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Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1918, Page 2

Tin; local enterprise being demonstrated at Ross to-day by the opening of limo works owned by the settlors, is an event of public interest. » Ihe project has been under way tor some time, and owes its fruition to the consistent support accorded by outsiders. Ihe movement began at- a district conference of settlers and local bodies some months ago at- Totara Flat. There was at first the suggestion that the local bodies should take up tho proposal r hut the settlers being keen about the matter, continued to lead and so shaped the project as we see it to-day. lho whole- length of the. district from Ross to Reefton was probed in the first: instance for a deposit of suitable stone to work upon. Ross proved the favoured locality after careful enquiry, and efforts wore concentrated accordingly. The promoters stuck to the task they had in hand despite much criticism arising from a misunderstanding of the position. Tin's misconception of the true inwardness of tilings led also to some loss of support, or certainly, the with-holding of it. Then there was delay about labour and material, and other drawbacks. But at last all onIstaoles have been overcome. To-day the lime works are in working order and will he about- to fill a long felt, want. The West Coast lands owing to their acidity, arising from the wealth of forest country, would lie much improved in productivity by liming, and the Ross product put upon the market at a reasonable rate will he much in demand. There is n- wide market over the stretch of railway to the In&ngahun, and there should he a very busy and useful future before the Ross lime works. May they prosper exceedingly.

TnF. reports from the Central Powers in regard to internal conditions can be well believed. .After four years of rigorous war. with results entirely disappointing to the enemy countries, their goal is still illusionary. Like a will o' the wisp it has led them on and on, and events have so fallen out. that their leaders were able to buoy their peoples up with hopes—now so long deferred. The first false estimates by the enemy of a speedy victory have long been passed into history, blit their wonderful store of organised man power

st-lii gavo vhnc h&pca, ar.d tuc-se nugi.t j have borne better fruit but for the j provocation to the United States. That , {Treat- country aggravated to war, and the hopes of an eneinv victory passed beyond, even the region of speculation. Still, there was the one chance of striking a great blow before tho American hosts could materialise, and reaching a now position to give improved prospects for peace bargaining. The great- enemy offensive for the past four or five months represented the full strength of the resolve to reach a decision to enforce peace on France, hut- it has failed, for Franco lias proved so .strong that its wonderful forces took the lead in throwing back the enemy with confusion and placing tho war situation very much to the dissatisfaction of the enemy. As the French general put it yesterdav, the Allies have won the a ictorv, and this triumph has had a depressing effect on the enemy peoples. Buoyed with the false hopes of the military loaders, they are now presented with enormous casualty lists which toll how costly tho defeat has been. It is not surprising in those circumstances that war-woarincss is a common complaint in enemy countries.