IN SOUTH WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1921, Page 4

IN SOUTH WESTLAND

THOUGHTS! BY Ti 1,15 WAY

(Prepared for tho \\ (.\stl;iml ( hantber ol Commerco meeting, Sept, (ith, 1U2.1 )• •■Am Imy brother’s keeper ! J ” Tliis age-old (piery might be asked in these model'll days : "\\ hilt are my oblii.jilioiis as a citizen to aid my neighbour:-” ... , , No one can visit South Westland tiie.se Limes and tail to notice the •steady advancement inkino place there. The pro,mess being made stamps the district as one of inherent value, with . resources worth eldtivaline and with; the promise of a growing prosperity ( which will reflect itself throughout tiiuj length, and hreadth ol Woslhmd. Iheie is tangible evidence of this pleasing I statement, 'lake dairying, tor instance —destined to be ol great value to alii parls of Westland : ; At Inter Wanganui in the season just I closed, Kill tons of cheese were made, I as against 1.17 tons the previous season. . 'i'll,, suppliers will receive about 2s bd j per lb for butter fat. The cash return j in die district will he about ,C21,(!d.) fur the season. In one month of the vear alone, nearly L'.'iOOII were paid out. This factory o|K>rates ever a very limited area relative to the extent >. the southern district, and is an c.videnee of the, sterling value in dairying pursuits to the settlors. At Waitaha Settlement about 7. tons of ebeese were turned ollt last seas :n. The previous year the Company jiaid out Is lOd per lh for butter tat. and that figure will be ei|Ualled ibis vear again. The Wa la roil cheese factory manufactured about 70 tons of cheese, and suppliers there will receive about 2s fid per 111 of butter fat. This factory it is interesting to recall, received the record pri<e for chocs,, in the Dominion ! : ;-t season--a vorv fine acbievemenl indeed, though it has been an established fact for years that the pastures ol Wat a run arc particularly sweet, and make the primes! heel' and mutton, as well as high (paddy in milk. ■ These three factories in nine mnul.r ~f t lie year it will be seen, have brought nni) and over of produced wealth into the district. Dairying in South West la ml can lie regarded as only doing in its infamy. The tliroe lactoricscrvc only limited areas, and even in ill,, localities mentioned, the area in use for dairving is rest rii ted. In afl three plan's, much land is given up lo glazing and the raising of heel and mutton. If these areas were cut up into dairy farms what a material dillei'cllce there would he in the outnui and the increased return won hv |hc districts! Such fit illg the case, uhal can he done lo induce large laud-owners utilising some of their areas for dairying purposes ; or, where factories arc not osm 1 lisle,d. lo induce the landholders to take up dairy big!' There are many such possible sell lenients up and down Smith Westland, and when the folk , rails, . tin- position they will avail

,' t'vsrlve- of thr Lrn*;it oppni-tumyv a rcp;:?l:ir pursuit. Not til! liifti "jU l,cpi:i to take its plum :is l hi.- Tii.-ini.iUi o! tin-' South Islimhl- • it i-. possible tor it l - - :icli 10vo iit rnei itn i!:-i i\ i HL-. pursuits. It isi;is\ to Hin I i-l'slii in 1 wli\ tt I a’/.i iijr t!t,.- !>; pular ionn of oeeup-ttiun. h ..as lit* ’■; 1 11 si • Slock hail lour IfjAS ami col 1 1 1 1 walk oil! in a market. (■ ra/.i let;

li :is ill,- Ii x >■! i! i>i< i, I ul' I !..■ set 11< ■i ' !>■■- hire 111.11!. mill I i apl.s were iiuicii' innveiiieni. :iml inui I to ill.- li'e il lm-< iin• In iii pinsiieil. Hi'-i'li’s. minis :is ;tl presenl in:ii!i■ 'ln tint t:i;» nil the . li-t rii i . which are ivimili. imm ihe ii in mill >1 ml; in i- i n max slill alnn,. I,e |,ill.ni l .I. I'll 111. -.; i !.<• nan spell iclj II i I'C 1 [let 11 S Hi '•"la- 111 tin" sun I hern Ima lii ii-s. hmliours am ucees--•aiv, anil I Ills aspicl will In- releireil in lain . As in nraziun, jjpval wcallh results i s. .u I !i. v. lii'in llm Inn ,1 - am iiirma'inu slca'lily. mi I in i! a! .■ i! -■i -. 11; i; - Iv x. itli llm siil'liliis I'm si si. 111 nimI will ant In- really a i.s aa-nl In" sunn ini' Wustlmiil uiazims. l’rices nnw a ii- ill c liuiiin, lull al llm ap|U I'lia Iml rains nl a leu mulllhs si no. Ihe ml mils lII' I lie si,Ml hern - II lei s nisei .! in >1 ml-, raisiii:. must have heeii very alllaelive. ;■ lli I il is llnl slll'l't isill;: ilia! in tin iso ei reti lust miens erazine; was a e'lioil ellnUeh neell|ial inn. The t! 11 e 1 11:1 I intis n| the mal'llels the-e nines, enlie i• illf-1 xvil II Ihe limp ill w mil mnl liiiles. mill Ihe lillli III! inn s n! ill'.' nim'kels nil I If. ( ua-.t inr I'm sin I-., am im i lire lii

i-ntisin-j; till' .-nltlm-s in unii iili-r iiiilkin.it ms II stninl'iy, Mild in ms ni ill im-tiitn-O" -i 11. ■i m in llic Si null urn nuiiijj l> !: I'M ill'll nil illtn dMii'vill” ll s Mil n\|ii'l'ini. nuil >iilu-liin 1 . I’M s s i 1 1 It (111 nil dl SilUill Vl'l'il ill 11. l ' min ml lim mill n! tin- ti inU r sum.-uii. nil., is -I !II i K null llm UKu.dlnlll I 11II11! 1 lull l.f ills slll’l'ji Mml l ilt ; In. Till' stunk itnllnl’M lly is in pi'ilim m mil i I inn. 1)11 iii io sm 111 in 111 lint ilium r.i-iu m i til 11 >ln nl lllnlis nl i Milk , M ItLl I I'u.M tilm; mlin n I :i(MI Imin I, nil llm iiirnips. A yunr MJIH tin l nllU nl ill i ill Hunks V. u

I eve l,ii,U”lil le-s t!::m t:«». «>• sense ill mac 111-.' il tli* I!u :i- in "nii'in;; pursuit s. This i< h:i! tme i' v :i11111 1< • hi ilif many lints mill mils in iln' sunt 1 1 t :irryinn -I ■•■ el;. ami ">• • ivnlise tlint, in stock-, aisinu ptiS'ihilitif- Ihf sunllit-rii tlisliifi lias m ! soil l ees. Tilt'll tiltTf mf all 111 • * si'!* 1 lint's til' st'l t 11•11 It • 11 1 t Ilf until. lilt' hi, lf... anil till.' nimei'al |ii n-.lm f nl' tin' i a I'm uni i.mil linn bacon anti honey. All h, fsst'iilial anil valuable |irti<lintinli. atltli lin (n tlit' "ea I'll nl tilt' mills niiluily, anil s u 111 >l\i 11 lc snliil masons wliv ihc 11 1 m 11 i 11 n nl’ anil tlirn'i'lnpiiu'iit nl till' snlllll. is Wtll'lllV nl ihf I 111 It'S l SllpImrt ami advocacy. l.ilii'U is,., ill' have lilt' vast timber resources nl St in 1 1 1 \\ i’-1 lainl. I lit’si* am very extensive. Tin' luiverumeiii 11 1 lie ■i: 1 1 uhn vent lin'd to m|iuri tiiat tlir li m 1 ini nI (In- tli--1 riu ■a 1 I it*'.,; nil 1 in ah,n' 1 1 nff tit". :.des hi. sill-fly very with nl’ ilia nia rk. In the !: /.'it nl u; a' lias liffii init in Ihr lias! lo ll anil mum nl lilt' lilt' nl' We-lhiml. 111, , |,aHun 1 1n' t lf;i iin ss I'm si 11 If iiit nt, ui if i- in.lint’ll in snynt'sl cfiit tildes ial Inn limn ilncailns as fiiv.-ri n'.', 1 liin ni till iialivi' Inmsls. ( tn! a inly. in net, nl' it is very minute, ami laUf stimc nni l inn tn in"tT;i'l : Inil even sit. ihcre am vast Ira.-is nl eoiintry In la. taiipfil h.v ill.' arl.fiial railway In p" siinlli, and i>i:imil lines up Ilia valla,'* ami Mills "ill I hall ha pnssihla. Iha main vvaalth nl liitilie■ In ha anvcrail u ill pay I'nr ilia lina, and u lien t ’■ a I ■■ ' is daiindad nl’ its I'ni'asl, tha am:: antin' in I'nr pastoral pursuits and sfi I Intiicnl. I In'v limn this " ill ha, il a. null Ilm idle to spat ulala upon, htil 111,, day must i-nmo "hen Iha railway '.ill In- ptishail snlllll. and it "id Sllall liailln ilia alls.' "f "I I his ni'IICI.II ion should not fail to hrin'ij Iha possi--I,ill ins lialora ilia notiaa nl Iha respnns i lilt* ant hni ilies, anti iiiix*' that the milk ha uni leapt staadily in via", Iml aativaly prusaautad. for lliara is ilia assiiianee "ith tha stored wealth in fi,rests of Westland, that eennolllieally nutrkatad as "ill hi' possible with rail wav aonnaation, ilia aonnuodily will lie list'd, ami liv hoinn used, the export nl ilia rnatoriai will serve t ho double purpose of helpin.n In pay lor Iha eo' I '' Ilia lina, which will remain "hen ilia land is cleared of limber to serve die sat tiers who in that, day " ill ha utilisin,.- iha ctiiinlry for daiiyi.no and other pastoral occupations. A passion rafaronce was made ahova in iha need for harbours, In the per-

m.*tiioiit.tlovoloi»inellt of South Westland loti Ilnurs will eventually piny nil impnrtunt part. The distance and hilly unlure of the country traversed hv the main mads, alike suggest the call for readier means of transport for goods. The Westland seaboard does not 0.very great facilities for harbour making, but there are two points at lca-t within the region of practicable toti u, and both should be taken in hau l. Tlie two plaees are linin' Hay and Okitrilo. At the former, a banding jetty is (imposed at present. This it is to be Imped, will lie bin preliminary In the larger jetty which will be refill i red in the future when the country is more closely. settled and more intensive farming and dairying is the

vogue. Thiit day will ciiiiio. hot lbpresent, the most to bo hoped tor is tlio Lauding long promised, but '-till in tlte vague future. Tlio M'ltli'is have now to put up ivitli very tout .1 li'iog oomlilions, tiiid tlio whole ilistfii-t iroio I’nringa to Weliokii is being held back because ol' tlio lock ol loading 0 " : 1 unloading facilities. At Okarito ilb'F life possiliilitins in the Way o' I m'11• improvements which unit 111 unuMu larger bottoms to trade to tin- poll. There is a tract of country lying between the Waikukupu Sailillc anil .Ml Hercules which the putt ol Okarito would serve, anil it served, tin* shipping would greatly reduce the wear and tear 011 the Mtt in'South road. Between the two points natip'd are several settlements ad capable ol being turned itil 1 dairy farms ; great torests ot timber, and the possibility ol rich mineral linds. The rail wav line will be a long tun ■ finding its‘wav to Okarito. Meantime.

mas! tlu* country slugnuto tor the wont of means for rapid communication 'i It is for tlu* people to make their demandreii.son ably and in due season, and m 1 tin* face of the circumstances as they are, no (iovernmenl can tail to realise what is host and right to he done. ■ The reference to tin* harbours would not he complete without sonic* mention of the shipping facilities. The members of this Chamber know the history of; local shipping and there is C. * fueling s that the town and district attempted to do its duty fully in the matter, In- • fortunately misloitune lias attended ; the well-meant efforts, and die saddest part of tlu* experience is that to the , loss must Ik* added the failure ol the movement to eater efficiently with a suital>le service. A suitahli* service is necesssirv in fairness t«> the people. I h»*,\ have had some very expensive t*xi>eri* cm c> in tin* picsciit handling of the sea borne trade, lint knowing all the circumstances, it lias to he admitted that the best is being done. Hut that best is far slant of what is right and fair, ••ltd existing conditions cannot he .allowed to continue indefinitely. It the southern district is to participate in dairying; if fat stock is to he got to market : it regular supplies at reasonable freightage are to he got into the district, a different class of boat must bo in* reduced into the trade. So iai the efforts to reorganise die Shipping Company have lailod. It i- undo! stood one more effort i>. to he made. When that effort is made the southern people must he prepared to come forward and help themselves materially. The hudmss people here on thejr part, then* ireason to believe, «ill assist- liheially. Tim i renewed effort should note be' delayed. and if unfortunate!*, it should fail, then the only course open i> to ask the (lovernment to step in and call f»u tenders for an mierpmte service and endeavour to secure a suitable steamer for die trade. That will he the last hope, hut before that is tried. the soiidiern settlers jointly with the townspeople would he well advised to secure their own boat. so as to control its movements, and work it to tin* most effective advantage in the interests ot the southern trade. The mineral wealth of South Westland i> ah unknown fa. lor -yet. Hut it is i\ a.-omihle to helievi* that in lime to e«iiut* tbe district will reveal untold treasure. There must he a rich niiueinl belt somewhere in Ihe hack hills to account lor the rich finds of alluvial gold mi tit ten recovered on tin* sea beaches, in the early days of the Ukaiilo am! southern hoach-rwslms, the treasure was recovered in hillylulls, ;11 it I since those halycon days fiom time to lime and fmpient ly. the heachcomhers retrieve vahtahle hauls ot gold along the Coast. Assuming that ti.«* gold lias been brought ih>\\ ti hv the livers, it may be said that the hack country behind Okarito to Hi'tlce Hay i> the |«ieah*. Certainly sieli find- have been made in the head waters of tlu* Waiho river and it: 'uaml.es. Imt no -uMainetl effort has been made to find the parent reef. If State prospecting should come into vogue, there is no bet ter locality fora beginning, for there is ample evidence that sumowheio in that hack country there is a very rich deposit of gold in t lie matrix. Its di»eoverv would reveal an K 1 Dorado, and the probable value of such a find would he worth the enterprise of a genuine search being made by a responsible parly head.-! hv a geologist and assaycr. Tlu* (ioverniueiit provides a pi .sped ing vole annually. The major part might well he applied to Mich a venture as that suggested, and no doubt ibo right sort of men if given an intciest in what was discovered, would venture on the enterprise lor a roil.niicrat ion w hich might sit Mice to cover the cost of outfit and expenses. Other minerals than gold must abound in parts of Westland, and with a capable geologist at the head ol tlu* party acting on behalf of the Covcrnmeiit. tlu* possible finds of mineral wealth are likely to highly recompense the country for tlu* excursion into State prospect - Tin* asset posseted by the district in its climate am! scenic glories is immeasurable. When the tourist attractions of South Westland conic to he better known, a stream of traffic will j result which will he unending all the' year round. There need he no “de- ' liiied” season in Westland. Tlii? weather will unitin'r lie tun Imt mil' tun culil. Oui equable climate will nut inis- . lit tin- tourist all tin- yuai mnml. To: many tin* mountains and 1 1 i yy 1 1 hills aft’ j linin' bi'iiiitifnl in winter Ilian in sum- ! iiut. lic'cansi* nl' iht* greater hrilliancy of their mat ol snow, and tin* richness ul' tin* coloring in I lm charged atnm-j S|dion*. Tho Wurth uf the scenic assets uf Westland an- as yet i|iiitc undreamt i uf. Now, with tin* Inidging u l ' • | lii ers, and the readier nieiins for snifter transit, tin* volume uf tiallioj will inorease stihslnnl hilly. lint we j want, ami we have t lie right to demand, I moie consideration at tho hands of the | I )epn 1 1 nion l which controls tin- Tourist and Health llesorts of the country. j When it is recorded that last year a j period niton estimate- were In-in:' cm • j lailod -no loss limit was vole.| for the Totu isl Department hv I’arlia-fi-nt, we might well ask what is being done for West la ml f It is donhtfnl il a la-ggnrlv Ihonsaml were spent in tludistrict. The IVpn it men! has the way of putting its motley ehielly into places •1 leimitage,” and Westland, the natural wonderland llmt it is, is ignored, j II is a I'ftel frequently disclosed that , travellers passing through New Zealand under the direction of the Tourist IVpai iout. mis' 1 lekit il.-t and South Westland lot* the reason that they were 11,. I le am - e of Ihe a t: act'*- e * ' 'he loealitv. This studied neglect should end, and we have the right to demand more generous attention because here are the natural wonders the tourist and holiday-maker would delight in. A factor in Hie future of South West-

land which is well to bear in mind, is •' llie hydro-electric possibilities. There i arc throe rivers in the near Smith i whence tonsidernMe power can be guar- ' ill)teed. These arc : The l.ittle Waitnha, .'i.u'iO horse l pm.ver. 1 The Hi” Wiuieiinui, HUlim horse power. ■J’iie Wat ari «a. SH .111 It I horse power. When we remeniber tlmi the I' ;irel:.: river nonr llokitikn is gauged at pi'odilciug I'll.llOb horse power, v.e may i'oi m some estimate in otir inimis - lo the puten ll y ot lie’ near Smith rivers once it is decided to levy llpoll them. It will lie some years of emu so. before they are Ir.iriies-ul. mil the !rn tlmi they possess the latent poser iihove estimated by export-'. will he a special re;isoil lor 1 he. aulliot l'.ies lo I 111 IT to the Smith for I lie ill iiisiition of liaise sources of power. ll is conceivable that ill those ila.ts the -mail,era lail ia v u ill run eleet rii ally, and thill with the cheap power available, not only u ill (lie settlers have al band all I be" power they ran require, but tlieio «ill be null'll to spare, and t mil's will he cs l .■ 'ilisne.- in toe The. cheap po's cr v. ill be an am to tap the more 1-emele Invests now believed to be ill.nci essible e onmnicaily, and so I, ill be a i'alenim to lever more and lore wenllli from the iv.-o.uc.s oi ei.u.u Westland. This great, stole of power is i, Slate asset, mid its incillculithl.e

value :u ill'" period _ uni>‘.'*er iv;imi]i v !i\- it v. ill lit* to the interests ol the eottnuy nt little to promote tin* , lull development ol' the southern disMini t<> miss no opportunity to I' ,rm> tin* SV.nlli nlionil. 'lln yo is Uni.* a tmaraiitrv of sak* invos*nicnt tor J UI ■ .4 . * i... ~4..

(lovoniuiriit money pot into tin* oprniii o up nl' South West In ml. Kor every pn’llllll spoil) in-till!! way thoro Mill In* the assured return of a tliou.-jinil teld in tiie veals to eoiue. New Xcalaild is only oil tlie thrcshhold o! the eleetrieal lore, liefnre it culminates, Westlaml w ill come into in on n with its stnpciillolls hytlro-eleel l ie pow er. It would he untair, as it would he iiupeiirroiis. not to say that a prcut deal has lieeli done for South Westland. We must he oi-nteful for what is still licinp don •in reput'd to the hiidp.es along the .Main South road, i l.iil it is fair to assume that what lias j heon done and what is bring don.’, would not mine.to pass weir it not that the potent ialit ies of South West-' land were tealised. Snell licinp the ease we may ask reasonahly for imue. If is our duty as residents of the iii.I riet to point oni w here and how the (oivernnieiil can help in the development of the distriet. There is the natural eoiuplaint that i-olat.d as we are. outside the heater. I ra* k so to speak. our distriet does not conic under of the (lowers that later;.' well, we owe it to ourselves not 1,, hide our light midi"' a hiishel He alisinp as we all do llie potential ties of Westland if fully developed, v. have a duty to see that the means In bring ah.ail the ureal developments we all hae fai; ii in; are pro; tiled. \\ ■ tu'is' lie up and speaking. and k.a j o', in ;; ill ii', that given mads and hintpos. railways and Inn linur.s. stloli as o a-' ill'; re liifl mill I c pliirrs have been" (*!;••- i idl'd will, lane ago. we h'lloe Unit Westlaml I'.l- i* in he; ii.iPtfal re sou ; el's to oliitdate til '-I pro-;-' of o! la"' lent res oljg.lprd i-1 III"!. Ill'Whirl, Would l.e possible here nil ter tmeasy eoir.litmils and laeililii's tor lit press and epiess wliieli exist elsewhei'e Impinvcd means ot tianspoia is what Westland is hungering for. Civeil the (Mira Ttimtel shortly, the distriet will si|ow !;ow it will avail ilsell of that port aI to prosper it v. I'hoiii lhat use W" will lane a tight 'l 1 t r.: It!:'- l‘ ' ('oast rail wa \ shall he pushed south, set tliuaeiipi i xpaiidr 1, forest s tapped, and Ihe s — ni, -' wnmlei land of I.■ undid Westlaml opened up. Ami in "do li'iiudilip we 'hall at least in 'part he doing our dal; to our southern nripliI.OUIS whose work has proved them such splendid pioneers ill opening up llie 1-011111 r V iindor siieh dillie'.dt eireiinistanees as heset them from the outset, and in that way omet liinp will he dour lo answer the ohlipation liirust upon us as eitizeits hy the query asked in llie opeiiinp paragraph that we are eiideavottrinp to aid our iicighhnurs, and in a corporate way seekiup to ptomote the welfare, of the di*t riet,-- the advancement ol which will retlcri itsell upon the propress ami prosperity "f the If minion as a whole. This paper has I,cell headed "Thoughts hy the May. Seim has written that "the actions ot' men are the best interpreters ol their tliouplit s." So (Ins paper tu.i; on-hide with a stanza from l.oiiplellow \ "IVllllll ef Life" i • I. e| lIS then he Up and doinp, •Willi a hi’:,ri for any fate ; "Slid arhieviup. still pursuing. ■• | ,ea ii to la hoi and to wait.