IN THE SUNNY SOUTH.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1918, Page 1

IN THE SUNNY SOUTH.

WITH THE COUNTY PAIITY

(By One of Them)

The story of a trip to South Westland is an oft repeated tale—but time is dealing very kindly with the Sunny South, and the changing scene always presents something fresh—so the story is worth telling again. We were a party of five, the Chairman, the Member, the Clerk, the Overseer, and the Driver—the man behind the wheel of the motor—and who got us there and back. We had a Ford for a. conveyance, nntl

though this is not an advertisement for that much used car, justice demands that true to the friend which carried us over the streams, the fact should be. stated that it is quite a business-like machine for such a journey.

We left inthe bright sunshine of the King’s Birthday, and the weather was perfect throughout the trip—a factor to high ten the pleasure of the jaunt. The itinerary took us to the principal settlements Waitahn, Inter-Wanganui, and Wataroa. An added stage to Okario was necessary for the. Chairman to look into a road dispute. The trip wis confined to the business side, and the scenic wonders of the YYnibo other resorts were not included, because personal pleasure was not the object of tho tour. The three settlements are dairying and pastoral districts, and they have added to the wealth of Westland considerably during the year. Incidentally it might be averred with certain confidence that the south district is the sheet anchor for the assured future of Westland. Industrially, cheese-making has flourished during tlfc year. Waitaha has turned out 75 tons of cheese. Ilari Hari 160 tons, and Wataroa upwards of 60 tons, supplemented by the butter supplies. What the districts have yielded in other pastoral products must he represented by thousands of pounds. Fat stock have been coming up all the year round for the local market and for export to Christchurch, where prime Westland is converted into prime Canterbury. Flaxmilling has been flour ishing also. Tho timber-cutting supply is not equal to local demands, which suggests a good deal of building. Mining is one of th© industries which is in process of passing under the industrial evolution now proceeding. Now and again the beach combers get thoi’ patches, and sonic day specially de signed heacli dredges will scoop up the gold, but the alluvial workings rim deserted, and once familiar names of places and beaches are now little more than positions marked on the map, Hut. if mining is decaying in that quar ter, it is not before the industry (which did much for the country in the p"has still left its mark to help regulate the future. Tho lure of the gold brought thousand to the country, from the hundreds who remained after the first flush of the rushes was past sprang the noble band of pioneers on whom devolved the task of developing South Westland. Hats off to the sturdy pioneers of the past who went back into the wilds and by their manual labour 1 carved our homes for the sturdy families they reared, and so laid the foundation of those bright days the district is now enjoying! South Westland ha. ing got through tho transition stage is now on the highway to a great future which, could never have been possible without the courage and devotion of those men and women who faced hardships and privations and no end of discomforts that, out of all their toil might emerge a district which would for all time carry a thriving population. There is a Pioneers Memorial in Hokitika, but stretching right away south, mile after mile discloses r more solid and enduring memorial the’’ ndrble, and one more satisfying to posterity, which, not counting tho cost to those who have gone before, will enjoy the fruits of their pioneers services

Yet, we must be getting south. The main road is in excellent order reflectin'' every credit on those in charge—the

Government roadmen. The road is quite first class for motoring. All the open crossings are well cleared out arm paved to the best advantage. But there is- one drawback to the joy of motoring and to the difficulties of travel—the want of river bridges. There are quit© a succession of streams, big and little, which enforce a halt, and much cogitation by the motorist whether he will venture in on his own power or seek tlie friendly aid of a nearby horse. If he elect the former course, it is not unusual to stick in the middle of the stream and if help is at hand secure it, or failing that, go and look for the necessary succour to reach the other side. The Mikonui river is now being bridged, and looking at what is being done by private enterprise, on© can only marvel that the Government and local body were alike so procrastinating about tackling . the bridge question. A neat- and serviceable structure is being pushed across this river in double quick time, and very soon, it, will bo in use. What a boom it will be! The Hokitika public, will find a now location for a joy ride by motoring across the Mikonui, and entering the beautiful tern grove beyond which takes the traveller to Fergusons, and there presents the tra veller with the first glimpse of prosperous South Westland. This jaunt will be quite a week-end favourite in the very near future. Just beyond Fergusons is the Little Waitaha, the crossing of which has been widened by a weir. It is often deep, and the danger of being carried over the weir does not appear a remote possibility at times. It is one of the next crossings which should be 1 bridged, and about £l,ooo, to £2,000 might do the trick—and surely the golden future of, the district merits that outlay. Next comes: Evans Green-Creek by name, but a very rough nnd dangerous torrent in flood time. The bridging of this stream has been “steadily in view” for some time: that is, the money has b§?n voted and revoted till

quite a quantity of valuable paper has been used up with the printed space. But we are gotting on. Plans for the bridge have been prepared, and there are whisperings that when they are approved tenders will be called. O, let it be soon! If these two bridges were up, motoring to Hari Han, would be a simple proposition. Quite what it would mean to the South district can bo but faintly realised. It 1 would effect a great transformation. It, | would “take in” tho Waitaha. and InterWanganui districts, and be an immense boon to both places from every point or view. To bring Wataroa, Okarito and Waiho Gorge districts into the motor radius would necessitate a demand for still more bridges, including notably the Little Wanganui, Waitangi, Totare. There are some mountain torrents in between, like Dry Creek, so called, which can be the wildest of crossings in heavy rainfall. Beally, to group in the lot would not be a large demand II it. were not war time; but. making n virtue of necessity, aud not being too avariI cions, it would not be unreasonable to I aß k for the motor thoroughfare to be established to Hari Hari. If the Govi ornment had the care of the backblocks honestly at heart, and felt eage>to do something for those folk who have hitherto helped themselves so much in spite of the drawback of most difficult means of communication, here is the opportunity to do the right tiling in the right way, and while helping the people, assist also tho national estate, for away to the south is tig. largest area of Crown 'Estate in the Dominion. If the Ministry is faithfull to its pledges: and would do the greatest good for all, the bridging of the f outh rivers should have the most pro rninent position in its immediate responsibilities. ' So far I have referred entirely to the main roads. The district roads are numerous and lengthy and open up the various settlements. These rends are not. so well kept as the main yoads, f or the County road-staff is more attenuated. The roads, however, are not in bad condition, and in past years, have been worse. But- these roads, like the main thoroughfare are intersected with streams, and many crossings require bridging. The. same obligation to provide bridges for tho more remote settlers rests upon the local body, as it does on the Government controlling the arterial highway. The local body, it- will fie contended has not tlie funds; that is so to some extent, but it has the means of raising them. The times have advanced so, and the southern districts is now assuming a position which warrants the suggestion that, a loan should be raised for the bridging of many bystreams, which affect industrial settlements where there is regular traffic to dairy factories. All the settle re cannot plant, themselves on the mam road, or adjacent to the factory. Some must he more remote, and the more accessible places having been fairly well sci ved in the matter of means of commu uication, the distant supplier should be put on a more equal footing in regaru to roads and bridges with the move fortunate supplier centrally situated. Settlers at a distance whose journey to the factory is liable to be interrupted by swollen streams, have a. handicap which often results in great hardships to tho struggling pioneer, and the local body should take into account the necessity of assisting the families planted in remote places with more assured means of communication. Apart from the justice which would ho done to the settler, the, investment to tho local body . would be a sound one for the more rapid development of the holdings affected and the permanent future secured to their products, would give increased land values which would quickly reflect itself in growing local revenue, not for one year, but for the successive years to come.

Apropos of this question, that is land settlement in the back blocks, there is too often the tendency to put the cart before the horse in carrying out what should be the well-directed policy <•' the country of placing the people on the land. In far too many cases the land is thrown open before being roaded, and settlers are put on the laud under most trying conditions. What applies successfully in other district where tho country is open, docs not apply here where the available land is so heavily wooded. All too often the settler takes up a piece of land which is as glorious in forestry as nature could make it. It is a remote section, distant from a factory, and unconnected by road access and perhaps menaced by a river. Such a settlement is now being pioneered in South Westland at the Waitangi Endowment Block. That is an unfortunate example' of the cart before the horse, and what lion hearts they are who have set in and are carving out their new homes. Their plight and position is such that if the Government is sincere about its settlement policy' it would be well to send some one in authority to see that the settlers were given a. fair deal. They should have road access, not only to the factory, but into tho blocks of land. It. is all coming, but coming so slowly that hope is being deferred, and the heart might grow sick. At Wataroa the dairying industry is in jeopardy because of the demands of the war for men. The Waitangi settlement could afford additional suppliers if the section holders had access at all reasonable. The Waitangi case is a very had example of how the Dominion toys with the question of attempting to settle people on the land, and this example is so shocking that the. community should call on the authorities for instant reform of .this phase of our boasted land settlement policy. Looking hack over the above I and I have not had much to say about om trip—but'my space is gone to-day. The subject is perhaps interesting enongn to refer to again, hut meantime the above, general remarks are recorded ns some impress of the southen situation, and it is hoped will he of sufficient general interest to force attention on

some of the points mentioned, in the trust that out of the little exploration into the Sunny south some good might come for the general welfare of YYest]nud—the dearest pi are on earth to me.