OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2202, 28 May 1908, Page 2

OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL

Most people are probably under the impression that the ceremonies which' wore carried out at Willows Crossing yesterday were amply sufficient for the recognition of the opening up for traffic of a few miles of railway, but this apparently is not the Governmental view of the matter. One might have thought that the presence of tho Mayor of Gisborne, heads of local bodies, representatives of tho Railway League, supplemented by two Ministers of tho Crown, would have sufficed for a formal declaration of this kind. This, however, is not the cast. The order has gone forth from Wellington that the official opening shall not take place until June, when the Premier himself will preside at the official function. Wherefore, the Pnha-Waikoliu section has no official existence in the meantime. The aggregation of carriages and engine that in the past has facetiously been termed “the To Karaka express,” may run up and down daily, but to the official mind it is only an exhibition, of slliiadowgraphy with phantom engine-drivers and porters, and imaginary passengers 'and luggage. This will continue to be the cu6o until June 10, upon which date, unless something more important intervenes,', the head of tho Government will bo pleased to come up and, with all the pomp and splendor that can reasonably bo gathered around himself and tho momentous occasion, will send the wheels officially whirling round. Sir Joseph will stand at the railhead by Willows Crossing and aftor congratulating the settlers upon the successful completion of another section of the railway—three miles in twelve months—will proceed in customary fashion to inform his hearers how very prosperous they are, what a fine country we live in, and, incidentally, how fortunate we are in our splendid Government. What an utter farce the whole business is 1 As Premier of the Dominion we should be pleased to receive a visit from Sir Joseph Ward at any time, and to hear his exposition of the Government policy, but to delay tho official opening of a few miles of railway until it is convenient for him to make such a visit is the height of absurdity, and shows the Government in a ludicrous light. One may .reasonably ask the question: If it takes all unofficial opening with two Ministers .superintending and an official opening by the Premier, possibly assisted by sundry other Ministers, to open three miles of railway, whence shall we obtain sufficient politicians of rank to officiate at that remote period when Gisborne is first connected by rail with Auckland ?