CLYDE NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13846, 8 March 1907, Page 3

CLYDE NOTES.

THE ACTIKG-PETMB MINISTER AlfD THE OTAGO CEUTKAL CELEBBAH'lOtf COMMITTEE. tJFaoa Oro Own Cobhespokdeot.) CLYDE, March S. Some time ago a public meeting was called at Civile for the purpose of taking stepsto celebrate in a fitting manner the completion of tho Otago Central Railway to this lovg looked for terminus. A strong connuitteo was formed, and nn invitation was sent to tho Acting-prime Minister asking him to attend a function in the afternoon and a banquet in tho evening of the opening day. That invitation ha promptly accepted, and acting upon his acceptance the committee made elaborate arrangements and sent out its invitations so that everything might bo worthy of tlie occasion, and the event one to be remembered. Somo friction took place between Alexandra and Clyde, the former place contending that half the function should take place there, tho latter that Clyde, being the terminal town, was entitled (o the wholo both on thp.t account and because it was tho nearest centre for visiting Central Otogo people, but promising that overj' consideration would bo (liven to Alexandra's claims to have equal representation with Clyde at' both functions. On Saturday last it came to the ears of the Eecretary of the Clydo committee that despite the fact that the Acting-prime Minister had given a promise to be present aS both functions at Clyde he was communicating with Alexandra in connection with a proposal from that place, and a telegram was at once despatched to the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones. Ho replied as follows:—''Have discussed matter of railway opening with Mr Iversen. There a«o two alternatives—(l) arrive Alexandra soon after fl o'clock, allowing hour to hour and a-half for opening line there, then go on to Clyde and remain there for the night; (3) the other alternative.in few minutes at Alexandra to formally open the railway, thence on to Clyde, open railway there, one of my colleagues remaining for evening there, myself returning to Alexandra for the night. Shall be glad if you see Mr Closs and let me know which you consider Best." On Saturday evening a largely attended meeting was held at Clyde to consider the position, and the opinion was freely expressed that in the pressure of work tho Acting-primo Minister must have forgotten his promise to bo the guest of. the couimitka on the occasion of tho opening. II was pointed out that either alternative would spoil the main function at Clyde, and the feeling was that it there was to bo any departure from , the programme of such a nature as to cause the backcountry people to be disappointed the committee would withdraw and havo no function at all. Mr Smart (chairman), the Rev. "W, A. H, Fitchett, and Messrs J. J. Ramsay and H. B. Stevens (secretary), were appointed to draft a telegram to the Hon. Hall-Jones, and as a result the following message, to which at time of writing no reply has been received, was despatched on Monday morning:— "Function at Clyde not merely local, embraces whole of Central Otago. Accordingly, acting on your acceptance of invitation and promise to bo at- Clyde for afternoon and evening, arrangements have been made and invitations issued and accepted, necessitating afternoon function commencing between 2 and 3 p.m., in order to enable families irom a distance to return home, and also enable deputations to wait upon you at ■1 p.m., as provided by us in the interests of upper Clutlia and other districts. Only way this programme can be modified is that while you open a-i Alexandra, the Horn Mr Millar, who has accepted our invitation should come on and conduct official opening at Clyde, you to reach at 4 p.m. to receive deputations already mentioned and remain to district banquet at Clyde. If this cannot be curried out all our arrangements must lapse, which will causo widespread disappointment and necessitate our incurring further considerable expense in cancelling all our invitations, and it will force upon us the position of appearing to break Jaitli with those whom wo havo invited and promised to assist in their deputations. We anxiously await leply to this, and also our telegram ro alteration of date." Tho other wiro referred to was sent to the Hon. Hall-Jones prior to receipt of his telegram asking him, if possible, io alter tho dato from Easter Monday to some other day, owing to tho fact that the Clydo sporis— one of the principal gatherings in inlnud Otago—is fixed iov tfiat date. A meeting of tho committee of the Clyde sports was heM ou Tuesday evening, Mr Jofirey (presidont) baing in the chair. Jlr Jeffrey slated that tie opening of the railway having boen fixed by tho Acting Prim© Minister for Easter Monday—the day of the sports—a rumour had gone abroad that the sports would not take place, and tho meeting- was called to mike a, final decision. Ho had como to tho conclusion that the sports' would work in well with the opening function. I. was decided to hold the spert-s as usual ou Easier Monday, and carry out a full programme. -Uter on a meeting of (he Celebration Committee was held, Mr J. Smart presiding. Tlie secretory reported thai no reply had been received from the Acting Prime Minister to cither of his recent wires. It ivas also stated that the secretary of the Spoils Committee had wired for a reply ro date, but none was received. Eventually it was resolved that a wire bo scut to tho Acting Prime Minister asking for a definite reply before to-morrow night, a mass meeting to he then held to consider the matter.