THE ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13108, 6 May 1908, Page 8

THE ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

Despite the tmtowexd circumetanoes of heavy ram and flooded rivers, tho ceremony connected with tho official inauguration of tho -work of driving tho Arthur's Pass tunnel was carried" through at Otira yesterday with enthusiasm and eucoesa. It is to he regretted tibat a number of ChristehuTcb citizens who for imany years hiav© given ardent strpport to the 'Midland Railway were prevented , from taking part m the interesting function which they havo helped in no- smell degree to bring about. Their dieappointmen* at being thus debarred from joining in the proceedings at tho tunnel mouth was naturally very keen andi was probably " on3y slightly diminished by tho reflection that they could eti heast keep dry and € comfortable. For yesterday's ceremony was an historical one. It marked the, commencement of the final stage of an undertaking which, as Sir Joseph Ward said, had. ite origin, so far as discussion of ite possibility was concomed, n-oaifly fifty years ago. Tho more ome knows of the beginnings of many of the great enterprises that have been carried out in the Dominion, the more one learne to admire tho magnificent optimism, the unbounded faith in Now Zealand and in themselves, that characterised the men of the early days. The Midland Railway was only one of the great projects that appeared to them not merely desirable but feasible. Its completion has, for many causes, been long delayed, but patienoe and. porsoverance, and eonio of that spirit that animated the pioneers havo triumphed in tho eind, and before the century is in its teens Canterbury and the West Coast will have direct railway communication with each other. ' The Premier was at some littlo pains yesterday to defend tho Government's action in deciding to construct tho tunnel. The step, however, needs no dofenoe; the" Government are instead* to bo congratulated upon taking a practical and business-like course. In tihe absence of tho 'odnmeoting link that the tunnel will provide, tho Canterbury and- West Coast sections of -the railway would have been, to a very great extent, valueless. It may be some years after completion before the Midland Railway pays its way, ibut it must from tho outset exert a most beneficial effect on the provinces on either side of the range. The West Coast may not be actually hoeing population, but it is certainly not progressing as it should, and the stimulus it will undoubtedly receive from acquiring direct railway connection with Canterbury ehould do much to restore it to its former prosperity, while Canterbury cannot fail to benefit • from ready • access' to tho settlers <m the Coast. Having decided not to listk. in Sir Joseph. Ward's nhfiaße. ~ti*ok

" the clocfc tiwemty yeans" by decKming to go on withi the tunnel, the Government did the right thine in resolving to call for tenders for tie work. The coretract was secured 'by a firm of acknowledged standing and repute, and the prompt way mi wnich tihe Messrs McLean set to worK at once gives assurance that it will not be their fault if they fail to carry on* the task with complete success in the allotted time. One is better a"ble to understand how great is the undertaking to which they eT© committed from" the statement that the Arthur's Passtannol will rani fifth in the list of tho great tunnels of the world. We trust that the work of construction will go on without undue impediment, and that by the allotted date the difficulties placed by Nature bej-weeni the close relationship of Caniterbujy tand the West Coast may be finally overcome.