Hokitika Guardian & Evening star MONDAY. MARCH 5 1917 THE FAR SOUTH.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening star MONDAY. MARCH 5 1917 THE FAR SOUTH.

In Friday’s issue there was reprinted from an exchange a very accurate descriptive of the far south of Westland. The writer took up history from the Waiho river south, and on over the Haast Pass into Otago. Although many of the people who journey south speak of its glories from the scenic aspect, very few of the number tread the most beautiful part of the southern country. They stop short at the Waiho, for there ends the road, and so the Beyond is something of a terra incognita. The thanks of the community are due to the anonymous writer who supplied the article descriptive of the far south for so vividly portraying the natnral features of a wonderful stretch of country. It has great scenic glories; it has vast pastoral possibilities; and it is stored also with much natural wealth, in which timber and minerals predominate. The late Mr Seddon traversed the region in question, and with his remarkable eye for possible development, had visions of the future of the country, It was his dream, one which he would have made a reality bad he lived, to have pushed the railway south and into (Pago. There are no Statesmen in sight at present who have the courage, combined with the prescience, which Mr Seddon had, so the opening up of the south country by rail will continue to be but a dream—something for posterity to profit by. But the article we have reprinted shows that the far south is in a bad way in regard even to roads and bridges—apart from any hope of railway connection. When Mr Fraser was recently here he was asked to link up a mile or two necessary to open some 40 miles of roadway between Waiho and Bruoe Bay. It was stated that a balanoa of a grant was available, but the Minister did not supply any comforting profile, rather he excused himself by the alleged want of labor Bat this i; sot the only work held up

in the far south, On the 1916-17 appropriation, 323,950 was voted by Parliament for the far south. 0£ that

sum £2,016 were authorised, but since March last only £1,171 have been spent and this in a roadless, bridgeless territory such as the writer has described in his faithfully written article. At the present time there is something over £2,600 of unspent money provided for the credit of the district which will be allowed to languish through the present system; or want of system, of administration. Bearing these facts in mind one can Sympathise with the hardships of the settlers who have to carve out a home and endure with such a lack of meai.s of communication. We have extolled before the wisdom of ibe Liberals who mads it a point to give special aid to the backblock country. The interest of this Coast requires an extension rather than the contraction of the national policy, and the people should see to it that their requirements are better cared for. The far south has possibilities no less great than those proved in the country nearer permanent settlement, and aa the arsa is largely Crown estate, it is of importance to the Dominion to see that class ‘ of land opened np and utilised for ths public benefit.