Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1922, Page 2

Ttte public rirc nntnrnlly very much interested in tlie progress and probable onening of the Arthur’s Pass tunnel for traffic purposes. Various reports are flying about as to delays in pight, hut these reports are difficult to flue down to 0 definite authority, Yet, avpn nsspofiMblo fdli

thorities connected with the works are not able to s'tate at all definitely when ( the work will lie advanced sufficiently • to be ready for actual operation. The appeal of the Canterbury Progress League to Mr Coates, Hon. Minister for Public Works, elicited the usual non-com in ittal official reply which was not at all definite. Equally indefinite, too, have been the appeals to tlie English contractors for data inregard to the completion of the ele, trical works. The broad fact outstanding to the onlooker is that there is still a large amount of work to be done before tlie railway will be at all ship- ( shape, and in that degree of completion to permit of well-regulated traffic. The Arthur’s Pass end seems to he even more backward than the Otirn end. At the former, feverish efforts . are being made to complete the Bealey bridge as m.oh as possible. The eon- j struetion is being carried on over long , hours daily, hut the holidays are at hand, and work is to cense for what will be-practically a period of three weeks’ time. It is said ton, that hands are to he shortened after the holidays. There is some hope of the steam generating plant at Otirii being tried out in February, and naturally ’ a good deal depends on tlie testing. The same applies particularly to tlie testing of the electric haulage through the tunnel with the new plant. This | , n! ,y need an extended trial of some weeks, so as to ensure everything being safe and sound for passenger traffic. ft is tlie probable or even possible duration of these trial tests which makes the fixing of an opening date so problematical. In some quarters six months are being mentioned as the safest date to count on. In other quarters, there are hopes that April in tlie region of Easter time, might see passenger traffic through the tunnel in regular vogue. But there still remains a great deal to be done, and a year hence no doubt workmen will he still on tlie job. attending to works more or less essential for the completion of the through system. There is sure to be some time, too, between the trials by the Public Works Department and the period wlieit the Railway Department will finally take over. Thfc engineers of the two departments do not work in that unison which counts for the saving of time or money, but this departmental difference will not affect the public utility of the work, though it adds, necessarily, to the increased cost to the country .

In connection with the proposed exhibition to lie held here in a year’s time, folk should prepare well in advance for a very large influx ot visitors. The town and district generally will be invaded, and the more accommodation is provided over the period, the greater will be the wealth brought into the place. The motif of exhibitions is largely adveitising and as an attraction they serve a prime purpose to that end. folk are disposed to go where they can see most and an exhibition provides so many features instructive and entertaining. that, invariably, they are unique in the service they give to advertise a locally. A wcll-organsed exhibition such as it is possible to operate here, will also afford a great deal of employment over a considerable term. There will be, first, the extra labor required in connection with the buildings and the outfitting of the exhibition. The erection and decorating c.f the stalls and stands alone will he a considerable item. Then, in the equipping and running of the exhibition, there wll he a small army of employees. All these folk will require accommodation before visitors are considered so that it will he seen that the town will require to rise to the occasion in a manner in which it has never done before. These are matters worth thinking ovei, for on the way in which the town discharges this liability, depends in n great measure the success of the exhibition period. Tt is conceivable of course-flint Hokitika alone wll not he able to accommodate the fleck of visitors. Tt will he necessary to have a night train service linking up Greymouth and Ross with Hokitika, so as to increase the available accommodation for visitors. In the country districts, too, provision for an influx of holiday makers will require to he made, as folk making a trip to the Const, will desire, naturally to see a great deal of its scenic features as well. People will be oil Hip move everywhere, both prior to and subsequent to the exhibition* period. Tt will he incumbent on those able to do so, to catei as largely as possible for the visiting throngs due here in a year’s time, and it is necessary to realise this fact as soon as possible, so that the most can be made of the time available for adequate preparation. From what has been gleaned of tlie possibilities of the exhibition, it will lie a time of great opportunity for the district as a whole to advertise itself, and though the actual exhibition will be held here, the influx of visitors will spread themselves all through the district, and all parts which cater for the occasion will have the opportunity of participating i-i the orofits to he derived.