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OPENING OF. THE COBURG
LINE.
The line from Melbourne to Coburg was
opened yesterday by his Excellency Sir H. B.
Loch. Preparations of an elaborate character
had been made to receive thu Governor and the
members of the Ministry. The terminal
station w»3 decorated with roags, and triumphal
arohes, composed o: flags of all nations, were
erected at different points between the station
nnd the Cobnrg public hall, whero tkeinaugural
banquet took place. The rlay was proclaimed
a general holiday. The State schools wero
closed, and the children invited to join
in a monster picnic hold in the
Koyi.l Park. Tho cxvployds at the
pottery and brick manufactories took a
well earned holiday, and assisted by their
presence in making the demonstration an
imposing one. His Exoellency, on arrival
at the Spenccr-strcct station, was received
by Mr. Gillies, Minister of Railways ; Mr.
Labortouchc, Secretary of Ilaik.v1i.y3 ; Mr.
Anderson, General Traffic Manager, and Mr.
E. YYatson, Fngieeor in Chief. The special
train in which his Excellency was seated
started at eleven a.m. At tho South Brnns-
wick station fnily 3000 adults aud school
children had assembled. As the train
drew up at tho platform thrco hearty
cheers were given. Au address of welcome was
then presented to the Governor by Mr. J.
George, mayor of Brunswick. His Excellency,
having suitably replied, the school children
sang tho National Anthem. After a few
minutes' delay tho train proceeded on its
journey, and in a short time arrived at the
Victoria station (Cobnrg), where several
thousands of peoplo had congregated. His
Excellency ou alighting was presented by Mr.
J. T. Vincent, president of the Oobur-'council,
with nn address of welcome, to which he re
plied in suitable terms.
His Excellency was thou driven, to tbe
Coburg Public Hail, where he was enter
tained at a banquet provided by the council
and residents of Coburg. Over 250 sat down
to au excellent repast, prepared by Mr. F. W.
Rowlands, of the l'entridge Hotel. Tho chiir
was taken hy Mr. J. T. Vincent, president of
tho Cobuig borough council. On his right
wore seatud his Excellency Sir H. B. Loch,
Messrs. Pearson and J. J. Madden, M.L.AJa,
and Mr. Melville, 5LI>. C. ; and on his left Mr.
Gillies (Minister of Railways), Mr. Satgood,
Captain Traill (aide-de-camp lo his Excel
lency), nud Messrs. Harper and C. Smith,
M.L.A.'s. Mr. Laurens aud Dr. Rose,
M.L. A.'s, wero also present. The toast of Tbe
Queen was proposed hy the chairman, and was
honored in an enthusiastic manner, the band
of the Naval Kesorvo playiDg tho National
Anthem.
The chairman, in proposing Tho Health of
tho Governor, stated that the residents of
Coburg were pleased at having the opportunity
of dciug honor to tho representative of the
Queen.
His Excellency, in rising to respond, was
received with loud cheering. Ho said : Mr.
President and Gouticinen, — I feci deeply sen
sible of the warmth and tho cordiality which
you bavo given to the toast of my health. I feel
that this railway, tho opening of which we have
met together to-day to commemorate, although
it is not of great extent, is a very important
addition to the railway system of this colony —
(Cheers) — for it connects the two important
districts of Coburg and Brunswick with Mel
bourne, nud also with the railway Bystem
throughout tho colony. (Cheers.) I am in
formed that considerable traffic is anticipated
from the conveyance of bricks aud pottery
from Brunswick and bluestone from Coburg
to Melbourne, a3 well as from a
return trains in firewood. But, gentlemen, it
would bo almost a uuiquo example of railway
construction if this line failed to provide other
traffic which lias not hitherto been antici
pated. 1 .'tin sure that where there is a great
traffic in bricks or bluestone or any other com
modity there will also be a considerable pas
senger traffic. What appears to me to bo of
more importance is tho fact that tho railway
will provide a great convenience to the resi-
dents of these districts. It is a great pleasure
to mo that tho first occasion of my visit to
Coburg should be couucctod with tho opening of
a line which I trust may be a great benefit, to j
tbo community at large. I sincerely trust j
that all your anticipations wjll be realised. I j
again thank you for your cordial reception of
tos a3 the representative of her Majesty the 1
Qneeu. (Loud cheers.) !
Mr. IV. Anketell proposed The Ministry, j
He considered that since the days of thelato ,
lamented Richard Healc-s, no Ministry had en-
joyed the confidence of the country to such an !
extent as the present one. Tbe position of '
Minister was not always a bed of roses. He
made himself the target tor the bullets of any
individual who liked to lire at him. In his 1
opinion the members of tlio present Govern- >
ni ent had showu a desire to legislate for tbe j
good of tbe uountry. Let them go on in the
manner in which they bad at present p,o 1
cceded.at thesamo tinieromembering the worOn.
" By mutual confidence and mutual aid great
deeds aro done inl great iliscorerk-' made."
(Cheers.) Tie felt confident that il.u work
already begun would como to a triumphant
eml. (Cheers.)
Mr. Gillies, iu reply, ttu'.ed that as Minister
of Railways it atloni- J him great piexv rc to
he present. That district, tike in>:r . „ -ere,
had teen for a loug time seeking railway
communication. Thoy had got it at lust,
and he sincerely hoped it would do tho district
and the Railway department a great deal of
good. (Applause.) He was perfectly certr'r.
that if tho'iosidents of Coburg and Brunswick
benefited by the railway the department would
receive a benefifiu like proportion." With re
gard to the Government, he would state that it
had endeavored to do its duty to the public ;
and he felt confident that the support it had I
received from the country and from '.'arlia-
inent bad enabled it to p public measures
of vast importance to the country. He trusted
that when the presont session was over tho
Government would be able to place on the
statute book a largo number of public measures
of no less importance than those passed during
last cession, (Cheers.)
Mr. G. B, Wilson briefly proposed the Par
liament of Victoria, coupled with the names
of Mr. Pearson, ML. A., Mr. Melville, M.L.C.,
and Mr. Harper, M.L.A.
Mr. Melville, In tho course of his reply, con
gratulated tho resident., ct Brunswick md-
Coburg on the completion of the line, which lie
felt confident would remit in a largo aduitiou
to tho revenue of thu Railway department.
Referring to the state of politics and political
parties at the present time, he said that there
was no subject which the Legislative Council
had more at heart than that of federation.
That chamber desired that tho colony might
accomplish the unity of tho Australian colo
nies. (Cheers.)
Mr. Pearson was received with loud cheers.
He said he did not know of any constituency
in the colony where a member of Parliament,
returning thanks for the Lowor House, could
feel prouder of bis position tban in the con
stituency of East Bourk- Boroughs. Tho
Parliament of Victoria was distinguished
amongst tbo colonial Parliaments by reason of
certain censors, and its constitution was
characterised by high integrity amonzst its
members. He considered that a great deal of
this was duo to r. gentleman whom East
Bourke Boroughs sent to Parliament after being
rejected by —.other constituency. (Cheers.)
Ho did not think hn was in the least tres
passing on party ground when he said that it
wa3 East Bourko Boroughs which sent to Par
liament that distinguished citizen, Mr. Justice
Higinbotham. (Loud cheers.) It would cot be
easy to over estimate the benefit of the
examplo derived from that gentleman's un
wearied dovotion to duty. The stem principle
ho carried into discussion on every question,
and the eloquence which ho brought home to
the questions of tho day, were remembered by
every man in the community. (Chee.s.) Thoy
had passed into different times, and he
(Mr. Pearson) rejoiced to say that the
politicians who seven yoars ago were di
vided into what seemed to bo dark irrecon
cilable camps wero now able to mix
frcoly together, and to vote or llle same side on
measures for the benefit of the community.
Much as he believed in tills interval of calm,
he could not believe it would last for ever.
He did not kr. sw the : ; ; would be desirable that
it should last. There must bo questions — burn
ing questions — which would stir tlio community
lo its depths. Ho did not think thore had
ever beotf'a Parliament in tho annals of Vic
toria that had dono so much as tho present one.
He believed it was unchanged, und that it wa3
just as ready for work in tho future, if tho
leaders would only make tho exertion.
(Cheers.)
Mr. Harper, M.L.A., also responded.
The tonst of the Army and Nnvy, proposed
by Mr. Bradley, was responded to by Mr. Sar-
good.
The other toasts proposed were Tho Railway
Commissioners, Local Bodies, The Contractors
of tho Line, and The Ladies. "
The vice-regal party then returned to the
station, where a large number of people bad
nssomblcd. As tho tralr. moved out of tho
station ids Excellency was greeted with three
hearty cheeroZ
Tho State school children to the number of
about SOCO wero conveyed In special trains
from Coburg nud Brunswick to Royal Park,
where they wero entertained at n picnic. In
tho evening a halt was given in tho Coburg
Public Hall, and passed off with considerable
Mil.
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