THE MANAWATU RAILWAY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 8 December 1908, Page 5

THE MANAWATU RAILWAY.

GOVERNMENT TAKES POSSESSION

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, December 7. About 150 persons attended a banquet at tho Town Hall this afternoon to celebrate the taking over of the Manawatu line.

Mi1 J. Kirkcaldie, chairman of directors, presided, and in his opening i*ew marks, stated that the Government hqd done well in the interests of the Dominion. He thanked the Premier for the patient and courteous manner in which the negotiations had been carried on. The value of the railway, he said, could only be appreciated by those who knew the condition of affairs existing at the time the railway was first opened. The land of the company had been sold at an average of 26s 6d per acre, and all those who had .entered into the purchase of this land had done well by the transaction. During its years of active working the company had -carried (in round figures) seven millions of passengers, and the gross earnings had been £2,400,000, of which £670,000 had been paid away in wages. He expressed his appreciation of the generous support extended to the company by the citizens and merchants of the country. In conclusion he wished the line as much success under the Government as ib had achieved in the past. Mr Kirkcaldie then handed the Prime Minister a silver key of the Manawatu Railway, in celebration of tho transfer from the company to the Government, a presentation that was greeted with cheers. .

TlKxJPremier said that the salo had. been effected jn^ terms highly satisfactory to, Both parties, and that thisiwas practically tho last of the private lines, iv the country. He believed the result would be beneficial to the country as a whole. Tho traffic to the Manawatu railway, contributed by the Government during the last ten years, amounted to no less than £642,792, an amount which •gave many chances of friction if there had, been any desire to create it; 'On all sides there had bsen evidence of progress on the line, and in this connection! no had'a word of high praiss to say about tho late general manager, ;Mr W, M. Hannay, and the engineer, Mr Marchbanks, for tli9 work they had dene. Tho work of both these gentlemen had been most valuable. Those gentlemen were not joining the Government service, but as to those who were joining, he felt euro they would, as in the. past, do their duty faithfully, and well. As to the purchase money (£915,000) it was rased, without the slightest difficulty on the most advantageous! terms., The acquisition of the line would increase the travelling facilities of the public, and be a means of helping the development of business and passenger traffic of the "Dominion. Sir Joseph spoke' in terms of praise of the pioneers who promoted the line, in the early days, remarking that tho present occasion would be one of intense' interest to , those who inaugurated that valuable work in tho early days. " The originators and promoters of the company" was proposed by Mr H. D. Bell, K.C., who made fitting reference to their enterprise. Mr D. J. Nathan, in reply, stated that tho idea of constructing the railway emanated from the local Chamber of Commerce, the Wellington Harbour Board scheme being involved at the same time. Tho originators of the railway never went into the work as -a speculation, but in the. best interests of Wellington and tho country as a whole. In view of the demand for railways Mr Nathan questioned whether private enterprise slibuld not be encouraged. ' " The City of Wellington," proposed by Mr J. Duthie, was replied to by the Mayor (the Hon. T. W- Hislop).