THE NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY. TURNING THE FIRST SOD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1993, 16 April 1885, Page 2

THE NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY. TURNING THE FIRST SOD.

Tn« ceremony of turning the first sod of tho North Island Trunk Railway took plaoe yesterday afternoon on tho south bank of the Puniu river, at the spot whore tho lino is to cruHß the stream. That a largo amount of intercut was ovincod in the proceedings was evident by tho laige atten d ince, not only of tho resident 1 ! of the immediate locality, or even of tho Waikato distnet, but of the Province. Tho .special tram which left Auckland yesterday morning, in addition to bunging a laigu ninnbei of people for the Cam bridge i aces, conveyed many of the foremost citizens of the >.oi thorn inetiopohs to To Awamutu. These included Messis T. Thompson, h\ J. Moss, and Col. Fraser, M.H.K., the Mayor of Auckland (.Mr Waddell), and otheiK. At Huniilton a pietty laige contingent, including a number ot ladies, Mr J. B. Why to, M.H.K., the Mayor of Hamilton (Mi Giahain), Mr John Knox, Capt. Steele., and other*, got on boai d, and a st.ut was made from Krankton Junction at 11. -T» a.m., arriving at the destination at about half-past 12. Nuinuious coaches and buggie-, chartered by a liberal GovernniHut, weie in waiting at tho terminus, and into these the moht fortunate (because the most active) of the passengcts quickly got, and weie driven free of cliaige to the bank of the classic Puniu, some thiee miles away. The loute, however, lay through To Ah a mutu, and at the township a halt of Mime minutes took place to allow of the pio cession being formed in proper order. The To Awamutu cavalry turned out, foitv strong, under Major Jackson, Capt Kuthei fotd, and Lieutenants Bruce and Wilkinson, and made a very ethcient guird ot honoui. The Te Awamutu band, too, under tho able conduct of Mi Sibley, musteied strongly, and beguiled tho todium of the geneial public dining the intcival that elapsed botvvein the aui\al of the ttiiin and the dupattme of the j>ioces sion. The dust, meanwhile, was nitolei.ible, and as tho cavahy came down tho road at a mh ut pace, and diew up into lino opposite J)ev m's Hotel, nothing beyond tho distance of a foot or so could be seen, .so dense were the clouds of line earth that floated in the heavy atmospheie By-and-byethe lion, the Premier (who had ai lived the night befoie, and had occupied the morning at Alexandra) showed himself, and a geueial movement wa» made in the dnec tion of the Puniu. The order of the procession was as follows : -An advance guard of tho To Awamutu Cavalry, under Lieut. Wilkinson ; a buggy containing the hon. the Premioi, and Mr G. T. Wilkinson, Native Agent for the Waikato ; carriage contain mg Mr W. N. Blair, Assistant Engineer-i-n Col. Fr.wer, M.H.R. and nthoi-. ; carnage containing Messrs W. H. Hales, Distuct Engineer, D. M. Beere, Resident Engineer, and others ; the mam body of tho cavalry, with a banner ; a native cairying the Union Jack ; Cavalry band in a waggon ; coaches, buggies and hoisL-inen, and, lastly, tho lear guaid of tho cav.iliy, under the command of Lieut. Bruce. Tlie procession stai ted at about a qua i tot p ist one, and the river was i cached m a veij tilioib tune. Just at the junction of the pioperty of Mr S. Westney with that late m the occupation of MrParsons, atemporaiy, but very serviceable plank budge had boon erected, and over this the visitors ciowded to the scene of operations on the south bunk of the stream. A pathway had been cut up the steep bank, so that none experienced the slightest difficulty m making the ascent. On reaching the lev el land above, tho path led undei a small triumphal arch, on which was 111sciibedtho appropriate motto, "Toik.ia Maui, to rangnnarie " ("A day of Peace to New Zealand.') Further on a booth had been erected for the accommodation of tho Premier and party, and over the spot where the sod cutting wai to take place there was a lav ish display of bunting, in which the Union Jack played a conspicuous part. When the ceremony commenced there muut have been fully n thousand petsoiib present, a third of whom svoto natives, and one and all manifested the keenest mteie.st in the pioceedings. The cavahy dismounted and formed a coidon lound tho space set apart for tho coieniony, by which means thoso piesent vveto enabled to obtain a full view of all that took placo. Tavvhiao w,h not pi e-ient, having gono to the Waikato Heidi, but liovvi, Wahanui, Taonui, Hopa and many otiioi chiefs of note weie on the ground. For Koine tune past Mi Hote Thompson, son of th<" gieat King Maker, has been 4naking a fus» about tho affair, bieathmg tin eatemngs and slaughter against all and sundry who should take pait iv the proceeding-'. Hote opened the ball yesteiday by ciying out, in a protty loud tone, to Hew land Walianui, "What do you think of \om child (Tawhian) now?" Ivinvi ltiphud to tho effect that they thought nothing of their child. Hote said he objectod to anything being done without his knowledge and consent; but after a few words from Kevvi the mattei was allovved to drop. The Piomier and paity then appioaehed, and Mi W. H. Hales, stepping foiwaid, said: — Wiihanni, as the Engineer having local charge of public works, I am deputed to ask you on behalf of the native people to turn the first sod of the railway. Wahanui, then amidst applause, took off his coat, and in the most woikmanlike manner dug out three or four sods and deposited them in a very ornamental barrow, varnished and emblazoned with portraits of ftoith American Indians, in default of Maoris, with whose apj>earanoe the artist seemed to have but the slenderest acquaintance. Kevvi then said ; — I now call upon the hon. Mi Stout to wheel the sods away. (Applause.) The Premier, following the example of Wahauui, divested himself of his coat, and in the most approved style, wheeled the barrow a few yaids away, and dexterously turned the eaith out on to tho ground, amidst the vociferous cheers of those assembled, the band playing "God Save the • Jueon." At the mv itation of the Mayor of Auckland, tlucc cheer* woro thon given for Her Majesty, Mr Stout, addressing the •assemblage, said :— Ladies and Rentlemon,-- -I can assmo you that I foci I occupy an honourable position in that I have boen deputed to take part m one of the greatest works that this colony am undertake. I need not explain to the Europeans tho good that will accrue to the country from the lailwayt-, but this ' railvvay which wo are met to initiate to-day is peculiar in many lespects. It will unite together two parts of this colony which have been long separated, and I hope that by it we shall further that time when we shall become indeed a nation of Now ZeaUnders ; and while wo as colonists will always think of our homo*, wo shall also think of the colony as our nation, and look forward to tho development of our national lifo. Wo are standing now on ground which a few years ago was not dcomed to be open to iCmopeans, and we aro almost hi view of the most classic snot in the Maori country, the Maori Thormopylu- which futuio historians shall descrilto ax a battle between two races in which tho biavery was not all on one side. In this month, some twenty one years ago, a battle which is called Orakau was fought, and when we think of the brave words uttered from tho Mumi pah on that occasion,, and when v>o think what we have accomplished since, and that now tho bravo warrior who defended the pah on thatoccanion, hnsaaked theieinoscntativesof the Government to take part in the work wo aio engaged in to-day, we can say that an advance lias been mndo in our history. Men thought in tho old days that this colony was to be conquered by war, but vve know that peaco has her victories greater than war. By works of this nature the progross of the country is seemed, und while vve ought novor to be foigt'tful of tho bravo decdw of tho past, let this day bo kopt in remembrance as a gieat day for this part of tho colony ; for hero, I hope, is given us ft pledge of peaceful relations between the Europeans and Maoris ; for tho hitter will «oo how iinjMjrtftjit milvvays are in the march of civilisation. I cannot o\ press how deeply sensible I am of Kewi's presence here to-day. I may tell you that when I was appointed Premier, the first congratulatory telegram I received was fiom him, oven boforo 1 rocoived any communication from my constituent* and friends. I did not know him, I had never hoou him, but something I had done or stud in 1878 had won his approval, and ) c took this means of showing his gratitude. I relate this inoidont beoaiise ii ha* been argued that tho Maons have no neimo of gratitude. (Applause). If wo had in tho

past beon moil' philo M ion tin n we « cm, wo might never h ivo been obliged to li.lv a* recourse to vvai. (Applause.) In the future let ih think <>f the Maoiis at brethren, .md when tliev do \\mng let us. tieat tlit-ni as wo would treat our »wn chilihen. If wo mvut chasten thorn, let us do it in » loving spirit. (Applause). To d.iy we have tiken part in a great vvoik, gie.it not only in respect of one s. ction of the colony, or of ono district, 01 of one race ; but .i work which will benefit all, and I hope that all will so act, th:»t in the futmc they may be able to look back to this day as one great in the annals of the colony, and th it they will have no c vise to blush for their present actions. History in made up of tho Hocial life of the people. The people m thcne districts h.ivo a heavy responsibility upon them, m ismuch as it their duty in some measure to educato the Al.ions, and to tr.iin them in tho riprbt \va\. We have, already done .something th it %vill remain in the remembrance of the M.ioii people ; we arp standing on ground where the mile of liquor is prohibited, (applause) and we ,vre going to ask you presently to partake of refreshments in which alcohol forms no part (hear hear), and I would ask even those who do not agree with me in my temperance policy whether this prohibition is not just and right in view of the fact that alcohol is inimical to the existence of tho Maon people? I say the M.ioii race ought to bo preserved (applause) ; and we shall incur the detestation of the civilised woild if it can be said of uh in the future that we have done nothing to preserve tho race. It is the duty of out-.settlers to endeavonr lo preserve the Maori race. 1 trust it will be s.ud of us that we did all wo could to raise the race, to improve them, and to poipetuate them. (Apulau.se). Tinning to the natives, Mr Stout spoke as follows :— Chiefs and men of the Maori i ace. I want to hay a few words as to the benefit that tho railway will be to you. I do not need to address tho Europeans about tho good that thr railway dons. They know that. But a lailway is a new thing to tho Maoris. They know more about a canoe. A railway is to a European what a canoe is to a Maori. He Hies it for travelling about in; but the difference between tho two is that tho railway can go a great a deal faster than the canoe. On this section we intend t<< a-»k the Maoris to make it, and they vv ill Kct tho name money as Europeans. We don't want to make any extinction between them. Mr Richardson, the Minister for Public Woik», has told me about the way ill which the Maoris work. In loVWhe I) id 10 Maoris working for him in Victon.i They did their work well, and got wa^o-. e<(ii.il to European*, and I have no doubt tho M.ioiis will havo pride enough to see that the Europeans do not beat them here. This auction will be known as "tho Maori section," and I hope it will be better than all the Kuropeans 1 woik. Hut the railway will do more than that. It will make your lmids more valuable, and the land that you don't need you will get more money for when you lease it. As you get learned in farming, you will raise root-, gi.un and cattle, and you will get more money for theso things if you havo a railway. The Maoris can't get on without money any more than Europeans. I h*pe they will spend the money in making themselves more comfortable. If they take caio of their money and their health the land will not be a cuisc to them. Let me especially thank them for coming hore today The thanks of the Government are due to the chiefs who so loyally supported them. I don't like to mention names in cue theie should bo jealousy. Let me tell them this : They should not be joalous of tins snd tin ning, because it does not affect their titles. There was home diffeience of opinion as to who should do it, but things like^this do make a chief or a landlnid They .should think of a story that is told of my part of tho count! y. Theie was a gieat chief there, the head of many people, and one day when he sat at the foot of the table, someone said, "Come to the lie id of the tabl'* ; you are a gre.U chief,' 1 and he haid, " Wherever McNab sits, that is the head of tho table.' 1 (Laughter. ) So you will remember that if you are gieat chiefs, and havo not taken pait in the ceremony, it will not hint you. Now a few words to all. I have to thank the ladies and gentlemen for their presence hem to-day. We have had a good omen. The day is Iwautiful. and eveiy tiling is lovely; but all these things aie not lovely unless they aro giaced by the ladies, the Europeans and the natives. What, inakos sconeiy lovely, is to see the people enjoying themselves, as I hope you will do to-day. Tho Premier retired amidst loud applause, the band playing "For he's a jolly good fellow." Wahanui said : I shall not make a \ cry long speech. Tho part in Mr Stout* speech that I wish to make refeie.uce to is that which refers to tho prohibition. The Government marked out thodi-tnct, but I objected. I said there can be no better boundary than tho stream of fresh water which flows below us. (Applause). I consider a river the best boundaiy for such a district. One other suggestion I would make, anrl that is wo should give this railway a name, and the name is "Turantro load." There wad an ancestor whose name was Turango, and 1 wi.sh that name given to tho lino. I wish the name to be given only to the chain wide, a» the people on each side have their own names fur their lands. Hopa To Rangianini : All that you are to take is tho line for the railway from one end to the othor. You must not by-and-bye branch off in the diiectiou of Taupo, oi eKowlii'ie, or I shall cau.so you trouble. All the affection the Maoris show is in connec turn with this lino of railway. After we got on, .Did see how things go, I may, howevei, change my mind (laughter and applause). Taonui : I wish to Hay a woid or two about the management of this railway, but I v> ill defer it until Mr Hallanco arrives. Mr Stout : That, Indies and gentlemen ends the ceremony. I may say in answer to Wahanui, that this section shall be called by the name ho has suggested. Some jif tho \ isitors subsequently partook of light refreshments on the ground, but tho large majoiity returned forthwith to To Awamutu, and tjicnco drifted homewards insertions, the Hamilton and I Auckland visitors leaving by special train at (i.30 o'clock. Tho weather during tho whole day was beautiful, and looked upon Mtnply as an outing, and without tegard to its impoitant aspect, tho visit to the Pnniu yesterday, was delightful in the extreme. A ball at Kihikihi wound up the day's enjoyment. The Hon, the I'lenuer pioceeded to Kihikihi lnst night, and to day ho will drive to Cambridge, meeting seveial deputations en route, antl at the l.ittei place.