OTIRA TUNNEL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14689, 22 August 1918, Page 2

OTIRA TUNNEL.

THE PUBLIC CEREMONY. ■SIR W. PHASER'S PERSISTENCE REWARDED. (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Fine weather- was experienced to-day for the function -at ' Arthur's Pass m connection with firing the shot break- , ing down the headings of the, Arthur's Pass tunnel. The\' visitors from Christchurch numbered 290^ including the Acting-Prime Minister, Sir Wm. Fraser, ,- the Hon. G. W. Russell,, the Mayor, Mrs. R. J. »Seddon and two daughters. , mid representiitivc men of Canterbury. About 140 representative men of the West Coast joined the party at Arthur * Pass. . , .•..'. Sir. William Fraser, at 2.30 p.m., front tlie BeaJey mouth of the. tunnel, electrically .lived - a 'shot One' mile and iUhulf m 'the tumic'l,: breaking tlo'xvii the • lleacJ-.Ugs, aiid; the baiid phiyed -ihw Nattoiiai Anthem. Sir Wm ; ifraser atiolpgiscd for the absence of the Hon. ;Mlv Herries, and said that, .speaking for, himself — and ■he believed Cabinet would agree-r-hc looked Upon the work as ; one of Domin- . ion importance. The pass .-, was discovered m 1864 by Arthut* Dudley Dobson. . -who lie was pleased to see present. The Minister read a telegram expressing congratulations from Mrs. Hay, widow , of the late Mr. Hay,'. Erighieer-in-Chief', who had been conlieqted .with, the wc>rk. After referring to tho lustory of 'lvht railway' and tlie tunnel, the Ministei alluding to those who hud worked foi the railway, mentioned, the?, -late Rt. Hon. R.. jf. Seddon, and said he was pleased to see representatives of the family present. Regarding . the completion of the work, he said money was :only available for public works after war lequirements' had been , met, and j completion of ' the work' depended on 1 how, long the war lasted. He sincerely hoped, that if circiimstances ware favor.ablo the. work would be completed m two Years or two years aiid a-half j but the oiily . pledge he could give Mas that he would do all he could to see the work finished as early as possible. He complimented the engineers on the acciu'acy . of the work, and called fpi three clieera for the engineer, lias staff, and ; the workmen.- ' Sir, James Allen conveyed the congratulations of the Prime Minister iUid the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald (wl'it telegraphed 'Sir Joseph Ward's 'con gratulatious) oil the progress" of the work. His interest m the line as Minister for Defence, was on account ol its' strategic importance. From thai • viewpoint the line was perhaps tUue most valuable m the Dominion, lfoi defence purposes, the line was of enor mous value, and if it had been com pleted it would JiaVe been much appre eiated how, 6wiiig to the coal short age. Tlie line would be not only bene ficial to Canterbury and the West Coast but to the whole of New Zealand. The Hon. Mr. Russell said he tool off liis hat to Sir Wm. Fraser for tin persistence with which he> hadvinsistec on the work being carried through, de spite immense pressure fx'om one pan of the Dominion that wanted expendi ture on tli© line stopped. He though Canterbury should erect a statue tk Sir William Fraser when the line" was completed. He referred to. the pleasun it would have given Mr. Tom Seddon M.P., to be pi'esentj and Su; Wm Fraser called foi» dlieers for Mr. Ton -, Seddon. ! Referring to the resources of tin CoastJ' Mi*. Russell said possibly thi quartz which was the origin 1 of thi .alluvial gold would be ultimately dis covered. • t Mr. Holhuid, Mayor. of Christchurch spoke of the advantages oi tho line t< both , Coasts* ■ . - 1 Mr. Lynch; {Greymoutli) expressed tin desire for the Coast to get closer con „; nection with Canterbui-y, aiid referrei to!.,ecoiipi)ifei_i.-fto -bo effected, especialli m regard to- coal, when the line Wa* completed. j Mrs. Seddon. thanked the gatherim ! v for remembering her son Tom, wind to'iched'- hor very hiuch. I Mr. .Hewlett, president of the Can * terbury Chamber of Commerce, said tin I advantages of the line appealed to any ( one with cpmmcrcidl instincts, especi j ally at a time like the present, whei „ the shortage of shipping interfered s< \ hiuch with -.the Dominion's trade. I ' The Hon.- J. Grimmond said »t'lie Wcsl • j Coast, joined .-.; with ■-•■ Canterbury and -the > Whole Dominion m expressing, appro va' 1 of the work. He liad been connected with the- agitation foi* 40 year's, and ! hoped to live to se© the railway com s pleted. .:.-..- Cheers were given; by Canterbury foi the West Coast and vice, versa, and cheers for Sir Wm. Fraser ended the , ceremony. - / • ' ' t. - —__——_— ________■■ t