WEST COAST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 26

WEST COAST NEWS.

(From Oub Own Correspondent.) July 17. A good deal of disappointment is felt ° district 3-t the restricted character of the celebrations which the Government has decided upon in connection with the opening of the tunnel. It is perhaps natural that the people of the Cqast should bo disposed to attach more importance than others to this event, which means so much to them, and to which they have been so eagerly looking forward for so long. ; Many of them had pictured a two days’ celebration, the second’ being devoted to the school children. Four thousand visitors to Otira was a moderate estimate for the occasion. And now the department says that the whole celebration must be confined to two and a-half hours, and that the train arrangements from the Coast cannot bo made to accommodate more than 400 passengers. It is perhaps just as well. There is a lot of influenza about, we are in the dead of winter, and Otira is notorious for its rain and wind, and will certainly at this season be very cold. Trains will cater for passengers from Ross and Reeiton. All local bodies of the district will be represented. The parliamentary contingent will leave Wellington on the Friday evening, and get back by the Saturday night ferry. Probably there will be a delay in the sailing of the ferry so as to enable the visitors to attend the banquet which has been arranged in Christchurch by the Progress Deague. The Westportonians are offering a suggestion (which, however, is not likely to . be adopted) that the parliamentary visitors travel via Blenheim and Nelson on their way to Otira. Tunnel Traffic.—■ It. is not the intention of the department to run a daily express service as yet between Christchurch and this district. Here, again, there will he disillusionment for many who had pictured daily communication between East and West. The present proposal is to run a passenger express each day on four davs of the 'week, and a goods or mixed train on the other days. If the volume of traffic should warrant" it, a daily service mav be instituted; but this is not likely until the beginning of the tourist season. The inauguration of rail communication will be doubly appreciated hv travellers under present weather conditions. The incessant rain has made the Gorge road very slippery. On one day of last week the horses had even to detached from the coaches and the coaches drawn past dangerous places. Tire large number of passengers were over an hour late in reaching Greymouth. Coal Shortage.— In order to relieve the coal shortage in Canterbury the railway auth irities have commenced accepting coal traffic through the tunnel, and on Saturday last a first loud of 13 trucks from Rcefton and the

State mines was brought through. Before this can become regular, however, some alterations will have to be made in the present arrangements. The freight, is proportionately higher on a short run, and at present the Railway Department is charging on one section to Otira and on another from Arthur’s Pass. To this must be added the Public Works’ special rale through the tunnel. The result is that it costs 10s per ton more to bring coal by land than by sea. This, of course, is fatal, and if the idea becomes fixed that freight is to be cheaper by sea it will prejudice the prospects of tunnel traffic. Merchants are at a loss to know why the Railway Department cannot make one charge from the Coast to Christchurch, and then add the cost through the tunnel. Reefton Mining.— There is a stir in mining circles at Reefton. The Inglewood mine, in conjunction with the Golden Fleece, have been floated into a company, taken up principally by Christchurch investors. Murray Creek coal mines are also in demand. One mine in that district has been disposed of lo a Christchurch synd cate, which proposes linking up with the Rcefton Coal Company’s railway line by means of an aerial tramway. South Westland Bridges.— South Westland is steadily overcoming its serious handicap of unbridged rivers. The Waitangi bridge, the last of the larger river bridges, is now ready for traffic. Several other contracts are contemplated, and it is expected that, a large vote will be included in the Estimates this year for a suspension bridge over the Waiho. The Public Works Department is calling tenders for two concrete arched bridges on the Main South road to replace the present wooden structures. These will be the first of their kind in this, district. These improvements, taken in comunclicn with the completion of the tunnel, wifi quite change the aspect of affairs from the tourist point of view for next season. • —Housing Scheme. — At the last meeting of the Grey County Council a scheme was suggested to provide houses for roadmen in the employ of the council by means of a loan under the Advances to Settlers Act. It was felt that good roadmen could only be obtained if suitable housing were provided.. The Altarau Sawmilling Company, which provides for the maintenance of a portion of the road in its district, offered to provide timber for the erection of a house for its roadman if the County Council would undertake the erection. The offer was accepted. Lord Jellicce is expected to visit this district next January, during the Exhibition at Hokitika. . Several changes have been made m the staff of the Grey Technical High School, Mr Feris (Hamilton), Mr Clarke (Wanganui), and Miss Adams (Masterton) having received appointments therein. After an absence of 25 years kakas, have have made their appearance in large numbers in some of the sawmill areas near Hokitika.