OKURU NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1926, Page 3

OKURU NEWS.

(From a Correspondent). STALKING SEASON. OKURU, March 27. Mr Wilson and party are stalking in the. Upper Burke River country. ’Two young ladies joined the party at their main camp in -Mule Valley. The party intend to break camp shortly and stalk the Upper Wilkin Valley, known locally as Siberia. Mr Hills and party are stalking in the Will’s Valley. Messrs Dean Bros are scouring the Landsborough. Some first class heads were taken from the two latter valleys last season. Air Black (Dunedin) and Air Wilson (Tamamii) arrived at Okuru from Otago on the 2-ftli inst. and proceeded

to their block in the Upper \ alley the following day. Owing to the laid state of the track their progress was slow, one pack horse falling over the sidling and three paekhorscs lett the track and swam across a deep still pool, a,

back-water of the Okuru River, satur

ating nrovisions and blankets. One horse narrowly missed being drowned. Air Janies packed and guided the party in arriving at their destination in record time- (considering the shocking state of the track), a short distance from the Xgatau branch the furthest pack-horses have penetrated.

Deer have penetrated to the pastures in the lower valley, also over tho Alatakotake Range and Alain South Road. Each year find them closing on more native country and emphasising every day the danger of delay in drastic action being taken to severely cull this curse out. OKURU RIVER.

Its value as a scenic attraction can he found by riding up the narrow and gorgy Okuru River. Tho Douglas Lake which nestles up in the hills coifld easily he 'made aceessable to tourist traffic and a grand view can he had of tho cataract and falls which forms tiie steep and rocky outlet from this unusually situated lake. A good view can also he obtained of tho Lindsay Glacier and snowlields and several lofty and peculiarly shaped mountains ami peaks. Air T. R. V. Seddon is at present a quest of Al.r John Faulks of Pembroke, ft is understood a number of Otago residents intend to approach Air Seddon to gain his support in their endeavours to secure Government assistance to commence the loading scheme, over the llaast Pass to make our wonderful hush scenery become easily nefcsxnbio to our neighbours over the saddle who are alive to the possihilites of such an undertaking. Air E. 11. Dollimore, chief officer of

the Greymouth branch of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts intends to make tho llaast Pass trip in June. It is pleasing to note oililocal tourist officer intends to obtain practical knowledge of the valuable scenic attraction of our wonderful province. Air Steel (secretary) and Mr McDonald (President) and members of tho Otago Expansion League and others interested in tho development of our scenic paradise have boon invited to make the trip after the close of the Exhibition. A local resident has kindly offered to supply horses and guides for the party and we feel certain a real warm welcome will lie tendered towards our progressive neighbours from across the pass. These gentlemen have already pledged their earnest support in the reading scheme which when achieved will link up Otago and Westland and offer tho motoring public the most delightful finishing touch to the round tho island motor tour. It has been predicted that tho traffic over our beautiful' track next season will easily exceed any previous year. Already the M hi to Star Organisation have bookings for next season and wore enquiries are to baud. .Mi- E. James, wlm is now connected with the White Star Organisation, will have good coast' fired horses and efficient guides available for next season’s traffic and preparations are being .made to accommodate travellers hall way between llaast and Lake Manuka which is at present a missing link. Other arrangements il e o also in hand whereby Okuru’s scenic attractions will lie made easily nccessnble to tourists on this route.

A suggestion lias boon ’lia'lo that a. high speed launch lie obtained to eater for such traffic. The Hapukn Creek, perhaps one of the most beautiful creeks in the South Island should offer inducement to large numbers of tourists and sportsmen .and it would be hard to find a launch trip to heat it. It is also possible when weather permits, frequent visits to Open Bay Islands could he made. Those Islands, thd largest of which is about five acres in extent, affords excellent fishing, principally blue cod, groper and crayfish; and wohekns abound in hundreds besides being a rookery lor many kinds of gulls. A view of Okuru from the sea is one that cannot fail to catch .the artist’s eye with its tall pine forest hacked by snow clad mountains and its scattered settlers’ homes and the wharf, adjoining which are green paddocks containing healthy and contented stock.

Enquiries are to hand from two ladies who propose to journey down the const from Waiho to Biy Pay and the Hollyford River, making east via 1 Lake McKerrow, Upper Hollyford, I Lake Harris, route Burn and Lake * Wakatipu. If the trip is decided upon 1 these would probably ho the first ladies I to make the trip. The time required > to make this trip would be at. least 1 three weeks under favourable condi- < tions. OPOSSUMS AS A VALUABLE i ASSET. • It is to he regretted- the Forestry Department object to opossums being liberated in South' Westland. Opossum trapping is highly profitable and affords profitable employment for large numbers of trappers. The large areas of bush lands that are at present not conveniently situated tor cattle grazing could la? profitably utilised .in this manner. These useful animals do no harm to the forest and are never likely to become too numerous. There are no plantations 'o.r 'fruit trees .“they could damage in the large tracts of virgin bush down here. The weather was all that could be desired throughout the whole month. Eight point fifty-nine inches of rain fell during the month, a decrease of nearly 7 inches as compared with the previous month. A fair living could be obtained by those to whom the ' forest and back country appeals this winter in kea and deer shooting, rabbit poisoning and trapping and prospecting. Some qualifications would of course be required for the latter, but there is an unlimited field for keen, experienced prospectors. Keas prove very profitable when in amongst them but the 'hunter requires to penetrate in amongst the mountains. Five shillings per beak ■ is still being paid and it is probable the bonus will be continued after the stalking season in respect to deer. ROUND THE ISLAND. MARCH 30. A scheme of advertising has been suggested by Mr .James, the local - White Star representative here, wbere- ; ■ by a complete motion picture advertising campaign l>e undertaken, em- ’ bracing the complete “Round the Is- ' land Tour.” The route suggested is 2 from Christchurch to Dunedin by the s several White Star Services and by railwav. From Dunedin the route can

either lie taken by the comfortable White Star curs to Pembroke at the foot of Lake Wanaka or to Invercargill, tapping the Sounds and Lakes district, returning to Invercargill thence to Pembroke by another section of tho AViiite Star Motor Service which runs daily. From Pembroke several delightful sidetrips could be taken prior to continuing the. journey up the Lake in tile fast AViiite Star launches to Alakarora, where the journey to W T e_ lieka or AVailio has to be taken by horseback over the pass and westward

to tiie Coast thou northward to connect. with. Newman’s Alotor Service at AVailio, where the route continues nortli to Hokitika, thence by rail to Reefton where the traveller again

hoards the luxuriant cars of Newmans Motors, proceeding onwards via Wesport and Nelson to Blenheim, thence by the AVhite Star cars to Christchurch, the starting point. Various alterations could ho made in tiie route to suit all classes of travellers. If films were taken of all the interesting points on this suggested route and a well laid plan of campaign laid nut whereby the whole Dominion could become acquainted with scenic attractions of the South Island would lie brimful of excellent results. Such an advertising campaign could ho eventually extended to Australia. England and America. New Zealand can and will secure a large

quote of the world’s travellers in I lie

future as tho Dominion’s scenic and other attractions cannot lie excelled. Included in this claim Westland can and will lead the way. GENERAL.

Mr and Airs Din Nolan have left for

he Exhibition also Airs A. Cron and

a number of the younger generation. Air John Cowan also leaves shortly. The party will travel via tho llaast. Pass. Miss L. Nolan has loft the district. also travelling over the Pass. There will he no Easter Races at Okuru this season, so many residents being away in Dunedin. Also due to a shortage of horses. DAIRYING AT OKURU.

There lias been an increase in the output this season as compared with previous year. AVhile tho prospects oi dairying here on a honaiide scale are decidedly possible, there remains a difficult problem to face, that ol subdividing ilia largo holdings. Until this is accomplished in a satisfactory

manner tho development in tills direction must remain stagnant. Every hundred acres oi I lie alluvial laud in the Okuru district is perfectly capable of affording a. good living to one family. It is equal to the select portions'of the Arnlmra Valley and pares with the upper portion of Koiterangi including Riedrich’s Station block. Settlers experience an earlier sea-

son here and a mild winter. One drawback which exists at present is the excessive sea freight, hut as more and more freight, was tortheoniiug charges would have to drop. Should the Jackson’s Bay scheme eventuate this costly freight would disappear with increased shipping and cumpaution. Tho land administration in South Westland lias been faulty train m-J early clays amt is now tne root ol nos stagnant position. It. is possible there is an opportunity lor large mercliauLilo linns to buy out the large holdings lor subdivision and niter to suitauie tenants on suitable terms. But unfortunately some land owners not acquainted with land values tend to place too big a value on tlieir holdings which besides hindering tlieir own nnaiieial position is holding the district back. It, is still a larger dilliciilty to explain the position to landowners who resent any statements contrary to their boloaves. If large holders could but see and comprehend how their own hanlheadedtiess is holding themselves down in the mire and tlieir less lorlimatc neighbours they would at. once work with a unity of immediate benefit to themselves and the district as a whole. Instead of a dwindling dissatisfied struggling population we would see a thriving community elevated in spirits at. the visible prosperity, slowly hut surely taking the place ol the present unsatisfactory conditions. Make room for new ••blood” and new ideas will bring more and more progress and prosperity. Til is is not “Alooushuie,” if has been done lime out of number before

in many mses whe-re I'ur 'corse couditions existed. It lies with the large land holders to release a fair portion of their holdings covering themselves villi reasonable compensation and

soon they will ho rewarded with larger hank accounts, brighter prospects, heller access* to centres, better communication, a brighter community, and in fact better “everything.”

w andering, stock nuisance. Several complaints are still tortheoining in spite of the repeated complaints made to the County Council, urging that steps he taken. The most recent complaint was Ironi a settler who complained that stray horses had smashed down his front gate and actually tramp, led over Hie verandah, breaking down a wire and batten fence and getting into a paddock adjoining. Another complaint was where a resident being absent from his place on two occasions returned to find one locked up paddock almost eaten out. There had apparently been a fair number of stray stock on the place and for some period, and in a portion of the settlement where residents pass daily among them lieing owners of the stock, yet no attempt was made to remove them. MARCH 31. Some excellent crops of potatoes have been dug here this season.