THE WEST COAST.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1923, Page 4

THE WEST COAST.

SATISFACTORY Plit )G RF.SS. MU. |>. 11. CI.'I.MI'K IMPi! KSSioNS. .M i- I’. 11. C.limit*, organiser of the • Canterbury ITogress League, Iws just returned to Christchurch I mm a visit to the West Const ami in mi interview with a “Lyttelton Times” representative on Alonday, lie. stave a few improsions of his tour. Air Climio said it was mainly a 1 'K-a n 10 trip of twelve days’ duration, lo t he was very favourably impressed with the potentialities of the district. not the least of these being the excellent stock of lieiel'onl cattle in South Westland. They were quite the finest lie iiitd ever seen, and this fact was brought home to him more fully than on his previous visits to- the district. His contention was home out by the fad that Westland cattle have topped the list at Addington market on more than one occasion. ■ Since his previous visit Air (limit l found the main south road, which used to he in excellent condition, in very poor order and he expressed the opinion that; unless something was done in the wav of slandaidising the requirementof heavy motor trallie the mail would get. in a deplorable state. What was very necessary at present was a road roller, as nothing was being done to roll the metal in. -Motor tyres were lining this work now. Imt it was bad economy, because the motor lyres wive not worn out hut literally cut to pieces, flood progress was being made in ere; tj n! r bridges across the main rivets and it was now possible to motor as far south as the Wtiiho (huge, without the necessity of fording .the rivers, with the exception of the Waitangi liver and a few minor streams. The bridge over the Waitangi was now beilW proceeded with and it was anticipated that the work would he litr-hed within lour months. Tile Franz .Jnsol (.lacier and toe adjoining alps provide an excellent playground for alpine climbers but much remained to bo done regarding the improvement of the vaiioux vales. They could best he done by means of Government subsidies and the Must Coast commit tee of the league intends taking this matter up. I here was also the need for additional huts similar to those which have been ejected on the mi.lorn side of the alps. Cape W fi tr o hut. erected by Graham Brothers with Government assistance, was situated half-way up the Franz •hts-ef (dneici . It nrovided excellent otviiniir thlaitt lor alpine climbers and il a similar In t we re creeled on the box Glacier iurthri south it would greatly improve the I eilitics for climbing on to the ue.-uni side of the range. Favoured with go'd v.eat hot Air Climio managed to climb Mount Molt ko under the guidance of Air Peter Graham, lately elco I guide at t!te Hermitage. This mountain is tee principal peak m the Fritz range and from it one obtains a grand view o’, Afoimt Cook, A fount T siuati and ether prominent peaks in the Southern Alps as well as the southern portion of South AVestland as far as Jackson Bay. Air (Tunic discussed the requ rent nt of the di-Trict with many local settlers who a; pcared much impressed with t'o operations of the Canterbury Progress League. K very hotly on the Coast anxiously awaiting the completion of the tunnel and it was the general belief that it, would bring a new era of prosperity to the West Coast. Whilst Mr 1 iiinie was in Hokitika arrangements were made for the league to publish a booklet or folder concern-

ing Westland similar to what had been done by the league in Canterbury and the money for this would be easily raised amongst the business linns and others who would benefit by a comprehensive publicity campaign. The exhibition to commemorate the eom]d“t ini i of the Midland railway and to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the province of Westland would he held in Hoiktika from December loth, next til! February 2nd.. 1921. An influential committee of leading public men bad ■seen formed to carry out the project. There was a population of over JO-,000 on the West Coast and the majority of (lie inhabitants were wit-bin easy rail distance of Hokitika. The sixtieth anniversary of tlic foundation of Westland was. therefore, of great importance. and it was Imped by means of the exhibition and the organisation of Westland’s scenic attractions to draw hack tii the district many former pioneers who would ho anxious to see the district under the easier facilities of travel afforded by the through railwav.

Trade on the AVest Coast was exceed- j inglv sound, the settlers weie flour- ; ishing and in Lotli pastoral and ngricitl- j Viral pursuits the farmers appeared to j be doing well. Rawmilling was being 1 carried on extensively and there was l ample room for a good deal of labour. 1 Alining, particularly in regard to dredging. was producing excellent returns and the large American drediA' operating on Rimii Flat was giving every satisfaction. ;