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Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1917, Page 2

Another avenue for opening improved communication with Westland is promised as a result of tho recent visit of officers of tho Canterbury Automobile Association to this district Tho two officers who visited the Coast were more than surprised at what they saw as to the possibilities for motoring. In this district in particular they wore struck with tho many fine roads leading to different points of interest, all of which would lx? a great attraction to the touring motorist. Unfortunately time did not permit to visit South Westland and see the wonderful country there to delight tho holiday maker, but tho visitors are supplied with illustrated booklets and photographs which pourtrayed the scenic grandeur, and give somo idea of the little known wonders in that quarter. As a result of the official visit to Westland it is not unlikely that during tho coming] summer, the district will enjoy a friendly invasion of touring motorists, and this cannot hut do good in removing false impressions as to the. potentialities of the district, creating a wider interest in the fortunes of tho place, among thoso who have the means to assist readily- in development work. No doubt the local Automobile Association will follow up what has happened from its initial action in inviting the official visitors to the district, by arranging for tho isspe of guide hooks and all informa tion to prospective motorists who travel abroad from time to time, and a diversion of that volume of traffic to the West Coast would certainly bo of uso in assisting to remove our isolation and making the wants and tho localities of the country better known among those who often have a very false impression of the place and tho people.

Comparisons are odious. This has been examplified in our reference last Tuesday to the Connaught and Otirn railway tunnels. It was a coincidence which made the comparison tho more notable, that the Press Association telegram should announce tho Otira tunnel was now in tho last half-milo stage, and at the present rate of progress this would he accomplished in ten months and a half! At the Canadian rate this half mile would he accounted for in less than two months, for the further the tunnel was carried the speedier the work was accomplished. Now that the Otira tunnel is in the last lap, as it were, there is nq doubt occasion for thankfulness that the work has progressed so far under the conditions which have for so long contrived to hamper the work/ At the same time, in the light of what Canada has done, the New Zealand methods are provokingly slow. What the procrastination has cost and will cost in interost on capital invested alone, will run into many thousands of pounds, while tho loss of revenue and tho delay in development, are factors which add to the aggregate cost, and show the valuable saving which could have been effected by tho adoption of methods of celerity from tho outsot. But the milk is spilt, and tho conditions are such that it seems hopeless to oxpoct that the country will profit by the experience of what other countries can do in the matter of huge public works undertakings. Yet, when we speculate on what jnight have been, tho possibilities to New Zealand in the saving which could have been effected would have sufficed to provido money i enough to push an extension of the I railway far into South Westland.