Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1920.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1920.

1 DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT. There continues to bo a very pleasant outlook as regards district development in A\ r estland from both an industrial and settlement point of view. There are the highest hopes in respect to the mining possibilities of tho new dredging schemo at South Hokitika. The large dredge now being built just outside the borough is to be powerfully equipped, and there are very sanguine exp e etatons as to its capabilities. It is generally understood that the areas to be worked halye prospected exceedingly well, and good returns can be expected from the outset if the machinery is able to treat the wash as quickly as anticipated. In fact this contingency demonstrated, and the. venture should create a new era for gold dredging, in this district. The sawmilling develop-' ment in northern Westland is quite remarkable of late. It has been ascertained that within the power supply district of the recently formed Power Board there are no less than thirty-five sawmilling ventures present, and immediately prospective. Thiß is an impressive indication of the forestry resources of a confined area of AVestland, and indicate what the industry means in the way of employment. AVith workmen and their families, to say nothing of the number of people required to eater for the delivery of supplies to the employees and their homes, the popala- . tion has considerably augmented! of late, The price of timber at the moment is high, and it may fall somewhat soon, in sympathy with the financial conditions in other parts of the Dominion, combined with the import of large supplies of oregon, but this decline w’ll bo but temporary, and timber will for long remain at a greatly advanced price on pre-war rates. A local sawmiller in a large way, mentioning the volume of the timber trade, present and prospective, said in speaking the other evening, that when the Otira tunnel was finished, the portal would have a difficulty in dealing with the West Const timber trade alone, so large would be the volume of export by the direct route. AVe can look therefore with considerable satisfaction to a steady and lasting development of tho timber trade. As to settlement this is going ahead steadily, and would bo more noticeable still if some of the larger areas held wore cut up for smnller farms and closer settlement. There are noticeable examples of this in almost every settlement up and down Westland and if a start were made now to establish a soldiers’ settlement jit would give some idea of the demand there is, and how difficult it would bo to satisfy it. Yesterday, a reference was made in tile reading columns to the possible developments at Jackson Bay. There is a locality remote and neglected, capable of carrying a big industrial development, and afterwards becoming a fine settlement producing produce, in stock and dairy lines which will bo required always, which will find market at any time. The development of Jackson Bay would be an incentive to other settlements similarly placed along the southern coast line. There ar© no areas which have tho same harbor possibilities as Jackson Bay, but tbe land and timber are there, and it requires, but the capital and enterprise to seek out the localities, and turn the* neglected stretches of country into busy hives of producing industry. The Jackson Bay scheme seems to make a special appeal as an unexampled opening for the advancement of Westland. There, waiting for labor and. applied industry, are the natural resources which nature has supplied in generous quantities. It is for man with his enterprise and money to step in, and us© tho resources for the benefit of the country in trading and intercourse.. The opportunity is one of those rare happenings which oome but seldom, but which when offering should be seized upon and made the most of. Westlanders should sec that their province gets a fair deal, so that enterprise will hot !be blocked and capital turned away from a district which is languishing for the very opportune arrival of capital which now appears at hand. District developments in TVoetland certainly promise much in the near future.