WEST COAST MATTERS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13337, 1 February 1909, Page 8

WEST COAST MATTERS.

THE ARTHUR'S PASS TUXiXEL.

THE JOURNEY BETWEEN* THE COASTS.

MR T. E. Y. SEDDO.V, M.P., INTERVIEWED.

Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., who arrived from the West Coast on i'riday evening, informed a representative ot "The Press" that he ivas on his way to Wellington, for which city he leaves this evening, to look into several mutters in. which hie constituents are interested. Mr Sod do a said that a proposal was afoot to establish a Medical Association at Otira, in order to secure the services of a medical man for tho workers at both, end<i of the tunnel and the people of Otira and the clisi.net. between Otira and J aokson'&. 'iho Union held a meeting whilst -Mr rieddon was on a vii.it to Oxira ou January liSrd, and agreed to a levy of (xl per member j>or week for the purpose mentioned. Mr MoLoan (ono of uho contractors for the tunneJ) had guaranteed £"iO, and it was hoptd that with a Government subsidy the matter could bo satisfactorily arranged. -VLr McLean estimated that there would bo about 700 men ennployed in or about tho tunnel works at Otira and on the Bealey .Flat. Amongst the business taking IMr Seddon to Wellington was this matter of tho Medical Association. Mr Sedilon's attention was directed to the statements made in a telegram from Hokitik* with regard to the utiliea t ion of the water power of the West Coast rivers for mining purposes, and ho stated that it was his intention, when in Wellington, to urge ui>on the Government the desirableness of dealing as soon as 'passible with tho applications for rights to take water for hydro-electric purpose?. The. delay in granting these applications was, ho added ; causing much inconvenience. Tho mining industry ok the We-st Coast would be revolutionised by the introduction of electricity generated from the rivers.

In view of the approaching alterations in the railway time-table in connection with the Xorth Island Main Trunk line, Mr Seddon was asked if anything was being done in the direction of iproviding that passengers for the West Coast from Wellington would bo able to connect -vrith tho train for Broken River, and of providing that passengers from the West Coast could connect with the steamer at Lyttelton on the days that the coach ran.

Mr iSeddon. replied that during last session he :had, on behalf of .tJie Wee.tland Railway League, asked several questions in the House on the subject, and 'he nad been informed that it could not be _ managed withomt considerable dislocation in regard to tlio running of trains on tthe Canterbury railways between Rolleston and OhoTetchurcn. To permit of West Coast passengers oonnoatrng with t!he steamer at Lyttelton would involve tho train from Hokitifta leaving at 5 a.m. instead of 7.40 a.m. as ait present. This would mean that people desiring to travel between Hokitika and Greymouth would have to travel 'by -this early train; or, if the train was not altered, it would mean that passengers overland from Hokitika would have ito spend a might in Greymoutfli. An, earlier start than at present suit travellers from. Greymouth, but would not suit those from Hokitika. TJien, as (to passengers from Wellington connecting with the Broken River train, he pointed out that the ferry boat was not- due at Lyttelton till 7 a.m.—at wihitih. time the Broken River train loft—'and that to delay tlho departure of fhe Broken River train would mean the dislocation of traffic to and from Cliristchurch and Rolleston. The work of irailhvay construction betwoen Broken River and the Cass was being pushed on and once the distance to be covered by coach, was reduced, it would then be- possible to moke the connections desired. | Mr Seddon stated that it was expected tihat the rarilway between Hokitika and Roes would be opened in about a month's time.