THE OTIRA TUNNEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15553, 7 September 1912, Page 4

THE OTIRA TUNNEL

MEETING IN HOKITIKA,

(Peb United Press Assocutiox.)

HOKITIKA, September ,6. A public meeting was held here this evening for the purpose ol urging upon tlie Government the necessity of pushing on with all possible haste the completion of the Otira tunnel, thereby connecting the east and west coast 3by railway. The Mayor (Mr G. Perry) presided, and introduced the subject by expressing tlw hope that the completion of the tunnel would be expedited iu every possible way. , . It was pointed out that an approximate amount of £500,000 had already been expended in piercing the mountain, and as this meant about £250 per week at the rate of 4 per cent., it was felt that the Dominion a3 a whole would proht if the Government used every endeavour to expedite tho completion of the connection. It was also stated that the construction works between Jackson and the west side of tho rango to Springfield on the cast coast bad already cost the country about one million sterling. The longer it occupied U> complete what is regarded as a great national undertaking the greater would be the loss that would result to the country by reason of the railway earning only a portion of what .1 would earn if the line were completed. Tho following resolution was earned 11 „animously:-"Th:.t this meeting o ratepayers and citizens of the Borough of Hokilika desires most respectfully to urge upon the Government tho grea import"of the ««l ■««*■ Wert Coart railway to the people of the whole Dominion, and mticii arl • those of Wwttaml and Canteron v hopes that Uou thatlm arisen in conncchon with the Otira tunnel contract will not be carrying out of the work. It v-as also Iolv«l toco-operate with the ofter pub lie bodies of Westland and CanterCy te urge upon the Government to In the completion o tic Uinnc, which is being eagerly looked toward to bj-the people living «i this «dc of the ranges. _^