LUNCHEON

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1923, Page 4

LUNCHEON

IN TOWN HALL. The Westland branch of the Canterbury Progress League entertained the .Ministerial Party, and visitors at a luncheon in the Town .Hail at 111.30 [..in. yesterday. There was an attendance numbering about 100; including several ladies. Hr. Teichvlnuinn presided having Sir Francis Hell. Hun. Downie Stewart, anti Sir Heaton Rhodes, and .Mr 1L Holland ALP. with him. The vice-chairs were occupied by Messrs G. A. Perry (.Mayor), T. W. Dull' (County Chairman) and IV. .1. Butler (President of the Kxhihition Executive). Air Joyce s Orchestra .supplied incidental music. Airs .Jones of the redreshment Indict of the Exhibition was the eaterei foi the function. Alter the collation pio. t ;<U'd had been done justice to. the following roast list was honored: ‘•'l he King”., proposed by the Chairlr.r.n. ■ j iie Union ot C nr, tot bury and M ostial.d." Dr. Teichelmnnn before proposing tlm roast, said he would first like to extend a hearty welcome to the euo-its and visitors, and particularly ti. express their great appreciation of the presence on this memorable occasion ot the Ministers of the Crown, who. at considerable inconvenience to thomselve - , have consented to assist u.s at the opening of this Industrial Exliibir„.,i ;md the celebration of the (tilth. Anniversary of the Province of Westland. The building of the Otira tunnel, bringing about the commercial union of Canterbury and Westland, has been so slew ami gradual in reaching eompielimi that it is difficult to realise that it is an accomplished inet. It re-iuir-ed something like this Kxhihition of mn,. to hring about complete realisation. When he thought ol the great efforts they have had to make to secure

;uconiniodation tor the numerous visitors that we have every right to exiled during the coming six weeks, it makes one look hack to the time when Westland was politically part ol Caiilerliuiy and the very ground we stand on was thronged with people all eager!v looking forward to making a rapid fortune. At that time the County had :> population of AO.COO and Hokitika anything between Wj,UOO and (10,000. when the output of gold reached C 11,000.01,0 a vear. In those days of over A 0 yearago. Hokitika with its 101 Licensed

Houses, apart from numerous restaurants and hoarding-hou.-,es. was better abl<- to accommodate an unexpected influx of visitors than it. is to-day. Although no one would think ul measuring the wealth of a country h.v sm h a standard, we can at least east a longing eye hack to those generous time|ic did not- doubt that the time will come, and it is not far distant, when the population of the County will he incK’.ised tenfold, hecau.se we are nowapplying to the development of West !; m. more modern methods, and wo are building that prosperity on u much more permanent basis than was possible til) years ago. We arc realising that the gold that was taken out c-f the soil or.ee and for all was only a fraction of the wealth that lay within tli soil. —a wealth that we are now a kit to extract through other industries than that of gold getting. Tie need

only iii'-tsinee: dairying, timber, grazing and H e development of the Coast so a tourist result. Croat lmpe the future lies in the expectation ’.hat people will now come to the Coast to lhe (oast to settle and help us to dev lope tlie.-c industries. The opening of i lie Tninml gives a rt udy act ess i o ti e (.tie - 1 . to people from tibrund, and also provides a sure means of trans- | i;i Lii.ic*i for the pioduce of the Const, and it brings an alu-ndy large and glowing market within a few hours of Hokitika. Hi!' exhibition is merely at: expression of the great faith that the people of West lam! have in the future of ih feast, and of the enterprising sji 11 it in v lin li they ale approaching Hint futlire. One could go on for a lon/, time detailing the advantages to In- gained through the lv-union of Canterbury and We.'tland, but lie would not detain them now, but ask them to honour tlie toast. S; i Heaton Rhodes in re.-pomf-ng said Hokitika was proverbial for its hospitality. On the Canterbury sole they had al-o been looking forward to the completion of the tunnel and now they were united. Their goltl was tub yet exhausted, us he had seen on a visit to the Kilim distiicl. His visit wester day to the Kokatahi Valley had been an eye opener to them. The cattle and sheep had proved to he in good ceudi tion. There w-i.s no one heller able to tail; of their scenic wonders than Dr. Teii lielmann. who knew the mountains so well, lie trusted that now tiler v ere joined together that there would he a warm commercial friendship. The Most Coast had given of its best, a I'i imo .Minister, a Speaker, their men had gone forth freely to the South African and the Crent War. He was ghu. to lin(1 that those efforts had been iccognised, as,they had, by line monuments. He thanked them heartily and ti listed that the new union of Cunterhtiiy and Westland would prove it very happy and successful one.

-Mr W. K. Mc.Upinc. ns I’residcnt of the Cnntei bury Progress League congratulated them on the successful carrying out til the. great exhibition. Their organiser had been sent over from C !i; istehureli to endeavor to enluse a lav. spirit. The result was the formation ol the Westland hranch <M the the League, mid now they had a real lice hotly. I lie League had decided to concentrate on the speedy completion of the Otira tunnel. I'o-day they were faced with the heavy cost of that work. To-dav they had one of the finest markets at their door, lie wished to voice the appreciation of the support given by Westland to the Canterbury movement. I hey must make every endeavor no.' to see that every possible article the railway is able to carry, is carried by the railway. He thanked them for the substantial support given Canterbury, and expressed his goodwill tovvars the. [exhibition, which he felt sor.' was going to he an unqualified sne-te-ss. “The Parliament of Xew Zealand”.~ Mr W. Butler, tile proposer, said it was the institution of Parliament that they desired to honor. It was important that they should recognise that it was purely non-political. He ielt it would he a gracious addition to our iParliament if there were lady members thereof. Sir Francis Bell responding, said Pa ilia meat was icpresentative of the people. Mr Holland who was to follow would say the upper branch was the fifth wheel, hut he (Sir Francis) said it was the king-bolt. That day they were celebrating the jftbilee of Westland, but they were also celebrating the jubilee of the attempt of Westland to have a parliament of its own. Be fere i ice was >i;ndo to the future I p:aspects of the district and its possibilities in connection with the timber resources and the value of the nffores- ' tation work now being carried out in this district. His congratulations were j extended to the promoters of the Ex hihitiou whose work deserved every suetoss. Referring io the Croat War he said that Parliament had proved its ' loyalty a.s representatives of the people.

In iho great struggle tho world had gone through, two members had left tlieir scats to take part in the great War. One was your member, and the other was his own colleague who sat beside him. There were others to whom lie would not refer. Concluding he thanked them for honoring the toast. Air H. Holland (leader of the Labor I'iirly') also responded expressing his thanks for the opportunity of being present, and for the non-political nature 11 the gathering. They had brought them all together the representatives of the present Government and the representatives of tit Oovernmnet that is going to he. Tie claimed that the New Zealand Parliament had a higher standard than that of any other country. The work of Parliament was to make the various transition movements, as easy as possible. Ho hoped that there would he ladies in the House, and even in the Council, as they would make Parliament do its work at proper hours, lie believed the completion of railway communication with Westport v.otild have a great effect on trade He paid a tribute to tho workers air) their wives who made possible the connection of the two Coasts. Tie extended best wishes for tho host prosperity of the district.

“Success to the Midland Railway" proposed by Air G. A. Perry. 01 the future prospects of the railway he had mi doubt. He felt that especially in dairying the Coast was going to sitrpiise New Zealand. There was aLo timber and coal that would add to the carrying trade of the railway. He

was glad to have present a gentleman ultimately connect ed with the (oast in its very only days. Tfe rolried to Air. A. Dobson.

Air A. Disdlev D.ihsou responded meeting with a special reception. 11

n-.kod what it mattered what the railway cost.. They had to get the railways to allow the people to travel about. Mr Dobson proceeded to give a. lengthy ae(ini.it of lii.s early exploration work. ••The Press”, proposed h.v Air H. M. ('unison, who referred at some length to the early history of the printing press, and the great force it now wielded in leading public opinion. concluding with a flattering reference to the local paper. Air A- G. Henderson (Lyttelton Times' said ho differed to a remark by Mr Holland as to Parliament being a reflex of the opinion of the people. It hud been likewise said, that the press was a tellex of the people, hut tins was not so. The press was endeavoring to anticipate the wants of the people ;is well as to record events. Referring to the local paper, Air Hen(li rson said it was well in advance of its town. He envied it because of its uiib|no power of holding the district in the hollow of its hand (laughter), lie thanked them heartily for the reception given the toast. Air AI. C*. Keane (Christchurch Press) also responded. Referring io the agination for the completion of the IHiru tunnel he said the press of Canterbury had winked as hard as they could to secure into completion. Canterbury not only desiied to extend tlieir territory hut also their trade, and ill doing so it mount also help to the Coast, lie was fully in earne-'t- in his interest in Westland. more especially as he was horn in Hokitika. He had pleasure in being

ptesent on this occasion to commemorate a very happy event. "Industries of the United Rrovinic.” proposed by Air J. O'Brien. ALP. fur Westland, who made an apology on lie half of Air AV. JL Pnriltt- (.Mayor m (' rcy mi nit 10. and on his behalf extended a welcome to the visitors. It was to tlieir industries that they must look for their future welfare. Mr A. G. Llmslie (British Trade Commissioner) responded, "tie tmden Meed there were in the Tulls many minerals beside gold that had not been exploited, hut which were urgently repaired fur various industries. The t-im-I t r industry was the- mainstay at present. lie was glad to hear a determined < IFort at re-afFurestation was being made. Ur waa’frankly amu-zed at the glimpse he hud had ycslcidav of Mime of their lar inlands. They had in their hill.- practically unlimited waterpower, which at present, was running to waste. He was t-onfidci.i the time would <umo when Westland would be a large manufacturing district. Looking all round they could rest perfectly confident that tin gloty of Westland wns not in it-, past, bill in its luLtire. Many proposals had been made for the stabilisation of tiie old world. It un.s clear that the thoughts of the Empire had turned io closet co-operation ol the Umpire. Cooperation means to have the will and |ov,er to help each other. New Zealand Ims already accorded a generous preference to Kughind. hut then* were still a large amount of goods that could

, be made in Britain, coming from other countries. He urged that merchants ( should make every endeavour to obtain t the goods they require, from Britain I:. iore they bought elsewhere, lie lelt the greater and the more rapid, the expansion here and in other Dominions the better it will be for the trade of I the Old Country. Mr W. J. denkin (Canterbury Industrial Association) responded. He was specially proud to he there to-da.v been tee lie v. a.s born in Westland. He believed there are gieat possibilities in prospect for this district, lie congratulated the Executive on the sueee.ss of their efforts in connection with the Exhibition.. If they arc going to make the Dominion what it ought to he we must see that lire secondary industries are the success that they can lie made to be. They should stand strongly and firmly behind the matiufin tliters of New Zealand. We had room fur ten million people. They wauled the copper, iron and other ores that wore in these hills. Opportunity was knocking at the doors of Westland. Be sure you take full advantage of it. Hon. AY. Mclntyre M.L.C.. also responded. It was just in recent years that Canterbury had recognised the vast stores that lay dormant in the West Coast, lie placed coal milling as the most important industry oii the Coast, ami would he for the next fifty years. U must be recognised also that- the timber supply of the Coast would have to meet the lequirements of the rest of New Zealand- They had also thousands of horsepower going to waste every day. There was also wonderful deposits of limestone. He did not agree that the electric power should go to waste, simply to give the Government a monopoly. They should encourage private enterprise to carry out the schemes. "The I’ioneers." proposed by Mr T. E. Y. Serldon. He said it was well to remember to-day. the men ami women who came here in the early days. 'I hey have given a high standard io live up 1 t.o. Mr Sodden referred at length to : the old pioneers, and the many hardshirs they had undergone, a special 1 reference being made to the arrival of 1 his parents, while many notables of the 1 early days were also mentioned. 1

Moii. H. L. Michel. replying, said the •on! pioneers were those bravo people din came out to Now Zealand in the arly days. The pioneers of the West 'oast were very much indebted to the elp received even in those days from .'antioibnry. The connection by the irir.i tunnel is 140111" to largely increase he prosperity of this district. He had t erf-nnally been very young when lie arrived in Hokitika in 18(35, but he recognised the splendid work that the brave hand of men and women had done, and they deserved every tribute paid them. He thanked them sincerely for the manner in which they had honored the toast. Hon. J. Grimmond, M.L.C., ns a

man who came bore in 18G5 they were much harder workers than talkers. They were representatives of nearly every European nation: They were free from many of the anomalies of the old world. He hoped that the people here now would carry on the good work. "The Chairman” proposed bv Sir F. P. Bell, and duly honored. Apologies for absence were received from His Excellency the Governor General. Hon. J. G .Coates. Hon. b. H. Guthrie, Hon. C. J. Barr. Hon. R. Bollard, Hun. (J. .J . Anderson ; Hon. W. Noswortliy. ,1. H. Blackwell. Mayor of Christchurch. 11. Duane, J. Ak-nzies (.Mayor of Westport). J. S. Beilby (Chairman of Boiler Progress League), R. R. Hudson. K-<j. AI.IL. IV. 11. Pai-Jiti (Mayor of Groymouth). Tho National Anthem concluded the proceedings at : 1 p.m.