The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporaied the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, JANUARY llth, 1924. EARTH IN OURSELVES

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporaied the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, JANUARY llth, 1924. EARTH IN OURSELVES

Till-: ut'im of tli.* l.xhibfißm m fins to In. l tj lave faith in (.-tii'selves. This not unly l.< caiisi l the Exhibition is a sihuvss from a local point of view. hut pnrtiellImlv b'-onuse of a hat the visiting fork tiro .saying of the ] W.-tontialitios of tlio district. As to the impressions created oil vi.sitoi.-j, the Kxhibition is achieving om> of the. chief purposes of its conception --namely, to advertise effectively the resources 'of the district, r.v rea.si.n of the Exhibition, delegations from Canterbury and Wellington have been attracted hen*, and though tfioy were spying out the land under ueathor conditions which were neither seasonable nor rensnnahln, they all canto ifi realise that in Westland the Dominion has an asset, which will prove of sterling value to the country for all time as a productive pastoral territory --that apart front its mineral, timber, and scenic potentialities. Encouraged by the kindly words of tltfise who have been so pleasingly impressed, tho people should not flag in their interest ti continue advertising the district. Thy Exhibition achieves that purpose

I in rather a remarkable wav—as it was so intended, hut with the c'fise of the Kxhibition in some three weeks’ time, the good work in regard to propaganda should ho carried on. The effect of a visit such as that by the Rangiora farmers will lie far-reaching, hut the impressions created in the minds of the visiting farmers should he revived and freshened by sustained publicity for which purpose it would ho well to organise a definite branch either with the local bodies or some of the unofficial bodies which hitherto have done sfri much self-imposed work without fee or reward. Naturally the Progress League suggests itself as the most fitting organisation to devote itself to the wjork in mind, and the local bodies arc permitted hv legislation to support financially the operations of that body. Wo should have faith sufficient in ourselves to support nnstintingly the work of tho League in an advertising programme which will continue to keep Westland in the forefront of the public mind. The Christchurch newspapers are doing a very friendly work in that iexpect and the columns of the papers concerned might be used to even fuller advantage with a series of special ar-

ticles. reports and photographs relating to various aspects of progress within the district. This is a matter which the people must- take up with a good deal of personal attention. It is not sufficient to leave it to the willing few only, hut all should unite in it practical way and give financial support so that the district may reap the advantage. Westland has Intent assets eiflough to recoup over and over again expenditure in the direction indicated, and realising as we must the possibilities of the future now that there is through railway communication, there should he no faint hearts when it is a matter of promoting local interests. Tho end fully justifies providing the means to achieve the main objective—namely, to better advertise Westland and keep the district always prominently to the fore in the public mind opLsido thf> district - as wpjj as within.

In regard to the jubilee celebrations there was one phase of the gathering which struck all observers, and that was the hearty spirit prevailing, and the atmosphere of conuadeship which marked the meeting of old friends. It was good to see the old | euple in pleasant intercourse- -exchanging stories tiitf. experiences of the past, and living again the scenes of the old days. Many pioneers came IT.OIII afar just for the purpose of rcneit ittg old a; (|tittititances. Like the Mayor of Wellington, they revisited the scenes of other times, and i’ied to recall localities where some of tlteit great tidventuies in life were experienced. It was a icjuvenation as it were, and the old folk were the younger because of tin- effort. It was a cheering tin-- for them all. and that was how tltc promoters would have wi-hcd it. The-Exhibition was certainty worth while in inspect to the facilities it lias given for the old pioneers to it-assemble and meet together at, a (etiod which marks an eventful time in the historv of the district.

Tub Exhibit ion has brought out one fuel, namely, that it is being conducted largely under ilie direction of Westlaud born sons '.of the early pioneers. if not actually hum here, the men oi to-day cum: here veiy young wit 1 ., their parents fifty years ago and over, ft wtts not a mean honor lor early Westland l!o find that the present .Mayor of the Capital t ity of the Dominion was a youth of Hokitika- in hi. jet etiile days. ’I ho Mayor of Hokitika to-day. is native Lorn. as also ate Severnl of the Executive. Other mciiibcisof the diteeting (.'tilinril were sons til pioiiceis of the early days —-so that ill the iltt ert ion i-i the lot times .ol the Exhibition, the | itittecr baud lives again. The link with the last is therefore a very close one. It. is due probably to the mountain burlier that so many of tlic folk of other days have stayed on here, just as the mountain banier Inis locked out so many who might have st i a veil ill here. But the harrier is I terccd tit last and instead ol bein'; an impediment thcie is now a portal lor the entrance of that degree of permanent prospei ity all are hoping for. Tiir marked success attending the Exhibition despite (lie unfavorable turn the weather took at the most inopportune- time, is pi out that the exposition is as good it, so many tisitors praise It to lie. It must be a source ol very great satisfaction to the promoters to timl the Exhibition realising, the good results it is, it has p: lived itsvlt quite worth while. Tliete arc still sonic weeks to go. and though the holidays proper max hate passed, the inflow of t’ue outside public is tied going to cease. January all through is invariably the tourist month for t radio, and now that t lie wont It* r has. sot t let] down the volume will iiicr-ov. So Ini' as the Const is com criieil there ate still tin- district | ienics to Koine, and those parties will still bring many hundreds of people to the town and the Exhibition. In addition, the Exhibition utit'unities have arranged for visiting entertainments wltiidi in t h inselves "ill

s eep up the at tendance and assure the all round succors in., sight being Lilly achieved ultimately.