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Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1923, Page 2

Tiik fact that the electric locomotives for use in the Arthur’s Pass tunnel are to lie hauled to the scene for their busy operations in a few days, brings tin 1 opening date of tlie tunnel -o much nearer. There are live locomotives in all, so that the Government is making good provision for the continuous traflice through the tunnel which it will lie necessary to maintain. As the first week of April has now passed without aiiv announcement as to the official opening in May which rumour ,-uggested—it may lie accepted as final that the ceremony will not take place in three weeks’ time. Indeed the man in the street who seems to be ustisitally well-informed about the tunnel matfors--talks of throe months’ lienee as the more probable opening date. It is interesting to note that the mail coni factors for the Otira Gorge service have n»t had any official intimation of tin early opening. As matter of fact ho»es are still living bought to maintain the coach services, so that it would appear it is finite likely to bo close up to Grand National time (August) before the opening "ill be possible. Other reports go so far as to suggest Canterbury carnival time at November! But we must continue to possess our souls in patience for everything comes n those who know howto wait. All the saint' the waiting is tindulv ion-j.

Mi: Jri.iAN Gka.nuk has revisited the Coast, and we notice by the Groynmutlt evening paper has taken up the role of Bir Oracle. Il<- reads the Coasters something of a lesson, hut in comparing this i-o’ated portion cf the most remote paid ol the British Empire with old eiiunliii-. be forgets they have been in occupation for centuries while here it is barely sixty years since the white man ponetrated the primeval forest. Conversely it would be an ca-y matter to take Mr Grande to many of the century-old cities on the. continent, and point out the smellful and repelling conditions which prevail often in generally used thoroughfares. We take it that Mr Gtatide is usually in elottdlaml, gazing tit mountain peaks, to which, by the way, our Southern Alps tire no mean rivals. Probably, too. lie lacks scientific knowledge, and knows nothing of our geology, and the rich treasures which this land will yet pro dime. Certainly, he knows nothing ol the stamina of the people who peopled the mountn’inoits region, defied its torrents, and grappled with the giant lotest. Nor does he realise that the sons and daughters of those doughty pioneers when tlit.* Empire called went to the other side of the earth to light for the Empire. Mr Grande has missed the beauty of all this. Perhaps his long sojourn in Switzerland has warped his views of sturdy British ways—if so, his loss is greatly lo be pitied, and the “foreign’’ twist he gives Tils ideas will he understood.

Tub Berlin correspondent of the Daily Chronicle in last week’s report brought out no new fact in stating that the invasion of the Ruhr has been economically a failure. In France no serious attempt has been made to jitsiiiy th<‘ occupation of the Ruhr as a direct means of collecting reparations. M. Point are placidly admitted the other day that the economic results of the occupation were not important. Trance undertook the occupation in order to impose coercive pressure on Germany and induce her to offer acceptable terms of reparations payment. Prior to the unfortunate incident at the Krttpp works in which a number o: German workers were shot, apparently as the result of a misunderstanding, prospects appeared that the occupation might in a measure serve its puipo-e c{ bringing Germany lo terms. Now. however, actual and very natural feeling over this incident seems likely to be magnified in Germany, ns a means of continuing a policy of evasion.