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Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1920, Page 2

The Mayor is galling tho people (together to-morrow evejiijtig to decide regarding Urn War Memorial for Westland. The occasion should briijg jtogether a large gathering. The young

men from this district did their duty nobly when the .'Empire called, and who is there who is not proud at the fine voluntary response made from Westland ? The people were extremely pleased and proud of the men in the anxious days of the war and now has come the occasion to Igmour that sacrifice in an outward and yjsjble manifestation which will tell 1 West, land’s proud story to all mankind for the years that are to come. Of those who went off to the war .so gallantly and cheerfully many will not return Folk wilt recall the intimate sense of regret and even dismay with which the casualties were scanned day by day and surely the sentiments thereby aroused have not died awnyl We are persuaded that there is the feeling and the desire to honor the, names of those who served with a public memorial in every way creditable to the ocacsion. The monument .should be in keeping with the service rendered and it should be placed in a prominent public situation,

and cared for ail time in appreciation of the great service done to mankind by those who served in the war. Westland has played a sound part in the war but there" is still the coping stone required to crown that war work. Tlie proposed war memorial is . something requisite as part of the duty of the people as loyal and grateful citizens for services magnificently rendered.

A correspondent wrote on in rega'rd to the Maliinapua creek proposals and the tone and purpose of the letter suggests that the position in regard to the lock is quite misunderstood in some places. First of all, a lock and not a weir has been suggested. A weir would create a fall, which is the very thing the lock proposed is to overcome. The lock will not be dosed permanently, only very intermittently to allow boat traffic when the water on the falls is not sufficient for a boat passage. The stream will not be blocked unduly thereby, for the waters will he held but temporarily for a few minutes at a time while the creek rises sufficiently to give the boat tlie desired ■ passageway. This can he only when i the tide is at tlie low ebb, so that serious inundation of the land is not necessary. The lock will not- be lequired to raise the waters thus tem--1 porarily to more than half tide, except for deep draught motor boats anxious to avoid stripping a propellor on the

submerged stones, mere wu uv flooding of the surrounding country. The more frequent use of the lock to provide an extra current to wash-out obstructions In the water way will be of advantage also to navigation, while the lessened nuisance of the sawdust will be helpful to the fish industry. As a. matter of fact, the lock will add to the fishing facilities instead of detracting from them, and in conjunction with the improvement to tlie waterway, will he quite a. boon to all using the creek. The question of

carrying out the work turns on the cost and where the money conies from. The ■intention we learn is to ask the Government to provide the amount by way of grant as is done for the clearing and im

' and other places. There are two other matters mentioned by the correspondent to which reference might be made First in regard to road access. That is certainly necessary and as far as can he gleaned a definite proposal is expected to be arranged for tins year by first linking up Ruatapu and Mahinapua by road to give road access to tjhei lakeside. Afterwards it 1 is suggested to connect Maliinapua and South Hokitika by road thereby making a round circuit of roadway which is sure to lie a popular motor spin. The second matter is the insinuation that private interests are at work but the correspondent’s own logic disposes of that, because if the lock is to be the damage of the land he suggests where do the benefits to private interests come in? -As to the work of clearing the creek, this will probably cost about £2OO, and the local bodies should urge this being done forthwith, and the lock which will cost a considerable sum would be a matter for further consideration laterhut. it appears most desirable to make the aquatic trip possible at all times of the tide.