The formal opening of the Dunedin - Port Chalmers railway took place yesterday.
His Excellency the Governor, Lady Bowen, and suite, arrived at the Dunedin Railway Station at about half-past 12 o'clock. Soon afterwards the Vice-Regal party, and a large number of other ladies and gentlemen, who had been invited by Messrs Oliver and Proudfoot, proceeded by special train to Port Chalmers.
A short stoppage was made at Burke's Brewery, and on arriving at the Port terminus, where many of the townspeople had assembled, and where the station-master, Mr Rolfe, was indefatigable in accommodating everybody, the Mayor (Mr Dench), who was accompanied by the Corporation, addressed a few words of welcome to His Excellency and family.
Sir GEORGE replied as follows:- 'Mr Mayor and gentlemen, I thank you for the kind terms in which you have just spoken regarding myself, and I have to congratulate you on the completion of this important work, which connects the commercial capital of the colony with the principal port of the province.
'I hope that the working men employed on this railway, and on the other railways now in progress or approaching completion in the Colony, will find happy homes for themselves on those broad lands open in the Colony for agricultural purposes, and I would have them remember that under the expansive freedom of our Colonial institutions, even more surely than in the parent isles, Britain opens for all her sons a cheering prospect of wealth and fame, if genius be combined with virtue and industry. I now declare the railway to be formally open for public traffic.-(Cheers.)
Cheers were afterwards given for His Excellency, Lady Bowen, and family. Cheers were also given for the railway. and the Port.
The visitors then inspected the recently erected pier and the ships, on either side. These, and other vessels, displayed bunting; and before the party returned, Lady Bowen consented to christen the pier, naming it the Bowen Pier.
A few remarks were then made by His Excellency, expressive of the pleasure it gave him to have his name associated with so important a work.
The time occupied in returning to Dunedin was twenty-two minutes, being, so we are informed, the quickest journey yet made.
Shortly after two o'clock His Excellency and suite, the promoters of the railway, and guests, assembled in the large hall of the University, and partook of luncheon.
- Jan, 1