ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16289, 13 August 1918, Page 6

ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL

MEETING OF HEADINGS. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUNCTION.

I The executive of the Arthur's Pass Tuunel League met yesterday aftei noon to consider arrangements in connexion I with the function to mark the meeting i of the headings which is to bo hold at Arthur's Pass on tho 21st inst. Mr H. Holland (Mayar of Christchurch and president of tho Loague) presided, and there were present:—Messrs A. Kayo, H. J. Marriner, A. Dmlloy Dobson, H. S. Hobday. H. Quane, W.Goss, George Harper. F. H. Labatt, and H. It. Smith (town clerk). The chairman said that the Minister of Public Works (Sir William Fraser) had telegraphed to him stating that a special train, to convey 300 people, would be provided for tno Canterbury visitors to tho function, for whom 110 charge would be made. At the Minister's request he had suppliod a list of official visitors totalling 65 (including 20 members of Parliament), and n further list had been drawn iip % which brought the total to about 213. * He had' received a lettor from tho committee in Greymouth which has in hand the arrangements for the West Coast, and it stated that it was estimated that about 130 people from the West Coast would attend the function. As the West Coasters had arranged for the luncheon on the occasion of firing the first shot at the tunnel, and as those who attended the approaching function would require to pay coach fare from Ot'ra to Arthur's Pass, it was suggested that the, Canterbury League should make provision for the luncheon. With regard to . the luncheon, the chairman stated that thoso attending tho function would be the guests of the Christchurch City Council. Owing to the nature of the accommodation at Arthur's Pass, it would require five sittingß to give all who attended an opportunity to set lunch. It was pro-posed-to forwaru to each person invited, in addition to the railway ticket, a little card of invitation. As regards toasts at the luncheon, the chairman suggested that they should be limited to two—the King and tho Minister of Public Works. Mr Kaye remarked that, as all could not sit down to luncheon at the same time, it would be better to have no speeches, but to defer them till those present gathered round the tunnel mouth.

The lists prepared by tho chairman and others were'gone through, and several additional names were.included. It -was decided to refer matters connected with the issue of the invitations to a sub-committee consisting of Messrs Holland, Marriner, Quane, and Kay©. A suggestion that light refreshments —sandwiches and tea, and so forth — should be providod in addition to tho luncheon was referred to the same subcommittee.

Tne chairman announced that the tram for Arthur's Pass on the 21st would leave Christchurch at 8.40 a.m., Springfield at 10.30 a.m., and arrive at Arthur's Pasa at 12.30 p.m.; it would Vv? Arth " r ' s Pass at 3.30 p.m., Springfield at 5.26 p.m., and reach Christchurch at <3.55 p.m. The train would stop at all stations to pick uj> and set down representatives of the country dietricts attending the function.