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Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1923, Page 2

Hokitika will have much to gain by the Exhibition. For the period of the great show it, will be a, town transformed. It will lie more populous, and therefore busier and brighter. Tho streets will take on a, more animated air, and the present generation will gain an impression of these early stirring days when so many thousands daily perambulated ihe streets. But this glory will not be transient- passing with the close of the Exhibition. We are persuaded that as a re-ult of the Exhibition. Hokitika will become one of the established tourist centres of the Dominion. The roads radiate to so manv scenic resorts which have

glory rdl their own. The licensed victuallers would he well advised to prepare, not only far the influx of visitors nrer Exhibition lime, hut also for an indefinite period afterwards. The town is becoming so well served with such excellent motor .services that the competition through that channel alone will widely advertise the attractive features of tho district. The potential resources of tho district are coming now to bo better understood. We are just about to be annexed to the rest of tho South Island by the Midland Railway, and it. is quite sure many do n>t realise- yet what that is going to mean as to tho fillip it will give our domestic prosperity.

Mattkbh now being in train for the Exhibition project, the time is at hand to organise an effective district exhibit, to advertise properly the resources and potentialities of Westland. Roel'ton has given a, load in this matter already, the local County Council voting a sum of money for space to advertise tho tiiangahua district at the Exhibition bore. The other West Coast and Nelson districts will do likewise, and Westland before all can afford to do its part in making a display worthy of the great future of the district now about to be tapped by the New Zealand railway system and brought into intercourse with all the markets of the South Island, with readier access overseas. Tho matter requires to be well done, and should in the first instance be taken up by the local bodies, which might unite in setting up a composite committee to prepare a harmonious exhibit for the whole district. One of tiie first sights visitors will ex]>eot to sco will he Coast exhibits, and in the lay out of plans, provision is made for these exhibits to bo in the most prominent part of the building—at the main entrance to the whole display. A special opportunity is offering for an excellent advertisement and it should he grasped with lx>th hands by the whole eoimnunitv.

Exhibition time should bring back to the memory of the pioneers of old, the romantic days of the past, when the hurry and rush of the mining days kept time on tho busy bustle, it will bo an enlivening experience for tho younger generation of to-day, and it would be interesting to revive the- spirit of the old days, to have set up n diggers’ camp whore as in the days of the rushes, our nomadic population found dwelling places and made themselves comfortable in their tents. Tile season of the year would lend itself to such an experience and a diggers’ camp would bo a very appropriate side show, particularly as one of the occasions of the Exhibition is to commemorate the days of early 1801 when the province of Westland was founded by Europeans. To the Exhibition will flock many dwollers of the cities, who know but little of the lifo of the pioneers who braved all sorts of dangers and discomforts that tho country might be opened up, and the way made easy for those who followed. The impetus the. discovery of gold gave to the colony, as it was in those days, is perhaps not realised nowadays, but it was a great aid in forcing the country to the front. On such an occasion therefore, tho digger should not bo overlooked, but his memory honored and his work appreciated.

We are a sport loving community. The outburst of enthusiasm at the Town Hall last night demonstrated - that. The victors in the Scddon- Shield match on Saturday at Nelson seemed to have covered themselves with glory. They won handsomely and were so tributed by the vanquished, All along the

route they had a hearty welcome home, and' hero last night then? was the culminating outburst of enthusiasm, and its spontaneity showed how genuine it was. It was fitting that the Scddon Shield should he presented in the Town Hall of Hokitika, whe.ro the late R. ,1. Seddon, in whose memory the football competition was founded, delivered so many speeches. Mr Sodden was a good sport. In his day ho was a great athlete. The team contained sons of men who were peers of his in the early days of sport on the Coast. Steel is a Klima ra boy, and we know how much of Mr Seddon’s life work was dono iu Ivumara. Moynihan is another son of ft Kuinara friend contemporary with Mr Sodden. So with Bannister, there is another name Mr Seddon knew well, as also the names of Dcvnncy and Ha gar. These associations made last night’s ceremony an intimately appiopriale one, and no wonder groat enthusiasm, pleasure nnd pride were generated by the large and representative attendance present.