characterised the community. S. Andrew's Church, with its lofty spire, and the Baatist Tabernacle at once attr.ict attention, and the donriin improvements .ue alieady beginning to afford an appearance. The ono great fault of the line is Ik 1 re strikingly apparent— it never should h.i\e been cairicd so far into the town. Tlie terminus station is a fust-class building, and affords every necessary <icconmiodati'>n for the public. The waiting-ioom accommodation for ladies ib (if a veiy supei.or character, and the comfort of the sex Ins certainly not been overlooked. Cambridge is the centie of a laige and flourishing agncultural distiict, the iew>uices of which .ire being gradually developed. The niiniensp tracts of improved land m the smiounding distiicts which are now held by v.uioiis companies will not be long befoio they .no the scenes of prospeious and populous settlements. The first train started from Cambridge festerday morning at !).30, anivmg in lamilton about 10. 10, About 100 of the Cambridge people took advantage of tin* opening trip, and paid a ■wsit to Hanult m, where a holiday was observed during fie | day. The excursion train, which li>tr Himtly at 12.15, arrived at Hamilton at 1.40, where it was joined by a large cm ad of Hamilton residents, bent on a hohd iy outing. The number of carnages was limited, and the accommodation did not therefoie come up to the requueinents of the occasion. The Traffic Manager, Mr Hudson, did the be->t with the plant at hU disposal, but we think »unv anangemiMit migtit have been made in the way of reducing the ordinary fares by making .single tickets available for tne leturn joiunov A number of the settlers joined the tram .>t the various stations along the lnn\ On the anival of the tiam at Cambridge, the e\cuisioiiists u >to gieeted with cheeis from a numbpi of people assembled at the e.ntiance to fie statiou-grouiifl. The local school clnldi"ii woie assembled on the platfoim in eh u ,'c of their teacheis and parents, and w -uj ticated to an excursion down the line as f it as Tam.ihpre, wheie tln>y weie libmallv legaler' with milk and Inuis by Mr Jas. Ku icnn.ui, letuining to town about "> o cloe'e The town w.i* gaily decoiatod with bunting. The most noticeable featuio of the dec» i tions was a tastefully-designed aicli .'it l!io lailvvay cro«.-,ing in Lake-stieot, beating t 'c uisciiption : "Success t't tho Cambud-fe Railway." Line-« of bunting extended acioss J)uke-stieet at tho Duko of Cambridge and tim Ciitcn'ou Hotels Tie National Hotel was becomingly decoiat"d witli bunting and Chinese lauteins, whicli, when illuminated m the evening, had a very pleusing efiect. Messis Lewis and Binipson» stoic was also set oft to advmti«, f e. Tho Hamilton o\cui->ionists li-ft Ccimbiidge on the return tiip at 7 o'clock, after spending a veiy enioyable day. During the afternoon a. laige numbci of people visited To Koutu Lake i esei \e, where a few young people of both sexes indulged in a little boating leci cation. -\ sciatch ciicket match was held in tlie Government paddock, which attracted not a few spectators. In the evening apyiotechnical display took place o]jposite the National Hotel, and was a decided success. A laige number pationised the ball given in tlie Public Hall, and dancing was kept up with spiiit until an eaily hour this morning.