The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, OCTOBER 30th., 1922. WESTLAND THE UNKNOWN.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, OCTOBER 30th., 1922. WESTLAND THE UNKNOWN.

Thkiik is a great area of Westland which remains a teira incognita. To tlic far south of the province lies » tract of country within that class. The few venturesome spirits who have passed that way are all agreed that it is a |,hkl of latent wealth—teeming as it does with minerals, waiting the enterprise. The late Warden Mncfarlnne, when Government Resident Agent at Jackson Hay, in the later seventies spent a fortnight traversing portion of the country referred to chiefly in the Jackson and Cascade river valleys. Mr Macfarlane in his report to the Government at the time said in conclusion: “I think a thorough examination of the country indicated would lie productive of useful results loading to important mineral discoveries which might he of great financial importance to the country and attract population to the Coast thereby developing the at present locked-up resources of the district.” In the previous issue we quoted the opinion of a recently returned prospector who had spent five months in the unknown fields going much further south than Mr Ifacfnrlune—and lie held the same high opinion of the mineral value of the country and the possibilities of great discoveries in the time to come. The other day Archbishop Julius had something to say about Westland being fifty years behind the times. In the gar south there is a vast-urea if New Zealand which is mere than half a century behind the times because it is still in its virgin state teeming with all the natural possessions unicli have been lavished upon it by nature itself. There as elsewhere the value can ho derived only l>y development. The fact that so notable a country remains unknown as to its mineral value is a reflection upon the powers that he charged specifically with internal development. The lack of enterprise to probe the intrinsic value of the mineral lodes known to exist shows a shortcoming oil the part ol the State which has not been slow to venture into other avenues of development for the national welfare. The local Progress Longue will fall short in its mission if it does not take up in a systematic and persistent manner an agitation leading up to a elose examination of the unknown parts of Westland. A new gold find; an iron ore discovery; a tin mine; a fresh coal field; valuable mineral discoveries - These are all possibilities in the region indicated and to leave the possibility--* of the situation unexplored for the future is to neglect the opportunities of the present. Research prospecting and development requires to he placed in the forefront of Westland’s immediate needs. 'Die concentration of ) uhlic opinion in that direction will ho helpful in achieving the desired end. Will our public men think about it. talk about it. write about it. work about- it ? Then success will he achieved passing all knowledge and expectations.