The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” SATURDAY, JULY 9th., 1921. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” SATURDAY, JULY 9th., 1921. THE WEEK.

Tub annual meeting of the local branch of the Progress League this week, though not* numerously attended by the i public, was a vehicle for the delivery I of some very interesting quitter relating to tli<‘ future progress of the district, j The potentialities of Westland are very great, and the province has a I'utore before it to he measured alone by ! the public spirit and enterprise of its 1 citizens. Tiny chief interest of the meeting centres round the papers which were read at the gathering. There were five in number and dealt with such diverse subjects as gold mining interests scenic attractions, flax growing possibilities. pastoral prospects, and bee culture. In each and every interest the writers disclosed fresh avenues for local enterprise and supplied much food for thought. All the writers struck an optimistic note, and it was to he regretted that more people did not feel interested enough in the welfare ol their town and district and make it a point of being present to hear, first hand, the views of writers of the papers oil district prospects from varied points of outlook. Upward and onward was the note sounded and no one could but recognise that he best times of Westland are still in the womb of the future. How soon those much improved times •which are possible, will come to pass is ,largely with the people tlienHves.

They will not be heaven sent. They must he delved for. The district has got to be developed. There are the resources here for a very bright fill lire. There are dormant prospects ’Much enterprise and industrial activity will bring to light and the result 'nil! le increased progress, greater prosperity, and a new order of development crowing like a snowball as time rolls on to the brighter and happier days.

I r was finite appropriate that fin- first, papei lead on Wednesday night should deal with mining interests. By the past success of mining. West-hand had come into being and had its living justification. Air Orr who wrote with enthusiasm on what rniisl he a subject very near bis heart, reviewed what was owing to the gold mining for the past life and history of the place and prophesied a brighter future still were the hidden golden wealth of the district to Ik? prospected for on right lines. Prospecting is the essential to successful mining, so as to convert as far as possible the speculative into an assurance of success. Mr OiT believes in thorough prospecting under proper leadership, and in general took a line of thought which must be approved for its sound and solid reasoning. Not the least interesting aspect of Mr Oil's paper was the discussion which followed, the earnest and eloquent address hv Hon. Michel on the need for prospecting for an alluvial field in the regioh of the Arahura. Mr Michel advanced the opinion that it woud not he asking too much of the Government- to set aside £o.ooo for a prospecting campaign on the flats and terraces between Blue Spur and the Upper Arahura. IB pointed out the Atahura liver was the only considerable river in Westland which had not carried a mining eommjmitv on its banks, a view which had been put forward in years gone by by the late James Clarke. Air Aliehel appeared to he offering a suggestion wlii-h should not be lost sight of. If the opening given by Air Orr’s paper is followed up bv the League, the effort should he made to concentrate on a demand for a (lovernnient system of prospecting which will ensure approved places such as suggested being thoroughly tested.

Thb second paper read at Wednesday's gathering dealt with a lighter subject—the scenic attractions of Lake Kanieri. Westland, lias a great wealth of scenic glories. It is a natural wonderland in that respect and beside the mist extent of treasure possessed, it has such great variety. The Tourist Department has never given adequate attention to the scenery of Westland. With this Department, as with others, Westland is a veritable Cinderella. In other places flic Government goes to the expense « '' “creating ’ tourist resorts. Here they are ready made, requiring hut proper access and fair advertisement. Lake Kanieri is the show place adjacent to Hokitika, and it well deserved being m’ii ' ed out as the delightful spot it is. AVhat was said of its tranquility and repose is notable true, and in that respect if could he made a very pleasant health resort, were the authorities tn take it in hand, and bring out its qualities in the wav they should. Lake Kanieri lias been brought very close to town now by motor traction and has become more and more a resort of local interest. In the summer season if should he linked with the town hY a daily service, and at a ••casumible tariff, a great connection will grow up. The much boomed Lake Wakatipu in Otago, to which the Government- had constructed a costly railway and runs at a heavy annual loss a costly steamer service, is not to lie compared in sceniq glory and adjacent attractions to Luke Kanieri. The bare hills of Wakatipu are disappointing after the wooded heights surrounding Kanieri with the slum capped mountains for a background. Truly Lake Kanieri is i.. a class by itself, and the district- is wasting a natural asset by not making more use of nature’s agreeable gift. .Mu Chinn’s paper on flax-growing and its remunerative possibilities was of an educative character. Mr Chinn is able to speak from long experience and intimacy with the production of flax(ihre, and his considered opinions and advice are well worth taking notice of. It is pleasing indeed to learn that the native flax can ho so profitably handled' and with so much swamp land along this Coast, far more cultivation might well he made of this ready to hand plant Naturally the return to be derived depends on the .market, which is of a fluctuating nature, hut under favorable conditions of situation for transport, it should lie a ‘profitable investment each succeeding year, with th 0 prospect in the “fat” years of yielding very high returns. Air Chinn’s figures allow for a very big discount in a season of had markets, so that there seems plenty I to conic and go on where the settler is * disposed to he, enterprising. Probably the settlers would do best by combining in suitable , localities, and having , their own cooperative milling plants. These plants arc usually portable and! could he moved about over a restricted f area as the crops warranted. Certain1y apart from its marketable qualities, -| the flax has virtues in respect to afford ing shelter for stock, and there are no doubt many wind swept arena where it could he ijn iisofi to advantage p «

shelter, and then, in season, could be cropped for market purposes. In the past a good deal has been done spasmodically in flax-cutting, hut little if anything in the way of flax cultivation. Mr Chinn’s paper should thus open up a line of thought to those hold ing suitable land, for the way seems open of adding substantially to their income by cultivating flax for market, and so adding to the more material progress of the district.

Tiik most important and engrossing paper read on Wednesday night was that of Air \Y. Jeffries on the agricultural and pastoral possibilities of the district. The writer had gone to a

good deal of research to compile his facts and figures, and to present a very convincing argument to his auditors of the undoubted prospects of this district in reference to pastoral pursuits. AVest land can he easily a second Taranaki; indeed, if developed on the lines Mr Jeffries foresees, it call with its larger area, eclipse Taranaki. Great wealth is produced year by year in laranaki. In Westland, although several tlioli-sli-ruis of pounds worth of product eom e from the stock of the district, it is hut rt tithe of what tTie district will produce when fairly stocked in the future. Mr Jeffries looks very optimistically to the future, and produced statements to support and justify his outlook. The district has only taken lately to dairying, hut the returns are wonderfully good to those who participate in the industry. Compared with former times before dairying came into vogue, there is of course no comparison in the return derived by the settlers. That is very positive proof of the latent possibilities to bo developed as dairying expands. AYe were specially pleased to hear Mr Jeffries turning his vision to the far South, and prophesing that the time would come when a freezing works would he established at Bruce Bay. It is Hie liaturral outlet -for a very large area given to stock raising known as Cook’s Flat. The herds are growing there all the time, and force of circumstances will lead to works being set up and carcase beef being exported. This material progress and more will com e to Westland as its pastoral possibilities are realised and the people by their enterprise build up a great stock raising trade up and down tlq, district so notable for its feed producing qualities.

Tin-; final paper read was on the bee industry, a subject near and dear to the heart of the write,r, Air John Murdoch Jr. or Boss. Mr Murdoch writes from i rolitable experience, and lie writes with much enthusiasm because lie is one of those who realises to the full what Ihe district can do, if the industry is intelligently persevered in. For some time past, Air Murdoch had to combat official authority as to the suitability of the Coast for bee culture. Hie reports as to the rainfall in the district alarmed the officials who were at once prejudiced, and who were unfair enough to form their opinions without going into the facts of the case. While the rainfall alarmed them, they would itot take comfort from the generous average period we have of bright sunshine, nor would they realise the amount of natural food bees could gather from the native forests. However, thanks to the enthusiasm of, Air Murdoch and other boo farmers, “the goods hav# been produced,” alul the quality, color and general ensemble of the product has compared more than favorably with honey produced in other places held in high esteem in the official mind. Indeed, in some cases, on the English market at that, AVest]aud honey has received the highest marks, and ranged alongside the best product from the staple supply factories of the Dominion. Beekeeping is regarded by many as merely a hobby But it- can he made a very profitable undertaking by those who care to undertake the light work and duty pertaining to the production of honey. The task-needs application and knowledge, and given those factors, bee keeping in Westland can be a very profitable business and as the time goes by is going to grow' more and more one of of the important side lines of district production. The bee enthusiast cannot begin too soon and Mr Murdoch’s paper should he an incentive) for those with a leaning that way to begin now.