Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 17th, 1920. A FRIENDLY INVASION.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 17th, 1920. A FRIENDLY INVASION.

To-day a party of Canterbury representative men are crossing the ranges to spend a fortnight or so on the AVest Coast—not necessarily to spy out the land—but really to see something of its potentialities and find out how, when and where they can assist best to promote the district towards that haven of progress Which otherwise spells permanent prosperity. For the remainder - of the week the party, which includes •» representative men of the Canterbury Progress League, the Canterbury Industrial Association, and the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and the City newspapers, will devote their time specially to AVestland and particularly to Southern AVestland. It appears to us that such a visit should be appreciated in the spirit in which it is being made. The gentlemen coming westward to-day are all commercial or other business men from the Plains of Canterbury. They are giving their time and coming over at their own expense to see how beat they can help us. It is a yery generous spirit. Unlike visit-, j ing Ministers or Parliamentarians they } are not coming here as a mere matter of duty, They ar® coming out of friendly interest and regard, and this fine show of neighborly concern in our welfare should be reciprocated in the same generous way. AVe rather venture to think it will. The Const has a I name for friendly hospitality to the visitor, but when as in this case the visit is for our particular benefit, our hospitality should be the more open I hearted. It is a fine thing to see this reunion of the East and the AVest. In ! the early days of AVestland more tha« half a century, ago, this district was linked to Canterbury by political ties. But in those infant days AVjeißtland was lusty and strong, and felt it was possible to walk alone. The separation - was arranged for and for a brief while we boasted a provincial status, and aped tlie methods of the larger provinces with an expensive and unwieldy form of local government. That independence was short lived, and reverted to a less ambitious status. Time has rolled along and we are destined in the very near future to be linked intimately j again with Canterbury. Not in a political sense on this occasion, but commercially and industrially. A band of steel will soon bind the East and AVest in an alliance which will grow stronger and stronger as trade relations grow > more intimate,—and time wjll effect | that closer union. It is at this junc- ! ture that these ambassadors come out ' from the East and tlie AVest will greet them very cordially. The people on . til© two sides of the ranges should have * much in . concern. AVhen through railway connection is accomplished it will bring to pass the interdependence of the two Coasts on one another—and people will marvel they have .been so long estranged. AVestland has much to offer Canterbury which the people of the Plains need greatly; and in turn Canterbury can contribute supplies and goods which are in daily consumption here. A great volume of trade will spring up at once, and the time will not b.e far distant when Lyttelton will become the main part of AVestland. 'Hie visitors who will spend this week amongst us, are to be taken to various points. To-morrow they are to see the | pastoral country in the Arahura Valley ] and at Kokatahi and Koiterangi, as well as the scenic glories of Lake Ka- . nieri. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday they will be in South AVestland, and see the resources of that prosper t ing and still promising territory. Every- < where they will see forests of timbers I and will realise what a boon and a a

blessing it will be when the forest country is linked up with the East Coast railway system. They will seo on all sides the great range of scenic splendour which adorns tbo AVest Coast and will marvel that such a holiday resort so close to Canterbury is so little known on “the other side.’’ This opportunity to see AVestland for themselves will bo a notable advertisement for the district, and will be an aid to progress which will be made at once intelligible when the influential support of Canterbury is thrown into the balance in favor of AVestland. Our visitors, therefore, , should be heartily welcomed amongst l us. i