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Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1922, Page 2

The story of Colonel and Falkland battles retold in our past four issues, compiled by the London Daily Mail from enemy sources made interesting reading. The naval strategy displayed was a lesson in war preparedness. For the Colonel fight, the enemy had the overwhelming advantage. The British went to certain defeat, but did not flinch from tlie terrible ordeal which ended so disastrously. In the Falkland fight the tables were turned as regards gun power and the enemy had to suffer a defeat as crushing as that administered so shortly before to Cradock’s ships. Spec’s ships fought no less valiantly than the British did when the fortunes of the fight were against them at the earlier engagement. The ships went down with colors flying and the guns booming defiance. In both instances there were fine examples of splendid naval discipline. The German ships were well equipped and found for the task set them, and New Zealand has to be thankful that though the Germans were once close to our coast and actually threatened the convoy of our troops under transport, our men and our country escaped scathless. We .hear a great deal now atobut disarmament and the scrapping of navies It will be a good thing for humanity if these naval engagements shall cense to be repeated. History is full of many a stirring tale of superb brnvery in the face of fearful odds, and it would be sufficient If the stories ended there, and ! in the 'reign of peace and good sense for the future, these naval fiKlits to a finish became impossible. So far as Ooronel and Falkland are concerned, the latter from a British point of view redeemed the former, but it was a terril’e price to pay—though a necessary one—and it will be a good thing if the occasion never recurs again.

One of the matters requiring attention is to place the management nr ! development of Lake Kanieri as a touIristt resort on the right -shoulders. Lake Kanieri is a vast sceni c reserve—very properly so—and as such is a national asset. A recent visitor says Lake Kanieri eclipses Loch Lomond, the lake 8 of Killarney and the lake district of England. Visitors all acclaim its beauty. So far the management and development of the lake devolves on the Westland Acclimatisation Society, an organisation with very limited funds. Very little help is now forthcoming from the Government for the upkeep of the national asset. Even a beggarly £3OO voted last year for the road and not spent, has now been cut out, and there is not a penny of Government money available j to aid development. Turning up the | Public Works Estimates just passed i by Parliament, we find that for this • year no less than £24,200 have been voted for Rotorua. There is not a penny for Westland—the £1,250 voted last year and not expended, are cancelled votes this year. It is entirely wrong that the matter of developing Lake Kanieri should fall {upon the care of a few energetic citizens who feel it a duty to help the district wherever it can be assisted. Rotorua can get money for golf links, drainage, and what not, but Westland cannot get a pound to help improve the road to the beauty spot. There is no artificial beauty about Lake Kaniori. It is one of nature’s masterpieces. But Rotorua is in process of continual adornment to hold the atten-

tion of visitors. The Lake road should be widened and put into proper order. Facilities to visit ail parts of the Lake should be provided in a national way, and not at the charity of citizens. The' country has neglected ltß respoh* sibifities in regard to Lake Katlieri far too long and in Season alid out of season the Government should be urged to take up its obvious duties in rogard to the very beautiful lake whiqh is so near at hand, for visitors’ enjoyment.