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Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1921, Page 2

Titk volume of traffic oast and west, appears to ho maintained above the average longer than usual this seasqn. It would he rather interesting to obtain a return of the number who have travelled via Otira Gorge during the holiday season ns an indication of the steady growth of communication, and as supplying some idea of the traffic likely to result when through traffic finally obtains. Nearly every trip of late taxes the coaching accommodation to tae fullest and something requires to he done if the district is to have the benefit of the further resultant increase. The matter of providing for transport in a temporary way through the tunnel has been suggested, and this is the only aJL

tentative to increasing the coaching plant. The latter is not a very hopeful proposition, because of the comparatively short duration tlio service has to run. The Government might be induced to take over the coaching plant, or perhaps bfttter still supplement it with a suitable high powered and low geared motor service. T-ie heavy loads and long pull is exacting on horseflesh in the hot summer weather, and the trip is unduly drawn out. Suitable motor cars might make two trips, while the coaches complete one journey: If this could not m»» done at a reasonable cost, as regards plant, then their remains an improvised service through the tunnel. The matter is of great importance to the Coast which has everything to gain by drawing more people this way. It seems painfully clear now that there is so much work to do outside the tunnel, that the inside work will be completed well in advance. Despite the warnings given on this possibility in the past, which tho Government unheeded, the prognostications are coming true. T.ie completion of the works are going to be held up unduly and it is tor the people to see that the best is made of this bad job, and the Government urged to minimise the effect of their own remissness by meeting the difficulty more than half way with action to provide temporarily for the growing through traffic.

Accokdino to all accounts the Canterbury people regard the installation of electric power in their province with great satisfaction. They look to the power stimulating the whole country side. This optimism is general, and wherever possible the power is being got in. ‘Last week Kowai County voted for a substantial loan by an overwhelming majority to provide for a reticulation service thirty to forty miles north of Christchurch. The people recognise the value of the power for all kinds of industrial purposes, and the cheap rate at which it is being supplied is creating industries on all sides. As fast ns the power can he developed at Lake Coleridge the full .consumption is being drawn on. South Canterbury now is most insistent for an electric service, and is prepared to instal it without delay. Timaru, however, is outside the immediate zone of-supply, hut on Saturday the Timaruvinns were to he well represented in the deputation to Hon Mr Coates at Lake Coleridge to urge their demands. The prospect for business of a mutually profitable character being so. assured, the Government is anxious naturally to cater for it, and no doubt the Lake Coleridge power plant will he added to as fast as the requisite machinery can lie installed. In fact the Government now has a scheme to increase the flow of water into Lake Coleridge for power development purposes, and to-day the Minister of Public Works is to inspect an undertaking of this nature. All this points to the practical utility of electric power for purposes of advancement. The Canterbury experience, is but a repetition of that of other countries with wisdom enough to undertake the enterprise. With these assurances of certain success the people of Westland can look to a local project with every confidence of success once it is reported on by the experts as economically sound. Looking to happenings across tho ranges, the peojile of this district should urge contemporaneous action with the leastpossible delay.