A COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13108, 6 May 1908, Page 10

A COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON.

(FROM OCR SI'ECXAIi RErORTER.) OTIRA, May 5. To commemorate the commonccment of work on the tunnel, a complimentary luncheon was given by the West Coast local ijodies, and was held in the largo store- erected by the contractors near the mouth of the tunnel. A few of the spectators of tli-o preliminary function returned to Otira alter the firing of the first shot, but mc great majority remained u> bo present at the luncheon. I'iie interior of the store waj tastefully decorated with ferns and groeu foliage, and the uncertain' ligbfc lrom windows on one side was assisted by the small nickering tiames of a. dozen tallow candice and oil lamps. Outside the rain pelted down steadily, and the Rolleston roared along its s.nngiy course, but iu.-ii'io there was comioivj good cheer, and conivmality. Tue ciiau , was occupied by Mr 'I. \\ r . Bruce, and seats at tuo principal table were occupied by memoera or the Legislature, the- ladies of the Ministerial party, and the contractors.

Tne loyal toast of "The King" haying been honoured, tho chairman read a large number ot apologies and congratulatory telegrams and letters, 'lho Canterbury party telegraphed as follows troai Ikaley:—"VVo deeply regret that swollen rivers prevent us being with you. We hope that to-day's function will be a great success. We feel confident that tno important work now formally inaugurated by the Premier will be carried on to a succe&sfid termination by the contractors, to the undoubted advantage of Canterbury, Wcstland, and the Dominion generally." Then followed tho names of the flood-bound party. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones telegraphed his regret at being unable to attend the function., and his delight that the Premier was to be associated with such an important work. "1 have every confidence," he continued, "that the establishment of through communication will lead to enormous development throughout the West Coast, and will promote the prosperity and woll-being of" , tho Dominion, as a whole. It is pleasing to mc that the son of my old chief, who was so closely associated with the construction! of the Midland Rail-way, and who ever considered yoiir welfare, should be your /Parliamentary representative on an occasion 6o important in the history ©aid progress of Westlandi"

The Hon. R. McNab, who recently visited! the West coast, sent a meet interesting telegram expressing regret that lie could not attend , the historic event. "Nothing appeared to mc to bo of more -importance to the West coast during my visit," be telegraphed, "than conivectian of the railway systems of two Eafct and West coasts. Once tfhJo tunnel is firvishedy and , tho line laid through, your country will prove very attractive to the sons of Otago ana. Canterbaijy—farmers who desire to take up. land there; There .ia every reason to believe that very important, trade will develop across the mountains. You lrave my ibest wishes for a successful gathering and a successful termination of the xnammotli undertaking ' now being commenced." The other members of the Ministry also sent congratulatory message, amd α-mongst a host of others received' were those from Mr Justice D©nnJeton, ; Messrs F. R. Flatman, W. W. Tanner, R. McKenzie, C. A. C. Hardy. R. Heaton Rhodes, and G. .Witty, M.P.'s, Messrs D. D. McFerlaJio (Chairman, of the AmoiTi County Council); R. W. Holmes (Chief Engineer). Mr M. Murphy (President of the Canterbury A. and P. Association), A. W. Beaveh' (Chairman of the Ohristchuroh. Tramway Board), Devenish-Mearee, W. H. Triggs, H. A. Adiley, J. L. Scott, T. S. Weston, andi many others..

Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, M,l\ foT.Westland, proposed the tcast of "Tho'Easb and West.Coast' Railway," and referred in an interesting strain to the early history of the Midland lino, and the agitation carried on in favour of its compietion • Hβ commended the Premier for his decision to have the dividing Alpine wall pierced, and , prediictod that Sir Joseph's name ■would , alleys bo connected with the great work which had been oonnmenced that day. He e.vtcTled the possibilities and wealth of the Wcgt co_aisty and predicted that the completion of the Midilandi line would -bring nearer th© realisation;" of the dream of direct railway connection with Otafio from the West coast. Responses were • made for the Hon. J. Marshall, M.L.C., Messrs J. O'Halloran, and A. D. JBayifield (Westport).. The Hon. J. Marshall said that tat for Canterbury in conjunction with the Coast, they would not" have been in tJvo position of being able to invite the Premier to fire the first shot that day. He dwelt on the timber and mineral wealth of the West Coast, and predicted that they would bo tremendously developed by the construction of the tunnel. Mr O'Halloran made a humorous reply, referring to tho difficulties which beset the pioneers oa the West Coast. The best means of developing tho country was tho construction cf the tunnel, and the sooner that was done the better. Mr Bayfield referred to the fact that he had been present at a similar ceremony in connection with the Lyttelton tunnel. The action of the 'Government in accepting the co-ntract was statesmanlike, and ho hoped that hi a few years they wou&d have the pteasure <]f celebrating the opening at the Uealey side. Mr E. J. Seantlebtrry .proposed the health of '"His Majesty's Ministers." and expressed hie opinion that trie present Ministry was the best the country had ever had. and tihat the West Coast district .would not suffer in the slightest while Sir Joseph Ward was at the head of the Ministry. Ho read a felicitous telegram from Mr A. Kaye, of Ohristebureh, whose name appeared on, the list as tho proposer *ot the toast. The Premier, in reply, said that the Ministry were anxious to do what they ooujd to promote the welfare of the Dominion. They could not expect everyone to agree with all that they did; in fact, it .would be astonishing if everyone agreed, with anything itihey did. The ceremony in which they had just talkeb-pam marked an epoch in the history of the Dominion, and he. looked forward to the timo wihen the completion of the tunnel would be the happy consummation of that day's event. . ,^- Mr Jas. Murdoch (Mayor of Runiara) proposed the health of "Tho Dominion Parliament," and brief resoonses were made by the Hons. Marshall, Ho)m«s, Guinn«Qy. and Mr Seddon, -M.P. ' Tl» Hon. A. Ri Guinaees proposed

the health of "The Otira- Tunnel Contraetore." The contraotore, he eaid, had undertaken responsibilities of coneiderabfo magnitude. Messrs Mel>eaja Bros, were well and favourably known on the Wcefc Coast and all over t-ho and the Government wexe to be congratulated on the fact tihat that firm.had received the contract. They wer& apparently going to lose no opportunity that and determination could provide*to complete the contract, expeditiously. Mr Murdoch McLean, in rceponding, said that it would take twelve months to got the perma-nent plant* Installed. In the meantime, however, they had temporary plant which would enable them to drive the heading at as great a speed as if they had their permanent plant at work. They Jioped to carry out their contract \i\n the timo specified, provided they met with no excessively 'hard rock. The plant they had-' wat* fht? bet»t> in the Dominion, and tJiey . honed, with the. assietance cf tihe New Zealand to eoniicc± the provinces of Canterbury and Wcrjtland, and co feel that tluvy liad done enmethiiK* ,for tlieix country. "Tlio Visitois,'' proposed by the Ohairman, was responded to by Holland (.SpringfieJd) and T. A. Peterkin (i/ower Hutt).

Th? tonst-list was concluded with tho usual compliment to the chairmaiii, proposed by "the Promier. The strains of the Xatioii.nl AntJie-m eigualjod th.p conclusion of an entirely t.'ijoyo.blo function, and in a few niinutes the crowd was driving, riding, or walking, but al] splashing back to Otira. The Prpmior and party left Otira tliortly after o p.m. for Greymouih.