WEST AUSTRALIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2228, 4 November 1907, Page 1

WEST AUSTRALIA.

.Mr David M'Kenzio, who left Dunedin thirteen' and a half years ago to try liis fortune on the West Australian goldfields, is at present spending a few months’ holiday in New Zealand. During a conversation with a Dunedin pressman ho remarked:—“As I have said, . improved sanitary conditions make life pleamutor in Coolgardie than it was a dozen years ago. The supply of water, brought through eight pumping stations from a great reservoir 35U miles away, on tho Darling Ranges, is a great boon. A constant stream is kept runriingthrough the streets, an abundiinco is always available for household purposes, and it also allows of small gardens being maintained by householders. The construction of tho race and reservoir was a big engineering feat, successfully carried out under the supervision of tluat brilliant man from Dunedin, Mr C. Y. O’Connor. But in spit 0 of improved conditions New Zealanders do not caro for the country, and do not stay long. Most men who go there stay only so long as will allow them to get off to-a climate whore living is pleasanter. Queenslanders can thrive there, but •they are accustomed to as torrid a climate. In all my travels I have encountered no place I like so well as Dunedin. People hero are not exposed to the vagaries of such a climate as that of West Australia, and appear to retain their youth longer. I see little change in many of my old friends hero.

1 “I did not take any great interest .in politics. West Australia still laments tho loss of Sir John Forrest, who took u.p Federal work. To Sir John is really clue the credit for tho contraction of our water supply. Ho is not yet satisfied with it. Ho says ■there are ono million gallons a day going over the weir that should he going to consumers, and were he in West Australia now he would certainly agitato for a reduction in the water rates.

“Goolgardie as a town is far eclipsed by Ivalgoorlie, which, is four,times as large. KalgoorJie is a thoroughly up-to-date town in all respects, with electric lighting, -trams, etc. Electric light is supplied by the municipality at 2d per unit; in Coolgar- ■ die it is supplied by a company ait 8d per unit. Kalgoorlio came into •prominence just at t'ho timo when Ooolgartlie was being recognised as a town, but the former place being the richer, and only twenty-live miles away, attracted all the capital, and 1 progressed by leaps- nnd hounds. , Coolgardio lias remained practically ’a dead town. Both towns are, to a certain extent, neglected by the Government, who are building up the coastal towns at the expense of the inland nomilation. Perth is a fiuo city now, "and lias improved wonderfully during the past ten years, and Fremantle is also becoming of greater importance yearly,