The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18th, 19211. MISLEADING INFORMATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18th, 19211. MISLEADING INFORMATION.

A rum, ration before us, which purports to he an “Ideal Guide” to the towns of the South Island, contains the following:—. “Hokitika, railway station and mining ton n, IM miles south of Greymouth, on tlie Hokitika- river and sea coast. The population to-day is just over 2,000. In 186(1 it was 50,000. The town "as the headquarters of the great gold rush, and tho story of its rise and decline is very interesting.” The information conveyed gives nn inadequate and unsatisfactory picture ot tho town. It cannot, unfortunately he called to-day, “a mining town," It.i population to-day is at least 25 per cent better than that- quoted. The town never had a population approximating 50,000 and least of all in 18(iG. As to tke story of its rise and decline that, may he “very interesting” up to a certain point, hut what is more engrossing and a greater pleasure to read, is the story of its recovery and present progress towards a better and more permanent future than ever it enjoyed. All towns and cities had their dark and difficult days, hut Hokitika | never resorted to soup kitchens, and 3 M'.eh like, to tide it over a “decline”. It has passed through the usual transiI turns of a mining town when the glory j of alluvial, mining departs, but the district possesses so many assets and enjoys such prospects, that better and more lasting days of prosperity are abend than were over afforded in thu glamour of the gold rush days. The lariod of decline. if such the transit’on stage may he described lias long past, and phoenix-like Hokitika and district are arising again, with a solid air of prosperity about it and a Arm belief in the future of itself. Hokitika i.s such a natural centre for the fur-spreading district of Westland, that it must enjoy a preference with travellers which will he its portion always. Besides, its pastoral prospects are but faintly realised yet. As time goes oil, and in the very near future, quite a bolter understanding will be prevalent of the potentialities of Westland. It is tlierefore nn injury to the district lu find such misleading information publb led that those who peruse the volume Will come to the belief that Hokitika is the centre of a declining district. According to the Grey River Argus, Mr 1. O’Brien M.P., who returned from South Westland, says the more he sees of the South, the more he is impressed with the possibilities of Westland. He states that he viewed a large area of land, 100 acres of which would be sufficient for any farmer and his family to make a living off. All that was necmry was for the Government to pursue a progressive roa'ding policy, cut the land up into small holdings, and make it easy for the settlers for the firstfew years. The conclusions of Mr | O’Brien are those of other visitors to South Westland over many years, but the district has had but a poor chance of coming into its own. It has been indifferently roaded and the tin-bridged rivers have been a barrier, isolating the district ns some remote place, not worth encouraging. Even to-day, the Postal Department will not give a great natural resort like the Waiho Gorge a second weekly mail for the winter, while as for bridging the Waiho river, sue-

cessive Ministers have been prolific in promises but negative as regards performances. South Westland needs roads and bridges the more because the Government has denied tile district railway connection, even though authorised by Parliament. The district is being unduly penalised, yet it is a vast area, largely Crown lands, whether as scenic reserves, endowments, or forist reservations. Hoads and bridges would help the development of the Crown estate at the same time as the assistance would help the settlers. All the new settlers nowadays have to push into the back country, and the Government should not permit settlement without affording road access. It tlitlai d is good enough to attract potential settlors to make a home, the State can well afford to provide reasonable access, and make them contented in their situation. If all this were done there would he a very different story told about- the progress of Hokitika, which is the nerve centre for the whole district. Even with the want in the way of decent roads and bridges, the district is forging ahead naturally. Adverse circumstances cannot retard i development, as is evident by the prosperous air about the town and district. The “declining” days are left fur boliiiui, never to roeUf again.