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Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1922, Page 2

Onk of the claims put forward by the Greymoutli agitation for special attention, is the removal of the headquarters of the Westlnnd electoral departmen tin.in Hokitika to the northern borough. Sueli a step would lie quite unsatisfactory, because it is from this centre whore the wide extending district can-lie worked to the best advantage. Greymoutli town bulks largely in votes, but it is a simple matter to deal with votes in congested areas. The difficulty begins where the scattered districts occur. Greymoutli is at the extreme end of the electorate, and relatively there are very few polling outside booths in that quarter. Tho number about Hokitika is touch larger while south of Hokitika the number grows. Hokitika is .so central that the Returning Officer can speak with ease over the telephone with Totara Flat in the north to Okuru in the south. It is a long stretch of country over 200 miles, three quarters of whieh art' south of Hokitika. There is greater economy and efficiency to lie secured from this point. Then this town lias its standing ns the ancient capital of the province, and the electoral centre since the old Provincial days when the Superintendent resided here in ‘'Government House,” and all polling took place from Hokitika. In those days the Greymoutli representatives attended the Provincial Council meetings at Hokitika. Those are associations which cannot be effaced. We know too that it is tlic southern part of Westland which is developing the most rapidly of and part of the Coast. And served by the F.ast Coast markets, the dairying centres will continue to expand. In point of fact Westland is about to. pass through the portal of “Opportunity” it has waited for. Its career has been chequered ; but never was faith lost and hopes will how come to pass. This realisation justifies more than ever the need for Hokitika continuing the Government centre fo the district.

There is no doubt for those who would see the world the profession of engineering holds out greater opportunity than any other calling. The sailor visits the sea ports, but seldom penetrates far inland; the commercial traveller’s beat is confined to the larger towns But tho engineer, whether he ho “civil” or “mining,” not only visits many eounfcrjesj but goes deeper into their

hearts, works with their inhabitants, nn<l learns more about them than any bird of passage hope to do. Sir Guilford L. Molesworth, whose reminiscences have been edited by his soi'n Mr E t J> Molesworth ) and lately published (notes a reviewer)) is a ease In point. Born in 1828, and trained as a civil engineer, he is the doydii of his profession iii England) and still takes a lively interest" in nil matters connected with it: For a time after he qualified he practised iii Ixmdoii; but iii 1859 lie weitit to Ceylon to take up an appointment; There his principal achievements were the buildug of Gallo Harbour aiid tile faillotls Kandy railway, the latter of which presented extraordinary l difficulties. The local Press declared that the route chosen, with “its series of chamois leaps from one right angle to another,” would never prove practicable, but wlien the first train steamed into Kandy the critics had the grace to admit their mistake. A few years later gir Guilford Moiesworh was summoned to In lia to advise upoll tb*s question of the break or gauge. He nlfto designed and constructed a number of important works, including a huge bridge over the Indus and railways in the north-west. In 1880 he was instructed to make a reconnaissance for a ift''way to Kandahar during tile Afghan war. In the course of it lie narrowly escaped being cut off by an enterprising Afghan outpost. Subsequently in the Burmese war he was attached to the Engineers’ Corps and was deeorated for his services. In 1888 Sir Guilford Molesworth resigned his Indian post, but, although he was at an age when ninny men think themselves entitled to take a rest, lie continued to work with unabate.l vigour, tie pl-op.-irod plans for til,. Xgnnda railway to Cake Xyauzii, and subsequently visited Africa in connection with that enterprise, while the praetiie of his profession; also look him to the United States Siam, and many oher countries. These reminiscent es, which are the fruit of his retirement from “active service” all over the globe are an interesting record of a busy and varied career: