Canterbury Progress League.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1922, Page 4

Canterbury Progress League.

ANNUAL RETORT.

_AL tho annual meeting of the tan- i terbury Progress League at Cliri-l-ehureh to-day, the following matters pertaining to the interests ol Westland are iiieUu.iod.in the report to he submit-, ted to the meeting:— t | Otira Tunnel.—The League's policy of watchfulness has been well maintain- ; ed tlirougliout the period now under review. The Organiser’s quarterly vn-d s , of inspection to tho tunnel works have been carried out as in the previous year and his reports, which have been p’eseined to the Executive, and published in the newspapers, have served to keep the public fully informed of the progress of the work. If unloreseeii troubles do not arise, and the same vmi la nee is maintained, it is anticipated that the tunnel will be ready tor trnilic !,v the end of the’present year. A careful watch, however, will have to he kept, and a policy of hustle instituted |,v the Department if this result is to lie obtained. Delays at this stage, however slight, are sure to lead to disappointment, and the Dengue must see 1 to it that a .determined effort is made to advance the work with all speed, the hoamic ran lie relied upon to do its full kharo. riid looks to local bodies and the public generally to support it ill j whatever action it may deem necessary j to press forward the completion of tins important undertaking. I Forestry.—A consitlornmo amount . interest has been diplavod by the Leuin connection with all matters pertaining to forestry. The recent dec.si,,n of the Department to establish a South Island experimental station near . Hokitika lias been 011 c of the projects ’ with whirl, the League has boon successfully associated. The land for this : station'has already been n«Hiirod. and as so in as money is available for the purpose, the station will he fully equipped to carrv out the important expenn,;.„ts reoiiired in connection with read ore-tat ion and other phases 01 branches of forestry. Tho location of the proposed State School of Forestry still remains unsettled. After < oiisultni’ion with the Chairman of the Canterbury (adl tg. Hoard of Governors. Members of 1 arliaineiil and others interested in having the School established in Canterbury it was considered advisable, during the voar to again remind the Government of the need for giving effect to the recommendations of the Director of Forestry Sir Francis Dell. ( ominissioiier „f State Forests, and then Acting Piimo Minister kindly consented to come to Christ church to receive a deputation on duly Kith. Advantage was taken of this offer to organise ft deputation. which, for its size and representative character stands unique m the history of the Province. J'. '"as in effect, a demonstration of pohbo ‘‘P"’ioii throughout the whole of the- South Island. Tu addition to an aUeiulance of repnsentative pul.lie citizens, wh.oli lully overtaxed the available accommodation in the City Chamber, letters and tclo,,rmns were received from all parts ol fhe Island. Although the Mniisior could not give a definite assurance that the School would 1.0 established at Ciin- ' torhury College, his reply was. iK'verthe

less, entirely syiup uu-u-. oil greatly impressed with the ease that bad lioon made out. Hunil education.-—A good deal lecture work has l.oon earried out m Cant erbttrv since the last Annual Meeting of the Longue. Lectures have boon given in almost every part of the dis-trict.-and thanks are due to Messrs A. 11. Cocknvne. (L 11. Uolfoe 1. 1-. I . AVsird R. AfeGillivrav E. Clayton and ethers for their valuable services m this connection. In addition to these lectures a Winter -School for farmers at Hokitika has recently terminated with most successful results. This latter project. was carried out in ro n'i'< ll with the AV.IvA. and the AVestland Committee of the League. GuiM a number of Ca.nlerhury farmers were in attendance, and expressed the wish that the School should become an annual event. The need, of « Farm Sc hool being carried out in Canterbury has not been overlooked. Indeed steps were taken to hold one last winter, hut. owing to the difficulties arising, the attempt was abandoned. Tt is honed that something in this direction might lie carried out during the cumin • winter months. Westland Committee. ■ Regular monthly meetings of the Westland; Committee have been held throughout the year, and many important .questions’ have been dealt with. The sueport and cooperation of the ( ennmittee in connection with the Otira tunnel has been a decided factor in aiding the completion of this important undertaking. The question of bridging toe South AA'eslland river Inis been g .e'i considerable ill-ntinn, •mi the wm-t; that has been done to date is the outcome of persistent representations that , have been made. 1 The construction of the landing at . firueo liny has also been slr-mgly urged while lice telephone ami llln.il'services have received equal attention with most sntil'tuTo'ry results. The Committee has not overlooked the value of education, and quite a hit has been ! dune in the way of lectures and papets j nn many subjects of public interest. I More recently the Committee has or- | eanised, in cun junction with the | w.K.A. and the parent bodv. a. most ' successful Winter School for farmers and teachers at Hokitika, which pr<>1 niise.s to become an annual event. Noti the least important event was the lccI tore given bv Or Teiebelniaim m • ! Christchurch, which owing to its success i and popularitv had to he repeated twice i before audiences, which completely I overtaxed the nvailalde sealing accommodation. Indeed, hundreds of people I failed to gain admission to the hall, j Many other matters have engaged the i ' attention of the Committee during the' year, and altogether a most, successful • programme of w-ork has been efirriecl out with profitable and lasting results . to AA’estland anil Canterbury.