ANOTHER FOSTER FRASER

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1923, Page 4

ANOTHER FOSTER FRASER

(Christchurch Sun). Mr .Julian Grande, who is said to he a journalist of some standing in the Old World, Ini' prepared another little pellet for his rather weakly-strung catapult, and lias aimed it exultantly at the eye of the New Zealand public. The shot did not wound, but it ha= produced a certain amount of local irritation. Some little time ago we were ] entertained by Air Grande’s suggestion that Swiss innkeepers should manage ! tourist-resort hotels and mountain ae-coiumodatiou-houses. Air Grande possibly belongs to a new school of mountaineering, and expects to find Pilaft d’Agncau Picvnontuise or a tasty spatchcock awaiting him in the haliiv«v houses. Our sturdy mountaineers j have not yet complained. But that inI cident has passed. j Now. Air Grande, who has been maki ing a .John-Foster-Frascr tour of the j West Coast, has published his opinion i that Westland is ‘‘the most depressing, , neglected and dirly-looking place in i New Zealand.” That is the pellet j which has caused the mischief. Butsweeping statements of that kind do not cam- very much weight. We all know that Grcymnuth has a few ill-look-ing spots, and that there is nothing approaching the Champs F.iysee or the i Avenue de I’Opera in the township, hut ! it i- a healthy-enough little place and j contain.- buildings and residences that ! would not disgrace any city. Hokitika. ! too. may have its share ol old I’ltildI ings, hut it is l;ir from being un- : pii-tiirestjue. i; has to he remembered ! that the West Coast has in its day had ! many burdens to hoar. It lias sultered | gn-allv Irvin it- geographical position, j and on account ot its distance irom ' popular trade-route-. ha- alway- been ! more or less isolated. I lie opening ol j the (Mira Tunnel will alter that stale jof alfairs. Wi-lliaul h:is sud'ored also i by the working-out of the great gokl- : mine- whicli made Hokitika, in the j marine: old days, the Mecca ui at! 1 fortune-hunters in New Zealand. Once a potential FI Dorado, Hokitika now is I a tpiiet provincial capital, living largely on the memories ol its bustling pa-i : and recalling mournfully the days when | the roadstead was tilled with vessels, - and slnniv minors gambled away their I | precious "dust” in the scores oi botch ■ j that sprang up. niusliroom-wise. til 1 : over t lie township. j fdowlv, hut surely, however. Hokitika i i- Iniililiiig up a solid trade coliuectiuii ! and is justly proud ot what lias heel | accomplished up to Hu- present time I It ill becomes a visiting jouruali-t ii j pars strictures < ,;i ,-truggling West land’s lack oi progress withotii takinc I these facls into colisidel'ii I ion. With i: natural and ‘cenie te.lvaiitages, tlii -J mucli-maligHed province must in tine ; | take ii - piece among the more prosper i j nijs s. etions of the Dominion. AI a! Grande has promised to set our hot!.-', i' in order ill other directions. Ini- i--j very gracious of him, hut we wouh ■ j point otii that this young country Inn • I progi'cs-ed very satisfactorily before Ah i j (trande arrived in it, and it will liouni I j loss continue to proems- aider he tini i returm d to his Swiss inn.-, and is one: • I again able to eat faille a la Hrecipu ■j at the foot oi' the Al.-ulerliorn. Be lon ; Air Grande collies nierrily lilting ;it any ; ; mnr<> New Zealand institutions hi | siumld make sure that there i- no flaw | in his own armour, lie may yet find a ! NT tv Zealander in tlm jou-tiiig-iicdd who will search out with ill- lauee the weak : spot m Air Grande’s protective coveijin ', and -trike home. Possibly liial Haw may lie I’oiiiid ill some oi tin- moilnj Iniivei-iug elainis o| Hie immiahst from rese-vsn-r am. wcPTraOTeEKMirl