The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23rd, 1924. SOUTHWARD HO!

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23rd, 1924. SOUTHWARD HO!

A year ago and the slogan was Westward Ho! Thanks to the activities of the Progress League and others, the slogan now is Southward Ho! The task of bringing the special features of the roading scheme in the far south of Westland before the parent league in Canterbury, was deputed to Dr. Teichelmann, and the duty, judging by the newspaper reports, was discharged ’

very ably. The southern pari of Westland is to a very great extent an unknown Huilitry. Its remoteness has hidden it.s resources from the public view. No country can lie developed "itluult capital to open it iip, and the .southern district has lacked that essential attention. Over lilt y years ago a scheme to dcvclopc South Westlaid was attempted, limit leads’ of foreign emigrants were landed there—in heavy luisli and left to carve out a home for tlirin.sclbcs. It was a cruel scheme, though the atteinot was wellmeant and it was doomed to failure. The failure has hung like a cloud over the region ever since, and the district lias never come into favor. It has stood in ill repute, to which its remoteness lias but added. In tbe interim, however, there have been foil; hold enough to push into the region and spy mil the country still in its virgin state. Many of the visitors, ollieial and otherwise, have realised the potentialities, ami out of that acquired knowledge of the territory has grown the scheme for the opening up of proposals which Dr. Teicliclmnnn put before a sympathetic audience in

Christchurch on Friday. The time is ripening for the development of the south country. There is a natural asset there, mainly the property of the Crown, lying undeveloped, ft lias possibilities for settlement and mineral development. There are great stores of timber. and wonderful scenic features. Bonding and access are necessary and the district will become peopled, industry will grow, and the locality will thrive. Being a- Crown estate essentially it is for the Government to take the project up. The mission of Dr. Teichemaim to Christchurch was to stir up a healthy publie opinion on the matter, and enlist the influential support of the Canterbury Progress League in urging the authorities to take progressive action. When it is realised that something like a third of Westland County is involved in the country to he opened up, it will he seen that the scheme is one of some magnitude. Such being the case no development can lie contemplated which does not inholve considerable expenditure—hut the extent of territory justifies a large outlay. To bring upwards of a million acres into use and profit is not a small undertaking and £7O,ODD for roading does not appear out of the way. The sum to lie derived in royalty on the timber exported on a shilling basis would return C-tfO.OOO. The mineral deposits in the area are numerous, and careful prospecting will reveal doubtless great wealth. The territory is well suited for pastoral pursuits, and as the timber is cleared will carry dairy herds, and enable the industry to flourish greatly. Stock-raising, both in sheep and (attic, will he pursued profitably with facilities for export to market, and altogether the enterprise is one of great national promise. The mission of Dr. Teiehelmanii so well discharged was to interest the Progress League in the suggestion, so that a delegation might he deputed to visit the land of promise and satisfy the members as to its potentialities. That accomplished. and the whole project would hare influential support and the south would have its day in t'>e not distant future. The slogan of “Southward Ho!’’ might well he kept in the forefront.