WESTLAND’S WONDERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1643, 9 January 1906, Page 2

WESTLAND’S WONDERS

PREMIER OPENS RAILWAY. (Per Press Association.) Hokitika, last night. The opening of the first section of the Hc-kitika-Rosa railway was performed this afternoon by tho Premier and Minister for Lands, there being over 4000 present. In tho evoning these gentlemen were entertained at a public banquet. The Premier, in his speech, dwelt largely on local subjects, referring to Hokitika as ono of the soundest financial towns in tbe colony, the returns of the Government Savings Bank showing a larger percentage of deposits than any other town of a similar Biz 3. He etrongly advised lccal poople to go in for more substantial improvements, especially ficst-olas3 hotel accommodation to attract more tourist traffic to view Westland's sconio wonders. He predioted that ere long thousands of visitors would find their way to Wesland, and he would ask tho Tourist Department to provido better facilit’es. He briefly referred to the nece-sity of creating an annuities scheme. In order to develop tho immense natural resources of Westland it was nooeesary to call on them to extend the roilway from Hok : tika through South Westland to connect with the Otago Central railway.