Page 49 - Bulletin 8 2004

46

The Cape Times: Friday, 8 November, 1889.

The Simon’s Town Extension
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TURNING THE FIRST SOD
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SPEECHES BY THE HON. COL. SCHERMBRUCKER, THE HON W. PEARSON,
AND ADMIRAL WELLS.

The line from Kalk Bay to Simon’s Bay, an extension decided upon some time
ago, will turn out, in the opinion of many who may be considered good judges, to be a
useful and profitable little extension in a monetary sense, whilst it will also assume
considerable importance in connection with the defences of this portion of the Colony.
Yesterday morning the first sod of the extension was turned by the Hon. Col.
Schermbrucker, M.L.A., Minister of Public Works, and the occasion naturally assumed
considerable interest, both to those in the immediate neighbourhood, who will be
largely benefited by the extension, and also to many public men in the district. The train
conveying those invited to witness the ceremony left Adderley Street about half past ten
in the forenoon, and arrived at its destination, Kalk Bay, about an hour later, thus
leaving some little time to spare, the actual ceremony being fixed to take place at noon.
The weather was most propitious to those who attended; a gentle breeze blew in from
the sea, and as one watched the seas come rolling in – just near enough to the railway
track to be pleasant – one could only envy the happy lot of those Cape Town citizens
who are enabled to spend a portion of their time at this pleasant and healthy watering-
place, so conveniently near to the metropolis, where one can “sniff the briny”, and fancy
himself in Devon or Cornwall, so English-looking is the scenery formed by the hills in
the background and the sea in front. The actual spot where the first sod was turned was
some few hundred yards from the railway station, and near to the roadside. Punctually
at 12 o’ clock, Col. Schermbrucker, stepping to the front, commenced the proceedings,
his appearance being greeted with hearty applause. He said he was about to perform a
ceremony for the construction of a thing which the greatest philosophers of our time had
vainly tried to invent, for many years past. That was, to construct the missing link –
(laughter) – the missing link of our railway system. (“Well said.”) He was sorry, in one
sense, to be there that day to inaugurate that little line, which would do so much for that
district, and unite it with Simon’s Town, because it should have been done before, but
he was proud that it was now to be done, and that he had the opportunity of doing that
in his term of office which should have been done by his predecessors many years ago.
(Hear, hear.) However they were gathered there that morning to take the first step in the
construction of the line from Kalk Bay to Simon’s Town, and he was only sorry that it
had taken so long to commence, but there were engineering difficulties to be got
through, surveys to be made, and roads and private properties to be accommodated, all
of which had necessarily taken some time to accomplish, but now they were in the
position that they were commencing the work, and he was happy to think that in about
six months’ time the line would be declared open. (Hear, hear.) He had thought it
should be done in four months, but the engineer said “Absurd”, so he had to knuckle