The Hokitika Guradian TUESDAY, AUGUST 1st, 1922. Adjacent Development.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guradian TUESDAY, AUGUST Ist, 1922. Adjacent Development.

It lum I,yen the custom very largely I for some time past to centre public ntI tention *on the development of the southern district. It was no doubt necessary to do so for the reason that that portion of Westland was remote and ' isolated, ami with its great potentialities there was the call for urgent attention. A very great measure of success has attended the united efforts of the community to help forward South Westland. In regard to loading and bridging, marked progress lias been made of late years and there is the pleasing satisfaction now of knowing that bv the New Year all the principal rivers which hitherto have •held up the natural progress of the south over the length of the main i chicle ”Oitd. will be bridged. With the bridging of the rivers indicated finally accomplished the southern district w ill be in a fair way. to help itself by tile result of the natural development wlrch will follow the ordinary enterprise of the settlers in promoting the advancement of their immedite localities. Tliero is, of course, a good deal yet to do for the far south district, and ns time goes on that portion of Westland will do. mand much attention, if settlement is i’o be expected to expand and population to grow. The growth in the neper portion of the southern district , will however, reflect itself on the lower part, where the settlers will see the advantage of helping themselves by J ■establishing dairying industries which

J will ensure permanent incomes on the 4 most stable basis which pastoral pursuits offer. And while there is a good deal to do lor the far south, with its possibilities so apparent, it is not likely, that efforts will be relaxed where good can he done for the, district in . the effort to forge it ahead. While this, is so. there is scope also for useful action more adjacent to the town in the effort to secure practical development. The dairying centres about Hokitika are [ worthy the best attention as offering the means for the most ready returns for help extended to them. The extensive district of Kokatahi-Koiterangi is a locality in point. Probably few 1 people realise the extent of farming country in the district referred to, nor the great development which it is possible to make under more inteni sive conditions. lAt Kekntahi there is the oldest established butter factory jin Westiand. It is a district which has not gone hack in its excursion into dairying. The season just closed is said to bo a record. Tbe output was

some 170 tons of butter. Next season there is the promise of p. further increase. and over 200 tons are mentioned ns an estimate of the possible achievement. While this growth is comparatively satisfactory, it is not at all adequate for the extent of the holdings held at KokatahLKoiterangi. The settlers themselves believe they can do letter aiid ri larger plant is to he installed in due course. But the fact is that the district has such possibilities that in respect to dairy products it should go ahead by leaps and bounds. The Koiterangi side has not developed in keeping with the productivity of its land. But there are signs of an improvement. Some large holdings are being cut up. and new settlers are going into the district. The great need of Ml parts of Wcstand, both north and south, is closer settlement. The holdings are too large to utilise effectively by the owners, with the result that thousands of acres of land lie fallow year after year. But the land is growing more valuable, and that will he the first aid to impose increased utility. Instead of a small factory centred at Kokatnhi. it should he possible to have two large factories centred on each side of the river. The output is possible under more intensive cultivation and with improved herds. Both districts are fairly well served in regard to roads and if scon the rich swamp lands in both localities are brought into profit, there cannot he other than marked progress noticeable. More people will he coming to the Coast from now on. and when the visitors realise the potentialities of the daiiying district so adjacent to Hokitika, there will he a demand for Innd in that quarter which will result in the closer settlement we Relieve to be so necessary for the pronounced advancement of the country district. The Kokatahi-Koiterangi locality has many attractions, not the least of which is its scenic setting. For visitors to make n round tour of the district, visiting first Upper Kokatalii, and then crossing to Koiterangi. and tonring the two lengths of long road which lend first to the endowment lands and then to the Hokitika Gorge, there will be a revelation as to the rich possessions of the place, and a realisation of the future before it when the material development takes plnre at the hands of the settlers. The district referred to is one of the best assets of the many in Westland, and its development should he encouraged in every way possible.