Page 50 - Bulletin 8 2004

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under. (Laughter.) At any rate, he had thought it proper to make a little occasion – to
draw together all those gentlemen who were engaged in the construction of the line, and
others interested in it. He was now going to make a solemn promise to the public, and
that was, that six months hence the railway whistle should be heard in Simon’s Bay. It
was for his friend, the General Manager of Railways, the Chief Engineer, and the
Engineer-in-charge, to redeem that promise made to the public there assembled, and he
hoped those gentlemen would not leave him in the lurch. He should now proceed to
perform the ceremony, and he sincerely congratulated the inhabitants of Cape Town and
those of Simon’s Bay on the fact that that work was now commenced, which, in the
future, would bring them nearer to each other, as had been so happily expressed by
Admiral Wells, in a telegram forwarded to him (Col. Schermbrucker) the previous day.
He would now perform the work assigned to him, that of turning the first sod. He would
tell them at once that the sod had been brought down from Newlands – (laughter) –
owing to the difficulty of finding one at Kalk Bay. During the past night half-a-dozen
railway people had been constantly engaged in throwing water upon it. (Laughter.)
The hon. gentleman then performed the ceremony with right goodwill, his
workmanlike manner of doing the work evoking loud applause. Upon turning the sod,
the hon. Gentleman remarked, “I now declare the first sod – from Newlands – properly
turned at Kalk Bay.” (Laughter.)

THE LUNCHEON

An adjournment was subsequently made to King’s Hotel, where a substantial
and well-prepared repast was served. Among those either present at the ceremony –
which was witnessed by a large number of people – or at the luncheon which followed,
were, in addition to Colonel Schermbrucker, Mrs Schermbrucker, the Misses
Schermbrucker, the Hon W Pearson, MLA, Colonial Secretary, Rear-Admiral Wells,
Mr Dent (secretary to the Admiral), Flag-Lieutenant Luard, the Hon J Combrinck,
MLC, Mr C B Elliott, General Manager of Railways, Mr F van der Riet, RM of Simon’s
Town, Mr M G Dalton, CE, Mr H J Pauling (Chief Engineer to the Railway
Department), the Rev Dr Clark, the Rev Canon Baker, the Rev E J Williams (Chairman
of the Simon’s Town Municipality), Mr Lynch, MLA, Mr Musson, Mr J P Drew, Mr P J
Eaton, Mr Mansergh (private secretary to Colonel Schermbrucker), Mr Naude (District
Engineer), Mr J B Ellis, Mr A W Ackermann, CE, the Rev D J Pienaar, of the DR
Church, Mr Picton, the Rev Father McCarthy, Mr Beattie (Locomotive Superintendent),
Mr F Hugo, Mr P J Hugo, Mr Antony, Mr Moss, Mr Boon, Mr Runciman, Mr Black,
Mr Van Blerk, sen, Mr Van Blerk, jun, Mr A Auret, sen, Mr L O’Donnell, Mr Tilney,
Mr Difford (secretary to the General Manager), and Mr Gillard (secretary to the
Simon’s Town Municipality).
The loyal toast having been honoured,
Col. Schermbrucker said there was one more toast he wished them to drink, and
it was in connection with the occasion which they had solemnised that day. He thought
that the people of Cape Town, those of Kalk Bay, and those of Simon’s Bay, need not
be reminded of the great benefits which would be conferred upon them mutually, by the
accomplishment of the work, the construction of which had been inaugurated that day,
but he went further, and said it was not alone these communities which were in
question, he looked upon the connection between Kalk Bay and Simon’s Bay in its true