Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Monday 18 November 1889, page 5


The Cleveland Railway.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING.

EXCURSION AND BANQUET. The

official opening of the Cleveland Railway, which took place on Saturday afternoon, was celebrated by an excursion and a banquet, which were both successful and enjoyable. The opportunity afforded to visit Cleveland was largely availed of, and the special trains which were run were filled to overflowing. Possibly at no previous time was that pretty little township so thronged with people. In honour of the occasion many of the houses and shops were decorated with flags. On the reserve near the long pier a fine large marquee had been erected, and over the doorway the word " Wel-come was appropriately inscribed. The inside was devoted to the purposes of a banqueting hall. The tables, designed to accommodate a large number of people, were excellently arranged, and the whole interior presented a bright and attractive appearance. The majority of the visitors gravitated towards this spot, but soon dispersed in various directions. Those who had not gone to the expense of a banquet ticket, or who had not had the favour of an invitation, began to open their hampers and commence luncheon. The keen fresh air sharpened the appetite, and nothing further was needed to add to the enjoyment of these rustic repasts.

Almost immediately after the arrival of the second train, with its load of passengers, the railway was of8oially._op.enod. The ceremony was not a very elaborate one, and few had an idea that it was to take place. Hence many of the passengers had left the vicinity of the railway station and betaken themselves to the upper part of the township beforehand. On landing at the station, Mr. THALLON, the traffic manager, formally announced that the railway was ready to be opened. By Mr. Buckland's request, the Hon. A. J. THYNNE, Minister of Justice, then declared the line open for public traffic. This occupied only a few minutes, and the members of the Ministry and of Parliament who had attended were accommodated with seats in waggonettes and driven up to the banqueting marquee.

Trrfl BANQUET.

At the banquet the chair was taken by Mr. J. F. Buckland. He was supported on his right by the Hons. A. J. Thynne, J. Donald-son, 0." Powers, and Mr. Johnston (Railway Commissioner), and on his left by Sir S. W. Griffith, Hons. J. R. Dickson and MacdonaldPaterson, Messrs. W. Stephens and J. M'Master, MM.L.A., J. Mathieson (chief Railway Com-missioner), and R. B. Sheridan. Among the other gentlemen present were Messrs. Stevens, Luya, Crombie, Salkeld, and Annear, MM.L.A., John Kennedy, and J. F. Thallon, traffic

manager

The usual loyal toasts having been honoured, Mr. BUCKLAND proposed " the Ministry and the Parliament." He said that during the last few days he had been repeatedly asked how it was that the line to Cleveland was not opened on the 1st of the present month's voice : "Yes; that's what is the matters] seeing that it was completed in time for that being done. The reasons he had given were scarcely worth repeating on the present occasion. There were reasons and them were difficulties in the way, but he was sure that they had all to thank the Minister for Railways and the whole Railway Department for the facilities given on this day. (Hear, hear.) The time was when the place in which they were assembled, he believed, was the port of Moreton Bay. Cleveland was intended to be the port of outlet for the whole southern portion of Queensland - including Darling Downs and the whole Western district. Times had changed, however, and they were now in direct communication with the metropolis of the colony by rail-(ohoers),-and instead of the old-fashioned bullock dray they had the iron horse. (Cheers.) People would be able in the future to look in Cleveland either to Sydney, Melbourne, or Adelaide. He thought that all '. present would agree with him that the Government and the country had done a great deal in the few years to which he had referred something like thirty years. Every time he went through the district he was more than ever convinced that the line would be a very profitable one indeed. He was sure that the returns even during the next three years would be satisfactory, and everyone would see this if the accounts were not mixed up with other railway returns. He hoped before long to see the line brought from its present terminus to the place where they were now assembled. (Hear, hear.) The line opened up a distinctly different class of country from that opened up by any other railway near the metropolis. Residences for all classes would be found along the line the merchant, the manufacturer, the artisan, the labourer, and the mechanic would settle here upon the beautiful shores of Moreton Bay, and recuperate during the summer months with the healthful breezes of the Pacific. (Laughter and applause.) There was also another great future for the Cleveland district, and that was in the fruitproducing industry. The apples on the tables before them had been produced thousands of miles from Queensland-in California. If the Americans, who paid good wages, could afford to ship to Australia fruit of that description at a profit, from what he know of the Cleveland district in the way of pineapple and banana growing, he believed there was a great future for it in that direction, and that before very long largo canning and fruit-preserving manufactories would be established in their midst. They had the soil, the climate, and everything else in their favour. (A Voice : " Where is the money p") The money would be found. He gave the toast of "The Ministry," coupled with the names of the Hon. Mr. Thynne, the Hon. Mr. Donaldson, and the Hon. Mr.

x lowers.

The Hon. Mr. TrrraNB returned thanks. He congratulated the people of Cleveland upon the opening of the railway, and also congratulated the chairman upon the important port he had taken in the past in securing for Cleveland the benefit which she had now obtained. He did not think that the question of the railway to Cleveland had over been regarded as one in which any great party feeling was involved. He was sure that all would be pleased to see that the work had been carried to a conclusion, and that all would hope the line would bring substantial and beneficial results to the district through which it passed. The chairman had compared the conditions of that day with those of the old day's of thirty years ago. He had given an example which was typical of the growth of Australia, They had grown from small things to large things, and were not far from growing now ~ from large things to still larger. Whether they would do so or not rested with the people of this colony. Were they prepared to take the steps in advance recommended to them? His opinion was that the people of Australia were always prepared to advance when the course was clear and it was shown that it would be of advantage to themselves to do so. He saw there in that room numbers of men trained regularly for years to local self-government it was the same in other parts of the colony, and he was convinced that no colony in the group was better prepared for the leap into the future than Queensland was at present. (Applause.) We had had our experience, and were, he believed, educated on a system of self-govern-ment, and when the time came and a larger measure of self-government was initiated the people of Queensland would not be the hindmoSt. (Cheers.) He had again to thank them very heartily for the cordial way in which they had proposed the toast of the

Ministry, and for the way in which it had been

received.

Mr. DONALDSON said he had thought that one would have been quite enough to reply fortheMimstey, and therefore with his usual modesty he felt diffident about speaking on the occasion. (Laughter.) He wished, however, to return his thanks for the hearty way in which they had responded to the toast of the Ministry, and he trusted that the Ministry, so long as they remained in power, would study to always deserve such a reception at their hands, and to advance the prosperity of the colony. (Cheered The occasion on which they had met that day had been the opening of a railway which, he

must confess, ought to have been made many years ago when this district had apparently a greater future before it than at the present time, and when it promised to be the port of the Southern part of Queensland. He wished to congratulate the people of Cleve-land on the fact that they had now got this railway which, by bridging over the distance between it and the metropolis, would give the people of the latter an opportunity to come down and enjoy the healthful sea breeze. Though they had got what they should have had years ago there were others who were in the predicament from which they had escaped. Even in their immediate neighbourhood along their coast there were others who should have

exactly the same advantages that Cleveland now possessed. (Cheers.) He trusted to live to enjoy the pleasure and honour of being present at the opening of the railway further on. (Hear, hear.) The time was limited, and he did not think this was an occasion for long speeches, or for expressing views of a contentious nature. They had had enough of that lately. (Laughter.) That was all past and gone now, and he was quite sure that, after Beecher. members of Parliament hobnobbiujr together as they had done that day, they would not have the slightest idea that they had gone through what they had. He had gone through it unscathed himself, but he did not want to go through again. (Laughter.) He thanked them mosthoartilyfortho hearty manner in which they had proposed this toast. Now they had got the iron horse working, he would have more frequent opportunities of making the acquaintance of the people of the district than he had had in the past. (Cheers.)

Mr. POWERS, after returning thanks on behalf of the Ministry, said it had always been a pleasure as far as he was personally concerned to be present at the opening of any railway, because he thought the progress of Queensland depended upon making railways and promoting settlement on the land. (Cheers.) Unless way extended the railways to our agricultural centres and to those places where people were inclined to live, Queensland could not stop forward as she should do in the march of progress. (Cheers.) He came from a district where a railway to the seaside had long been needed, and he hoped sincerely that their chairman would assist in getting it when the time came to ask for it. (Laughter.) He thought the remarks of the chairman, that they had in this district chances to make much of it by the agricultural land and the facilities for producing fruit, on eli t to be seriously taken into consideration. He thought it was time for us to foster our industries in every possible way. (Cheers.) The Ministry and Opposition were not divided on that question. The majority of the members of the House, as composed at present, would do all that they possibly could to oncourarro the industries of Queensland. (Cheers.) On behalf of himself and of the other members of the Ministry, he thanked them for the hearty way in which they had received the toast. He could assure them that every member of the Ministry had the welfare of Queensland at heart. (Cheers.)

Mr. JOHN KENNEDY proposed the toast of the Parliament of Queensland, coupled with the names of the Hon. T. Macdonald-Paterson and Sir S. W. Griffith. The recent trial of strength between the two parties in the Assembly had shown that the gentlemen there could conduct a matter in which grave interests were involved and a grave issue was at stake with better feeling than in any other Australian Assembly. (Hear, hear.) If the late stonewalling business had occurred in any of the neighbouring colonies the members would have been at each other's throats long before it was ever. (Laughter and applause.) Queensland had every reason to be proud of the way in which the members of her Legislature conducted themselves at all times, and more especially during the late protracted debate.

The Hon. T. MACDONALD-PATERSON returned thanks. He remembered that one of the first of his official acts when in charge of the Government business in the Legislative Council was the getting through of the Loan Estimates for the Cleveland Railway. Those estimates were carried through the Upper House without any difficulty at all. He had great faith in the prospects of the line. Although it had been opened a very short time it had already shown indications of a prosperous and growing traffic. (Hear, hear.) The Legislative Council had done good work in the past, and especially during the late session in rejecting several proposals of the Government.

The Hon. J. 0. HBUSSLHB also responded. He said that there was hardly anything left for him to speak about, but as he was one of the oldest members of the Legislative Council he must of course say a few words on the occasion. Well, they were called old fogeys,"-(laughter)-and as far as ago was concerned he admitted to being an " old fogey." When his recollection of Cleveland came to his mind he could assure them that he was as young as any of them. (Laughter.) His recollection of Cleveland, they might take his word, was one of the sweetest

recollections of olden times.

Sir S. W. Griffith, who was received with loud and prolonged cheers, said the time was very short before they had to catch the train. That was one reason why he would speak briefly, and another reason was that after this longest session that over was, he was tired of hearing his own voice. (Laughter.) He could not, however, refrain from saying a word or two in thanking them for the way in which they had received the toast of the Parliament of Queensland, and for the way in which they had received him. We were dependent in this colony, for what was done in the way of legislation and public works upon the will of Parliament. They (the Parliament were left to themselves to do what was right, and he trusted that they did right. He did not think they made many mistakes. (Cheers.) The time would come when the Parliament of Queensland would have to resign its powers to the larger Federal Parliament of Australia, and in his own opinion the sooner that time came the better. (Cheers.) But he thought we should have no reason to recollect with shame the work that our Parliaments had done in the past. (Cheers.) In respect to this railway he was very glad to be present at its opening. It was

just eight years ago that the banquet

took place which Mr. Buckland had referred to. He had the honour to be one of the guests at that time, and although the circumstances were very adverse it was a pleasant gathering and left pleasant recollections no did not believe any harm had come of it. He did not wish to create a wrong impression as to that banquet, because he trusted that when the Government and Parliament of Queensland entered upon any great public works they did it on more than a mere recollection of hospitable entertainment. (Laughter.) The Government proposed and Parliament accepted this railway because they believed it would be a very good thing for the country. (Cheers.) It was now open, and he believed it might be a very good thing for the country. He believed that this railway would be beneficial both directly and indirectly(cheers) directly, because it would lead to an increase in the revenue of the Treasury, and indirectly, because it would lead to settlement on the farming and fruitgrowing land of the district. (Loud cheers.) They had every reason to congratulate themselves that this railway had been completed, and the Parliament and the country for

making it.

The Hon. JAMES R. DICKSON proposed "Success to the District of Cleveland and to the Cleve-

land Rail way. ' ' He had all along taken a great interest in watching the progress of the line, and had been all through connected with the steps taken with respect to it. He wished that the line had been brought further into the town he thought that it was a great mistake in matters of this kind to perpetuate the errors of the past-the convenience of the greatest number should be the principle acted upon in matters of this kind. The finest sites for residences about Brisbane were along the railway. It could not be doubted but that the line would be a great factor in encouraging population. He believed the line would pay well in time, but even if it did not, that would be no reason why similar railways should not be built in the of nature. He hoped the majority of the present Assembly would see the necessity to have a net work of railways. They would have his hearty sympathy in building lines' in the remoter districts of the colony as well as in those districts where he resided.

Mr. Ross, chairman of the Divisional

Board, responded. Although the people of Cleveland were avowed supporters of Sir Samuel Griffith, he said, they had received every assistance from the present Government with respect to the line. He thanked them most heartily for what they had done.

Mr. STEVENS said there could be no doubt that this railway would be one of the best paying lines in the colony. He thought it was the duty of the Government, whatever their politics were, to give the inhabitants of large cities opportunities of getting to the seaside for fresh air. (Cheers.) The next duty of the Government would be to extend this railway a little further along. (Cheers.)

Mr. GIMEBT BuaNETi proposed the toast of "The Commissioners for Railways, coupled with the name of the Engineer for Railways." Mr. J. MATHIESON, in responding, said that at that late hour of the day he thought the less said the better. He was afraid the Railway Commissioners had not find much to do with the construction of this line. Speaking for himself he was gratified to see that it was an accomplished fact. (Hear, hear.) He thought they might be proud that it was com-pledge!, because he thought it was one of the best lines in the colony. (Cheers.) When he came over it first he saw at once that it was a line that might be developed into one possess-ing a considerable payable traffic. (Cheers.) It was on a line of this sort that they liked to do a little advertising, as they had done on that day. * (Hear, hear.)

Mr. JOHNSTON said he was very much pleased on going over the Cleveland Railway to see how well it was cou8tmotod,'and he thought it reflected very great credit on the contractors. (Cheers.) It was one of the best constructed railways he had been over, and in saying that he did not wish to run down other lines, but merely to give his opinion that it was a credit to the ongmoorandthoconliaotora. He thought that this line would be a great success.

Mr. JOHN HAniioaAVB proposed the "Municipal and Local Authorities "

Alderman GALLOWAY (Mayor of Brisbane) responded.

The toast of "The Contractors" was then honoured, and responded to, and the proceedings were brought to a close.