THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1541, 10 September 1912, Page 8

THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

A MEETING AT QREYMOUTH. TELEGRAM FROM SHI A. GUINNESS. Sir Arthur Guinness, member for Grey, yesterday, dispatched the following telegram to the Mayor of Groymouth:— "I understand you are calling a meeting of representatives of local bodies to-day to urgo that the Government should continue the construction of tho Otira tunnel. I desiro to etate for the information of the meeting that over since the contractors petitioned Parliament through Mr. Seddon, stating their inability to carry out their contract, I have been in constant communication with members of "the Cabinet with regard to tlio continuation of tho work, and, from ■ information I possess, I feel satisfied there is no cause for taking any action to urge tho Government to continue the work, as I havo every confidonco in the Government continuing the construction of the tunnel at the greatest possible speed, should the contractors throw up their contract."

The Minister for Public Works (the Hon. W. Fraser) stated, on being interviewed yesterday, that tho Government had come to no decision regarding the tunnel, and would not do so until the committee' set up to conduct nu inquiry in reference to the petition .of the contractors to be released from theiV contract, had completed their task and reported. Sir Arthur Guinness last evening received the following telegram from the Mayor, of GreymoUtb:— "At a meeting of representatives of local bodies held this afternoon, re Otira tunnel contract, your telegram was read and the following resolution unanimously carried, namelv, that you bo thanked for your attention to this matter in the past, , and request you to continue to represent to the Government tho great importauce of the work not only to the Dominion as a whole, but also, to Westland and Canterbury in particular, and to urge the vigorous prosecution of this work. The meeting was pleased to notice from your telegram that you have every confidence that, the Government will seo that the work is carried on. Should you consider public meeting necessary to strengthen-your hands, I shall call same. Delegates from Borough, County, HaTbour, Hospital, Education .Boards, Chamber Commerce, .and other local organisations were-present." . .