LATE LOCALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1922, Page 3

LATE LOCALS.

Air R. S. Galbraith, Commissioner of Crown Lands for Westland, returned to Hokitika on Tuesday evening from Christchurch. He reports a very enjoyable trip through South Westland and into Otago via the Haast Pass. Mr Galbraith found the South Westland district in a floiifislmg condition. There was a plentitude of grass in spite of the dry weather that had been experienced for some time before his visit, though the couple of days rain just afterwards would do a lot of good. At Okuru there was still some talk of erecting a butter or cheese factory. There was ample land there and at one or two other places for a factory, but lie did not know whether they would eventuate at present, owing to the drop in the price of butter fat, and increase in the price of stock, especially as the settlers generally were doing very well in spite of t,he drop in prices. During the journey south there were a lot of pigeons and paradise ducks seen, very large flocks at times, hut otherwise there was not tlie bird life that one would expect. The track over the Haast Pass was in a very rough condition, and the party travelled most of the way to the hut by the river bed. It would take a large expenditure to put the track in decent order. F!ine weather was experienced, except for two days, when in Otago. The low elevation of the Haast Pass was noticeable, especially as they had to rise a further 1000 feet in Otago after leaving Lake Wakatipu before reaching the lower country. -Mr Galbraith said tlieio was nothing much to report as to South Westland, further than to endorse lus report of a visit lie had made there some twelve months ago.