DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1920, Page 2

DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT

TURNIN# SOUTHWARD. JACKSON BAY VENTURE. j LARGE UNDERTAKING BEING LAUNCHED. Lately Messrs Park and Murdock, of j Hokitika, through the Warden’s Court, Avere granted the right to construct a truimvay at Jackson Bay, South Westland, linking up the Bay with the timber country at Arawata, a feiv riiiles away. The estimated cost of the tramAvay, which Avould be of the nature of a light railway, is in the vicinity of £15,000. Another step forward in regard to the large development scheme in the Jackson Bay district has noiv been assured by the grant by His Excellency the Go-vernor-in-Councii to Messrs Park and Murdoch, who now have a license to

construct a 'jetty and breakwater at - Jackson Bay to afford landing and loading facilities at that point. The grant is made under the Harbours Act, 1908, and is a license to use and occupy a part 0/ the .foreshore and land below IoAV-Avater mark in Jackson Bay, South Westland, in order to erect and maintain a jetty and breakwater. While the license vests the property in the licensees, under the conditions of the licenses it is provided that all persons shall at all reasonable times and upon payment of the proper dues, .have free and full liberty to use the said jetty arid breakwater, and all rights of ingress and egress thereon and therefrom. The licensees are required to maintain the jetty and breakwater in good order and repair, and lights shall be exhibited as required and appointed by the Minister of Marine. The license shall have a currency of fourteen years, or the rights may be resumed by the Governor-General at any time on giving the required rvritten notice. The estimated cost of the proposed jetty and breakAvater is in the region of £50,000, which is an evidence of the im- . portanoe of the undertaking contemplated. The wharf and tramway are part and parcel of a large milling scheme Avliich is in hand. Jackson Lay has long been neglected as a settlement oAving to its remoteness and the heavy timber country surrounding the Bay. No doubt if the timber were cleared the land Avould come into immediate use for pastoral purposes, and with shipping facilities provided, dairying on a large scale could be carried on Avith the guarantee of success —the land would be there, and with facilities for export, cheese in particular would be asuitable commodity for export right f- array. The next stop is in regard to the tnnb-•er-cutting rights. These lands are under the Forestry Department, and it will be . some test of the policy of the ! Department in question to see wliat assistance Avill be given towards an important settlement development in the south. At present the locality is neglected and uninhabited. 1 If timbercutting rights are granted a company Avill develop the trade with an expenditure of not less than £200,000. This sum will be required for harbour works, for tramway construction, for millAvorks, for laying out village settlement for employees, Avith all facilities for a town life, including churches, halls, etc. In fact, what is noAv a waste place, will become a hive of industry, profitably employing more and more labour, and producing a commodity greatly needed. As the timber is cut out, and the idea is to attempt the work on a large scale, permanent settlement will folloAV in the train. As the bushman .clears, the dairy-farmer Avill come behind, and take up the land in permanent residence, and the foundations of the toAvn, which will be laid by the timber people, will remain for the settlers to occupy as a permanent centre of district life. Years ago the General G.oveminent attempted to establish a special settlement at Jackson Bay. It Avas sought to place people on the land avlio, without means, AA’ere expected to clear heavy bush country, and carve out homes in the dense forest remote from all markets of either supply or demand. It was a very dark page in Neii’ Zealand history, and ever since then Jackson Bay appears to have been rather under a cloud. The development scheme now being put fonvard is a more thoughtful proposal, and is likely to succeed A\here the previous attempt Avas so marked a failure. The capital will be available at the outset to place the employees in comfortable living conditians, and at remunerative Avages life should be as pleasant in the Jackson Bay region as in most places in NeAA’ Zealand. The rivers and streams, to say . nothing of the Bay itself, abound in fish, and good sport call be bad. The scenery of the district is wonderfully fine. The climate is as good there as anyrrhere on the West Coast, and with regular shipping facilities the port will be within a couple of days steam of Hokitika, an no doubt a regular marine service will be established, giving the district at least a iveeklv mail. The present opportunity is one of those rare occasions which come along and open the way to genuine prosperity. Westland has many undiscovered attractions awaiting the mdgic touch of capital to bring them into being. Jackson Bay is one of such localities, and if opened up as proposed it will give South Westland a tremendous fillip, and the industrial expansion will reflect itself in many ways, to the advantage of the district as a aa 10 e.