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Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1922, Page 2

It is a matter of regret that the HOll. Minister of Public Works should have been held up at the Little Waitaha f-oixl by a flood. The experience had its useful side in showing Mr Coates wliat the settlors have had to put up with for years, for when lie inspected the crossing yesterday afternoon he raw the river in a very turbulent condition., But Mr Coates is practical enough to understand these untoward circumstances without actually witnessing the conditions, and it would hare been preferable if he could have pushed south and made the first stage of his journey. We hope the conditions today will be more propitious and permit tl.e party to push on mnl make up their time-table. At the County deputation on Saturday night, the need for the bridge’s was strongly pressed, and Mr Contes will realise the justice of the demand. Mr Jeffries made a special appeal for the Wafho bridge, which the Minister indicated was to be t-'n* next on the list. The folk will expect therefore that at the next session, provision of a substantial nature will he made for the erection of the Woiho bridge. The inspection the tattle Waitaha bridge approaches yesterday under the prevailing conditions must have specially impressed the t’vblie Works officers with the need for greater haste with the work. The coilfined conditions restrict the number of men employed, but there is room certainly for two shifts aiid an iniproved organisation of the work would also result in speeding up. The present rate of progress suggests the crossing will not be available for m'onths. That period houild he cut down to weeks and we hope the official visit yesterday will result in the work being substantially expedited.

Thk party which inspected the tramway of Stuart and Chapman Ltd. yesterday stretching from Ross to Wnitnhn, must have been impressed with the magnitude of the enterprise. The first impressive sight is the largo sawmill being erected at Ross, which it is undertood is but one of the two large millls to be erected by the firm in that locality. The second matter to arrest attention is the ten miles of iron tramway to the Waitaha which appears to be very faithfully constructed. Just below Ross is the fine bridge spanning the Mikonui river which yesterday was a boon to travellers as the river was in high flood. A considerable portion of the line traverses the outskirts of Mikonui swamp, and must have been very costly in construction. The enterprise does not end at Waitaha. The firm is now assembling the material for a bridge larger and more strongly built than the Mikonui, to span the | major Waitah river. Across the river and the line will be continued still south on towards the confines of Lake Jan the. It is an enterprise such as this which gives point to the value of capital in securing industrial development and so creating employment which gives life to trade and sustains ithe population. The milling side of -wis proposition will he a factor in the prospects of the district, for such a large initial outlay bespeaks a lengthy future of busy industrial activity. It will be the staple industry of the RossWnitaha locality for years to ionie,' and is an enterprise deserving every good wish for its future success as a reward for the confidence and organising abilities of the progressive promoters.