The Argus at KellyGang 30/9/1876 (3)
THE BANQUET
The goods shed was handsomely decorated with evergreens, flags, and Chinese banners. About 300 guests sat down to the banquet, for which Mr Hoelsken catered in very good style. During the banquet, some excellent selections of music were played by Allan's bond, which had been also brought up from Melbourne. Mr Turner, JP, chairman of the reception committee, occupied the chair, having His Excellency the Governor on his right, and Mr Kerferd on his left. The other Ministers present were the Chief Secretary, the Minister of Railways, the Commissioner of Customs, and the Postmaster General. Mr A K Smith, the mayor of Melbourne, was among the guests, together with many members of the Legislature.
After the usual loyal toasts had been disposed of, The CHAIRMAN proposed "The health of His Excellency the Governor." He expressed his pleasure in bidding His Excellency a cordial welcome to Beechworth and the district, and he desired, on behalf of the inhabitants, to thank him for his presence on the occasion of the inauguration of railway communication with the metropolis. The visit of His Excellency some three years ago, when, after his tour through Gipps Land, he returned to Melbourne via Beechworth, had been very brief, and they were glad to welcome him once again amongst them. He believed he might say that the people of Beechworth, having secured railway communication after many difficulties, were now perfectly satisfied. The toast was warmly received.
Sir GEORGE BOWES, who on rising was loudly cheered, said, - Mr Chairman and Gentlemen, - I am very sensible of the exceedingly kind terms in which the chairman has just proposed my health, and of the enthusiastic manner in which it has been received by all present. I have most agreeable recollections of my last visit to Beechworth, to which the chairman has alluded. I was exceedingly sorry that on that occasion I could remain only a few hours among you, but I promised to come back as soon as circumstances should permit. I have kept my promise to-day. (Applause.) The very warm reception you have given me is an ample reward; in fact, on this as on many other occasions, virtue has proved to be its own reward. I assure you that I was very glad indeed to accept the kind invitation of your local authorities to come among you on the interesting occasion of the opening of the branch line of railway which was to put you in communication with Melbourne and the rest of Victoria, and which will, we may hope, before many years put you also in communication with Sydney and the whole of the great sister colony. (Cheers.)
It should never be forgotten that the North-Eastern railway, of which this line will be a feeder, is remarkable on two grounds. In the first place it has proved a complete financial success, for besides paying its working expenses, and also the interest on the money borrowed for its construction, though the line has been open only for three years, it has, in addition, contributed a large annual sum of net profit to the consolidated revenue. Last year alone it contributed a net profit of £24,200. Again, the North-Eastern Railway is the line which will, I hope, during the next three or four years ultimately bring into communication the two great Australian cities-Sydney and Melbourne. The Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, who was recently in Melbourne, told me he entirely agreed with me as to the excellent feeling already existing between the two great neighbouring communities. We all hope that the bonds of common allegiance, common nationality, and common interest will before long be strengthened by the iron link of railway; and we further hope that this iron link will prove the forerunner of the link of federation, which will one day unite the Australasian colonies, and join them like those of British North America, into one great dominion.
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