FUTURE OF WESTLAND.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1553, 24 September 1912, Page 2

FUTURE OF WESTLAND.

MINING AND DAIRY INDUSTRIES. HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Hokitika, September 23. i There arc strong indications of a revival of mining in this ■immediate vicinity. The. excellent returns which were secured in the Kanieri district by the Keystone borer have resulted inn peggingout tusk ore a small scale. At the last sitting of the Warden's Court there was quite a formidable list of applications for mining claims, protections, and waterrace rights, and Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt, warden, had tlio busiest day he has had for some time past. There were one hundred acre claims, some fifties and twenties and several for smaller areas. The most important judgment delivered by tho warden was'in reference lo an application for a claim to 'which the Kanieri Prospecting Syndicate offered objection. After lengthy legal argument, the warden ruled in favour of the objectors. This claim concerned part of tho area said to be- richly goldbenring, and for the purpose of working this land a.company, with a capital of iMO.OOO, is being lloatcd. In other directions Wcstland is progressing. Owing to the rapid development of the dairying industry on tha West Coast there is a very keen demand for land, particularly in South Westlnnd. During tho past week a sale of 3000 acre? of leasehold land at big Wanganui made over £5 per acre, and another block in the same district.is reported to havo made £~ per aero. Judging by the progress that has has besn made in South Wcstland, the t-imj is not far' distant when land down thcro should realise something like ,£lO and .£l2 an acre. Similar land in tin North Island, and capable of feeding no move stock, would fetch probably ' .£25 or .£3O an acre, so that there is evidently a good future More tho south. At Wataroa the scheme, for a, butter factory is. well tinder way, and Hie venture should bo most successful, -especially as fanners are getting as high as 11.U1. for butter far. ■ " Tho prominence given to'the failur-o of the late Government to honour the pledge given in connection with th-2 construction of a bridge over tho Mikonui River (some twenty-four miles south of Hokitika). has led the sawmillers to action, and it is oa the cards that the potentialities' of that district will bo brought under the notice of the Minister for Public Works,. and tho 'matter discussed purely as ,-a business proposition. It is stated that six miles of light railway and a. bridge over the Mikonui would tap one of the finest areas of heavy bush still remaining uncut. The millers state that there must be something approaching one hundred million feet of timber on Crown lands. Tho railage on this timber, royalties, and the rents, apart from the wages which would be paid, would make the railway a very payablo proposition. There is a probability that, in the event of the Government not being able to construct the line just- now, private enterprise would undertake the construction and running of the line, provided the Government were to bridge the Mikonui. This railway, whether constructed by private enterprise or by the State, would also assist in the settlement of the land at Wntana, where dairying is making solid progress. Tho land between the Mikonui and Wntaroa Rivers, when milled, would he admirably suited to closer settlement, being not hilly. It is well drained and of good quality. The southern settlers, however, want something of a more material nature than the old-time piccrust promises, and they are- already beginning to realise that the Massey Government's word is'its bond, and aro looking for assistance lo enable them to help themselves. Had some of the money which has been wasted in Wcstland been spent a view to ensuring its productivity, the southern railway would have been miles further south, IhcMistrict infinitely belter off, and the . country thousands of pounds in pocket. Everything is now in readiness to start pumping at the Ross Goldfields mine. A full staff is on-tho claim, and a definite start with tho unwatering will probably bo made on Wednesday or Thursday next. Tho traffic bridge over the Wanganui River has now been officially passed, and will be open for traffic during Hie week. Probably one of tho Ministers will be invited to officially open the bridge. This structure will bo a great, boon to travellers in South Westlnnd, as this river is one of the most dangerous on the coast, nad was the scene of the sad drowning fatality when the Rev. John Lock, of Ross, and his sister lost their lives.