RAILWAY EXTENSION AND FUTURE EVENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 463, 4 July 1902, Page 4

RAILWAY EXTENSION AND FUTURE EVENTS.

(To the Editor of the Tunis ) Sir, —With your kind permission I would crave a smuil space in the columns of your paper on above extensions, etc. The shore people have got their railway opened up at Ormond, and we oflcr them our hearty congratulations on the success of opening day, also to those who so beautifully decorated the town. "By jove it does them credit.” The Hon. Carroll also informs them that they will soon have the lino extended to the Karaka. Cheer up, boys, we will soon have .a country ride by rail to the Mutu. But, ht Editor, we are not going to he beaten like that. Our Admiral informs tiie squadron that he is going to have a submarine railway in an easterly direction , under and across the Turanganui, the first section nKf.,,l .Km f.-ot, Innir. mere or jess, foi a

about 100 feet long, mere or less, 101 a start, “ by-the-bye ” I beiieve it almost connects with the Gisborne 0 mond hue near the Wuikanae. W c arc- to push ahead with it so as it will he r.a y foi opening with great celebrations on the anniversary of the opening of the chore line, June 20th, 1900. We therefore extend a most hearty invitation io all the pcopio of Poverty Bay, and we hope they will accc'pt it. The who.e of the Turanganui navy squadron will bo there fur the occasion witli a full complement ot otliecrs and men, Admiral included, as follows : [Several names arc here given i ; other officers and men too numerous to mention heie. The Admital informs us that we are going to have a little trolley running on those, rails, worked by a stationary engine, fixed at upper end of liue, the engine to bo manipulated by an operator, who will bp able to regulate the speed so that it will

not go a yard, or an inch, out of its course. " Wonderful mechanism ! ” For opening day we are going to decorate the littlo trolley with a good cotton canvass awning lined with Japanese silk, etc., supported on brass stanchions, and any amount of new bunting,—must beat the town fo ks also eight or nine spring revolving seats, two of special and elaborate construction, made by Whinray and Co.; these two will be placed in front part of little trolley, the remainder fixed on back portion, Now, Mr Editor, please allow your imagination to travel a little faster. The anniversary is at hand, the line is ready for opening.

the squadron drawn up in lino ready fur saluting, the day lias arrived with a most beautiful morning, immense crowds on every available eminence, Hide Band on on Mt. Kaiti, City Band at Port Rotunda all anxiously waiting for high water, when the ceremony of opening the lino is supposed to take place, the Harbor Board by right of office has the iivst drive on the little trolley. Tou will understand that the Admiral, Engineer-in-Chief, also Commander, under the Turanganui navy squadron rules, or laws, hold a dual office, viz.,- Chairman, Engineer, and Harbor Master, respectively as Ilarbor Board officials. The Harbor Master, under instructions from Engineer, has to proceed

to end of breakwater, taking that costly 7 compass with him so as to enable him to take the sun, work out the latitude and longitude of each roller that enters the Bay, and make an entry in the logbook to that effect. He has also to telephone to the engineer and company if any roller is likely to come inside the harbor while they are exploring. Everything, so far, is working smoothly and satisfactorily*. The “ Operator ” H in attendance, assisted by “ Bluejacket ” for this special occasion only. The ordinary members of the Harbor Board take their soats —back seats, of course. The band strikes up, “ See the Conquering Tlero Comes,” while tbo Chairman, with chronometer in hand, en-

gineer, with that powerful sextant, occupy those specially designed seats in front (you must pleaso remember this a submarine line), and the Board is going to combine business w-ith pleasure, with the sextant they are going to take tho hearings of all tho tides, pinnacle and other vocks, also all the silt banks, and record all the same on tho chronometer while they are bolow. The captain and engineer of the dredge have instructions to have the dredge in readiness, moored about the end of the rails, so as to receive any specimens, etc., that may be sent up. All being

ready, tho Operator sots the machinery in motion ; away goes the little trolley with its human freight, the gun 3 from the T.N. Squadron are belching forth their salute, tho crowd is almost deafening, and tho bands are also chipping in. It is something wonderful aud splendid to behold ; tho little trolley is out of sight. Down about tho terminus tho sextant and chronometer are got to work. In Clio meantime tho Harbormaster, while busy entering up his log, has allowed an immense roller to enter tho Bay unobserved; it travels up between the breakwater and groyne, lifts the dredge, specimens and sundries, and lands the lot on the top of tho little trolley. Something has gone through her bottom; I believe it must havo been that sextant. However, she founders with all hands, in about 10ft of water. The Operator is dumbfounded, paralysed. “ Bluejacket ” knocks him ovor, and sets the machinery in motion. Up comos part of the little trolley ; decorations, sextant, chronometer, and Board, all have disappeared. The band at Point Rotunda is playing “ God Save the King ” —I beg your pardon, I meant God savo that little trolley aud contents. The Rifle Band on Haiti Hill chips in with tho Dead March in “ Saul.” The day’s celebrations havo suddenly ceased, and the crowds disperse rejoicing, perfectly satisfied with all they have seen and heard. So long, boys ; we are homeward bound. See you in Liverpool.—l am, etc., Bluejacket.