The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1925.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1925.

A HAKIKH It AT OKARITO. Tin: Okarito Harbour League is moving on definite linos in the task of securing a workable harbour at Okarito. The matter was well discussed at the County Council meeting this week, when .Mr Donovan brought iorward the question mid explained the proposal very lm idly. Mr Murdoch in a careful review of the position was a cordial advocate of the proposal, and expressed confidence in the original scheme proposed by the late marine engineer, Mr James Thomson of Greymouth, being a success if carried out in its entirety. Other councillors present spoke in support of the proposition, 'so that whole hearted support was given by the local body. A deputation from Okarito leit to-day for and is to interview the Government to-morrow, when the general proposition will be put forward. The essential value of a harbour • Okarito would be to tap the great timber resources in the locality. Were shipping on a fair scale possible, there is no doubt milling operations would radiate for long distances in various directions to secure export. The timber resources of the south will fully justify improved means of access whether by rail or .sea to secure the great natural asset provided by nature to

recoup the outlay, ['ufortunatoly (lie Govomnent, in times past vetoed an extension of the railway into South Westland. Tt was a very short sighted action, hut the authorities were masters of the position. Had the railway gone forward in 1911 as was promised, the timber traffic would have justified a steady extension, so that in the II years whidi have transpired since the railway was blocked, the line would have penetrated a very considerable distance. Although in the interval a good deal has l>een done in the way of bridging rivers and improving acres* hv road, the facilities are not there for the heavy transport involved in timber export. There remains the sea as the most readily available means of transport. Okarito itself presents certain features which render it capable of harbour development, by reason of t lie inside basin where within the large area of the lagoon a great quantity of water is stored twice in every •Jt hours. The engineers have been considering the problem of so directing the outflow of the water that the scour can be utilised for keeping a deep channel and maintaining a safe fairway for bottoms of larger draught than have hitherto served the port. This is the engineering problem which, lime solved, will enable the port to he worked to advantage. Shipping available, it is believed the store of tinder within economic radius of the port will, by a nominal export levy, pay for the cost involved in harbour improvements over and over again. Experts have investigated the forest resources of the district, and all reports point to the great variety and value of the native forests which could be tapped in the south territory per medium of the Okarito harbour. The store of timber there is nature’s bounty. It is matured tim-

ber. and includes some of the finest timber? extant in New Zealand, With.

out facilities for export the timber can never no harvested, and the crop must he lust. The great bulk of the timber is a national asset in every sense, for it it on Crown bands, and the royalty returns "ill accrue to the country, and not to private owners. The proposal in the main is therefore an opportunity to develop a national asset, which could be turned to immediate value.