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Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1923, Page 2

Tut. question of celebrating the opening of the Arthur's l’ass tunnel is mil to lie lost sight of locally. It has been intended not to do so front the outset, lint tlu‘ local bodies gave way to Canterbury where there was the desire to hold a celebration dinner on the eventful day of tlie official opening. The material method of celebrating the opening by the Exhibit ion to lie held here next month and thereby bring thousands of people through the tunnel and to the Coast, has long been '.n progress, and the matter is now shaping to a veiv .satisfaetory result. But there id ill remains the necessity of saying ‘‘thank you” to Canterbury in a I itblic ami official wav. It has been decided to do so hero at a public lunch-

i.’,ii on the second day the Exhibition i; open, and while the galaxy of notables to arrive for the opening of the •Exhibition are here. If should ho a memorable gathering. Hokitika "ill do itself proud on the evasion on behalf ( f Westland as a whole, for we feel sure the event which has been mooted v.ill he carried through with marked success and in keeping with the spirit with which the disfriec sustained its interesting in the agitation for the completion of the railway all through the long years the battle went on.

Tin: local bodies, the Exhibition Council. ail'd the Progress League are associating themselves most appropriately in the movement ju.si mentioned. Indeed it was the Progress League which took the initial part, and as a branch of the parent body in Canterbury, the organisation has done good work which justifies it. seeing the task completed, by publicly thanking the parent organisation, and the other bodies in Christchurch. which helped so loyally over a long drawn out period to achieve the success which is now bringing in its t.ain such advancement to the Coast. Tlte i resent season will outdistance all others in the number of visitors to the Coast. That is possible, only because of tlie lailvvay. and tho people can afford to lie grateful, and would he wanting in courtesy if they failed to acknowledge the very valuable help and cooperation tendered by our influential neighbors oil the other side of the ranges. l.'nitv, vve tire told, is strength. Westland has become united to Canterbury, and our strength has increased manifold. That improvement is reflecting itself in many ways, and it is in the fitness of tilings to acknowledge the services rendered in a public spirited way such as the coming opportunity all'ords.

!t is not possible to speculate on the value of the inter-island means of railway communication now afforded the Coast, without realising that this portion must reap the richest and most immediate harvest. The community has boon cut off for far too long. It is now united, with a larger and greater community in every way. Fresh markets are added which are helping trading relations greatly. Annexed as "<■ are. some 15.C00 people to 190,000 1 eople. the larger gain cannot he otlier"ise tlnn with us. And we are linked up with 'a territory largely complementary to our own, and offering no rivalry to natural products here, which find a. ready, and constant demand once taken through the tunnel. A relationship of this nature, promising such cordial trading connections, is worth applet-rating. But it is not a now discovery. It was foreseen before the link was forged through the mountains. Indeed, the trading prospects considered possible were the incentive which spurred on always the Coasters to agitate for their emancipation from the long years of isolation and restricted trade which held the district back. So wo can with every feeling of jubilation hail the new era with delight and celebrate it accordingly.