OTIRA TUNNEL

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15306, 6 August 1923, Page 5

OTIRA TUNNEL

SATURDAY'S CEREMONY,

WEATHER,

A. GREAT WORK ACCOMPLISHED

! By Telegraph.—Press Association. ARTHURS PASS, Saturday. After a good run from Christchurc.h the special train conveying -visitors to the Otira Tunnel arrived at Arthur's Pass at 12 noon. The sky -was clouded over, and snow was falling on the ranges. From Coralynn there was snow all the way beside the" line, and miniature waterfalls had frozen, will bold mountains for a background. The scene was impressive in its grandeur, and one of the outstanding spectacles on ihe trip was a wonderful view of the deep gorge of Waimakariri, especially near Otarama, at the site of the proposed electrical power scheme. Though the weather was cold, it was not bleak, and the four hours' journey passed quickly. West Coasters in force met the train at Arthur's Pass, and gave the East Coasters a rousing reception. There was much handshaking, cheering and jubilations. The township itself was decorated, and presented a pretty scene in a snow Betting.

OTIRA, Saturday. The completion of the Otira Tunnel, the greatest achievement in the history of the New Zealand railways, was celebrated to-day in a way befitting the tremendous"- importance of the occa-

sion. The opening- of the tunnel for -railway communication between the W oast and west coasts of the South Island Is an accomplished fact. Unfortunately weather conditions for the celebrations were not as pleasant as had been hoped for. Early this morning a heavy downpour was followed by misty rain, which continued throughout the morning. This was the first rain at Otira since June 28. The Westland train arrived at 10.45. a.m., eight minutes late, and proceeded through the tunnel to Arthur's Pass, but was held up in the tunnel 23 minutes, due to a minor fault in the overhead wires. It was followed at 1.50 p.m. by the Christchurch train, which was received with cheering by a large crowd on the railway platform. The opening ceremony was held in the power house. Mr Massey said he was pleased to be present on this occasion, as it was . an event of great national importance. It was a case of the long-looked-for come at last. The railway was completed, and the tunnel was here. (Applause.) East was East and West was West, and already the trains had met, and the people of the two provinces could join hands and work together for the common good. He could remember the old discussions in Parliament when the late Mr Richard Seddon took part. He never forgot the West Coast. Traversing its past history, Mr Massey said that when the tunnel was under the Public Works Department Sir William Fraser had done a great deal for its conclusion. They, owed a great deal to him, and

to the officials and workmen. It was the biggest tunnel in the Empire, and

something to be proud of. He expected a great deal of traffic through Ue 'tunnel. There was more hard coal ~n Westland than in all the rest of New and the timber resources too; were magnificent. If he were any . judge of passenger traffic, it would be tremendous. He hoped everyone pre-

sent would assist in making the line a success.

Sir Joseph Ward said he could congratulate Westland and Canterbury and the whole of the Dominion on the attainment of what they had been trying for, and praying for for over 50 years. The tributes paid to the services of the officials "and workmen were well deserved. They had done their part splendidly. They had a lot to thank the pioneers for, particularly Mr Richard Seddon, who had fought all along for the tunnel. He himself had never been pessimistic in connection, with the Midland Railway, and he was sure tha-t in five or ten years the results would astonish them all. After other speeches had been given, the power-house machinery was ipspected, and at 3.40 the people boarded the Christchurch train which the Hon. J. G. Coates drove through the ribbon held by tunnel workers.

CANTERBURY BANQUET. PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH. .By Telegraph.—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. In 'connection with the opening of the Otira tunnel, the banquet organ- ■ ised by the Canterbury Progress League was fitting conclusion to a day of memorable functions. Nearly 300 were present. Mr Massey, on rising to propose the toast of "United Canterbury and Westland," was enthusiastically cheered, the ovation concluding with musical honours. He said it would always be interesting to look back on what had taken place in the matter of .■ communication between Christchurch f and the West Coast. The splendid teams of horses, well-equipped ' coaches, and the courageous and • skilled ' men who drove the coaches from one side of the island to. the other for many years would not for long be forgotten. Referring to West Coast possibilities he said he was one of those who believed that they had not' seen the last of the gold of the West Coast. He would not believe all the quartz reel's ' had been discovered, and he believed there was a possibility of development in that direction, lie also believed Westland bad a great agricultural future before it. The bush country or Westland would bo difficult to bring into cultivation, but it would be worth doing. Mr Massey remarked that -he had been delighted to notice that the whole of the machinery connected with the electrical working of Hie tunnel was British made. It was thoroughly up-to-date, and he believed it would compare favourably with any machinery made fur the purpose in any other part of Hie world. Programme Facing Country.

New Zealand was asking for development and must get it. The Arthur's Pass section of the Kast and West Coast railway was not the only railway that required to ho constructed. There were railways in the North and South 'lslands that had been commenced and should be completed. There were roads waiting to he made for motor traffic and sources of liydroe'lectriclty to he developed. The Premier then referred lo the corning Imperial Conference, which ho thought would he the. most important conference yet held. A very greal deal might depend on if. " i hope to leave at the end of this month," he said, " but I am not at all certain

about it. It depends on Parliament. Jf the work is not, sufficiently forward then J will have to stay until it is. 1 have to think of my duty to the Do-

minion and to the Empire, and I propose to do both to the best of my ability. (A voice: 'The Empire first.') ' The Empire first' —l thoroughly agree. If we cannot manufacture certain articles and commodities in our own country, then our duty in the circumstances Is to go to our fellowcitizens in Britain for them."

The banquet concluded at midnight, and a special train with North Island visitors left for Lyttelton shortly afterwards.