Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1923, Page 2

Tiie oft-repeated query, “What’s in a name!''” frequently recurs in practice. The' nomenclature of the Tasman Sea was lately a burning question, there being a desire to change the name to Anzae Sea. Now we have a desire expressed in some quarters to change the n.tm of Arthur’s Bass tunnel to Otira tunnel. The tunnel was definitely christened Arthur’s J’ass tunnel by the Prime Minister on the occasion of the firing of the first shot in 1908. The name, Sir Joseph Ward stated at the time, was carefully selected by Cabinet after weighing all the circumstances cf the position. The name was selected out of compliment to Mr Arthur Dobson, tho well-kHown Canterbury surveyor, who discovered the Pass at the time tlie Provincial Government of Canterbury was seeking tlie most direst and practicable route to Westland. There were two brothers involved in the selction of the route, and the second brother George, agreed that Arthur’s choice of a serviceable pass was the lietter, and in dtscribing it, called it Arthur’s pass, by which it came to lie known geographically. Now when tin. tunnel through the mountain is to supersede the road, it seems very fitting that the name of the first discoverer of the through route should still bo associated with the highway. In any case Dobson is a name honorably associated with Westland and respectfully held in memory. Tlie Dohsoii family have rendered great services to the Dominion and to seek to take from the family the honor so hardly won in generous public service is not in keeping with our best traditions for honoring work well done. Tho suggestion is to rename the tunnel “Otira.” Otira is a name with a world-wide reputation, but its association is with a renowned Gorge to which artists and writers have paid tribute always. To transfer the name to a tunnel might he confusing to the public mind not acquainted with the local conditions. If there is any sentiment in relation to the naming of the tunnel, it is attached to the name first selected, and it is in that relation the name should continue. The name stood as such officially for fifteen years, and there is no real reason for a change now. Wo have the Otira railway station adjacent to the beautiful Gorge, so that in connection with through traffic the name is not lost sight of. On the contra 17. with the beauty of the Gorge ever Indore the traveller. Otira can never pass from memory. From every point of view, the first and best claim for the naming of the tunnel rests, certainIv with Arthur’s Pass.

The request for an improved Ross train service decided upon at the Chamber of Commerce meeting this week is quite a reasonable one to make under all the circumstances. On Tuesdays and Thursdays there is not any train service at all. On Monday morning the train departs from Ross at the unearthly hour of 6.30 On Wednesdays and Fridays it departs at 10.15 and is due here at 11.10, It reaches here at times

ns many minutes to twelve, and ns 1 the shops close at noon on Wednesdays visitors have not time to do their shopping. There is no morning trnin from Ross on Saturday. The first- train , departs about noon, followed by another train some three hours later! The service to Ross is likewise net a commendable one, and it seems ' .c particularly short sighted the* .etter service is not provided fr ue Mahinapua. More favored rose with the powers . that be are much better catered for, i but Lake Mnhinnpua is positively neglected by tbe Railway Department. A suitable train service to and from Ross would mean less motor traffic on tbe public highway, and less competition for the railway with road traction. Seeing that Ross is the portal to tile rapidly advancing southern district, it is deserving of better consideration, and in view of tbe many special trains put on, it is high time a permanent, stable service were reinstalled.