THE PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17631, 7 December 1922, Page 11

THE PROGRESS LEAGUE.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. A meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Progress League was held last night, Mr W. K. McAlpine presiding over a good attendance. Lake Coleridge. The society's organiser, Mr P. RClimie, reported with regard to the Lake Coleridge scheme that he had recently inspected the Harper river diversion. A gang of men were at work on the construction of a weir across the site of tho old outlet. At tho present time the Lake was rising at a rate of about 4ft per week, the present ievol being 1064.55 ft. above sea-level. The flow at present was about 570 cusecs, which represented almost the whole flow of the Harper. Difficulty was still being experienced at the intake gates, due to the deposit of shingle blocking the entrance to th& race. At present the ilow was insufficient to 'carry the shingle. He was of the opinion that the position would continue to be unsatisfactory until the gates were removed. The gates had been erected only as a temporary measure in any case. Under tho present circumstances any flow exceeding GOO cusecs would cause a serious blockage of the race due to the deposit of silting up at the gates. This had previously happened on every occasion that " a flood had occurred since tho diversion had been effected, and was likely to continue until the impediment had been removed,. The only remedy, namely, that of scooping off tho shingle deposits, was very expensive and quite unsatisfactory. But in many ca-:ea the shingle was deposited faster than it could be removed, with a consequent largo wastage of water. ■ The report was adopted. Otixa TunneL A further report was submitted by the organiser regarding the work on the Arthur's Pass tunnel. The report stated that although satisfactory progress was being made at both Arthur s Pas.* and Otira, it was not nearly so marked as on the occasion ot his visit two months ago. The weather had been somewhat unfavourable of late, however, and rainfall had been exceptionally severe. With regard to the Otira, the station yard, rail-laying, blasting, subway, platform, and power station building were all virtually completed, so also were the two reservoirs which would supply water to the station, while the bulk of the electric Doles had been erected. Three boilers haAbeen installed in the power station. A commencement _ had also been made on the installation of the second turbino and generator. The railway township, comprising 43 cottages, was advancing towards completion. At Arthur's Pass thei position was not nearly so striking. While the rail-laying and plate-laying were virtually complete, a good deal of formation work on the platform and subway remained to be done. The railway bridge, too, had yet to be B hiftej| Steady progress, too, had been made with the girder bridge over the Bealey, and this should! be finished before the end of the month. A start was to be made with the erection of dwellings on a site already cleared, but the number of houses had been reduced from 18 to eight. It waft anticipated that the electrical work would be finished by the end of February, and the line should be open for traffic some time in April. A telegram was read from Mr D. Evans, of the Westland Branch. It stated: "Reported some electrical parts Otira tunnel not yet cast. Delaying opening. In interest of trade and commerce, if possible, please obtain announcement of date of opening." Mr A. 6. Henderson stated that the report seemed to suggest that the Government's promise, to the effect that the opening would be at Easter, was not going to be fulfilled. He thought that the League should urge upon the Government the necessity for fulfilling its promise becausei all the time the tunnel remained unopened) the interest bill was running up. The Chairman stated that evidently some misunderstanding had arisen with, regard to the casting of electrical appliances, which had occasioned the wire above mentioned. The delay had evidently arisen in connexion with th© electric automatic-signalling appliances for the new line, and it could be appreciated that the difficulties which faced the installation of this system would necessarily delay it, but this might not affect the opening of the tunnel. The report was adopted, and it was resolved to urge the Government to leave no stone unturned to have the tunnel opened before the Easter holidays if possible. General. A statement was received from the Minister of Public Works to the effect that after the accumulated loss on the accumulated deficit in connexion with the Lake Coleridge power scheme had been worked off, the current rates would be revised. The Minister stated that the current charges were in no sense the basis of a flat rate throughout the Dominion. The president pointed out that no definite reply had been made by the Minister to the League's protest on the question of charges, and such reply was important and was greatly desired. The appeal for funds for the Canterbury publicity campaign is meeting with good response, and the organiser expects to have all details completed, in the course of the next fortnight. It was reported that the Christchurch Ratepayers' and Citizens' Association had affiliated with the League. An appeal was received from the Anniversary Day Committee asking that December 16th should be recognised as a public holiday. The organiser pointed out that there was a genoral tendency amongst employers and employees to drop this occasion as a holiday, and no matter how much the League might like to support the request, it was up against a pretty solid wall of objection. Mr A. G. Henderson suggested that Show Day should be recognised as Anniversary Day. The matter was held over until the next meeting.