THE TUNNEL.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1923, Page 4

THE TUNNEL.

' FIXING OF OPENING DATE STATEMENT DV HON ,J. G. COATES CMI’JSTCriUUCTL April 21. "The <l:ito for the opening ceremony in connection with the Otirn tunnel cannot he fixed until it is determined whether the opening shall take place while the tunnel is under the control cf the Public Work,; Department, or not until the Pnihvuv Department a—suin.es control,’’ stated the Hull .1. (•'. Coates, Minister o! Pul.lic Work-, to evening. Mr Coates said it was ins iniention ii pay another visit to the tunnel v. Thin the next week or tv. a in or I -a to . • ho.v til l work was progressing, tic; would maki a sintemetU ropy;rdill;.; the opening date a- early as pen--hole, hut certain matters would ! to ho ..'is; -cd v. i.ii the i’aiiway IF-i arliM-ia Hr t. "I still believe that it will he p'.r-.-il.i’e to get goods traffic through the tunnel either at the end of this month cv the be;-inning of next month,” added Mr Centra. While the drivers of the elec trie !-. omuli.i- :nv unciergeiic' their training, goods, such as timber and coni will lie tnkc-’.l through the tunnel. 1 can say that tlchnit-nly. iutcmioii of carrying out its trials la i raid !.;» pa •••!••;• r traliic . Mr C, Hi - ; del Hint the "aihvnv Dejiariuntil the drivers had had a month’.-' b'.-t'ore j li-'-ir'i-r traffic would he rarli.ci. .V not her ip.icsL ion to he o'litaken over by the llailwa.v !M,:;;: i ■ to he used oil lie tuiiucl section. That would mean that passengers from gcasa. rjenrzrxix*!

Christchurch to Grey-month would hove to iliango from one train into another at -Arthur's Pass and. after going through the fun no!. change into another train at (.Hire, for the rest of the journey. In tin's connection the (jtietli'jn of obtaining uliirieut rolling stock lor Public Works Department's trains was likely to bo a difficulty. ' 1 rs far a' I’m concerned, the nn:::--l will handed over to the Railway Department as early as can he managed,” said Mr Coates, ‘‘ft certainly shall be within the next three months.” The sectional charges for goods traffic. .Mr Centos ox j darned, would operate while t!:o tunnel section was ruder the control of liis department, but in any case, it would not ho for \c*ry Ion;.:. Tin- noun thing was to gel the line in use and the Public Works l.Vpa.mnem w:,.> no .v concentrating ell the c 'enli.ii v. or:, and not worrying lmich about 100 frills. Ifo was satisfied that good pro.'! css wa- bring made and that the public would scon hr able to receive- goods through the tunnel. ftSSVX3^^^iS^f^^^SSSSOtSBXtWBSSJS3OBettSK3B3SSSBBa!S^KP.