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Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1924, Page 2

,'o traveller can pass into most beautiful South Westland without remarking upon its singular richness in scenic glories. Mr Collins in his. valued report, published yesteulay, extols the scenic wonders of the south. I hey arc truly nuignifurnt. They are a rich asset worth exploiting more than has been the ease in the past. Mr Collins rotors to the well-found hotel at the glacier, and that quarter is popular, primarily because enterprise has been shown in providing good accommodation. Ail through the season, the hotel is crowded with scores of people, and enalrged as it has been from time to time. it is still inadequate' t. i all tlie people drawn to ill locality. This example of providing a «ell-found hotel 'to encourage traffic ot the toutitt order, might be emulated in other parts of Westland, ".here tile scenic v. ondoitS and attractions are

~f * lc;,„ engrossing than they tire in t.n< glacier region. If Hokitika is to benefit its it should from the tourist traffic which it is prone to seek to promote by advertising, it must !*■ no less enterprising in catering for the travellers with ample accommodation equal to the requirements of such traffic.

Tiikhk was one aspect mentioned in Mr Collins’ report on South Westland outsail the territory itself, hut no loss affecting the future of Westland genera. i,y. That wa« in regard to the standard of hotel accommodation availaide throughout the district. Mr Collin: put the matter very candidly, and it is obvious certainly if Westland is to become the. tourist- centre it should, there should, even at this stage, be enough enterprise in the district fo i ; ter for the tourist t raffic from here. Is\ that single stroke Hokitika would become at once the magnetic centre foi all tourist traffic from overseas am. elsewhere, finding its way to tho Const. A Hotel Westland built and equipped as it should be, would do far more fo advertise ifio district than most people dream of. The class ol trade to fie catered lot would be prepared in pay a price which would ensure the proper upkeep of such an establishment, which must he roomy and well found in every detail. Atthe moment there is no better outlet fot capital and courage in Inc district than the provision of a well-equipped hostelry to meet the class of traffic waiting to be catered for.

The monumental “History of the British Army,” by the Hon. J. W • Fortescue, lias now reached the eleventh volume, says a reviewer, and covers the years 1815-1838. During that period Britain was engaged in no very important campaign, but there were various “little wars” in different parts of the glolte, in which the - British troops added to the laurels lately won in the Peninsula and Flanders. They fought in Nepal, against the Malirattas, in the Pinda-ri war, in Ashanti, in Burma, against the Kaffirs. in South Africa, and in Ceylon in what is perhaps the least known of all the wars that Britain has waged. Sometimes the climate was a more formidable antagonist than the natives. In West Africa, for instance, the deathrate was as high as 80 per cent, per annum. About this time England was experiencing the reaction from the Napoleonic wars, and rigid economy was the order of the day. Ihe military establishment was reduced to 100,000 men. .Pay was low. Commissions were then obtainable by purchase, and, after deducting the interest on purchase money, income tax, and regiments expenses, a lieutenant drew £BS a year, a captain £ICB, a major, despite his higher rank, £O3 15s, and a lieutenant colonel £ll4. No wonder that the army was virtually the preserve of the well-to-do. The lot of the private soldier was miserable in the extreme. He was, as a rule, in a chronic state of debt, for tbe bounty be received on enlistment was insufficient to pay for bis kit. He nominally received a shilling a day, yet at the end of tho week, after deductions had been made for mess charges, washing, and so forth, he was lucky it he pocketed twopence halfpenny. His food was tough and monotonous, discipline was harsh, nud his sole diversion was the canteen—if funds allowed, Wellington did much to improve conditions, for although Wellington used to

speak of his men as “his blackguards,” he hud their interests keenly at- heart, e One of his Most noteworthy reforms s was tliat lie gave each soldier a bod to himself. Hitherto they had slopt four together in wooden cribs.