OPENING UP SOUTH WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1926, Page 4

OPENING UP SOUTH WESTLAND.

THE lIAAST PASS ROUTE. SUGGESTED VEHICLE ROAD. Mi' AY. D. Nolan, tile well known settler of Okuru, in the course of a letter referring to the opening up of the Haast Pass route us a means to assist in the development of the far south district, goes on to say that when he was in Dunedin a few weeks ago, he was introduced to a Mr TV. B. Steel of jhe Otago, Expansion League. Mr Steel with Mr Climie of tho Canterbury Progress League and others' are very enthusiastic about agitating for pushing a motor road through the llaast Pass from Lake Wanaka to eventually link up with the motor road that is pushing its way south of AVaiho. Tho route when once completed would he a paradise for lovers of hush and mountain scenery, and Mr Nolan was told on good authority it would he one of the chief scenic attractions in New Zealand. I*or luxurious hush and fern scenery it has keen classed !>y noted travellers to be equal to anything in the world.

Then again South. Westland is one of the most isolated and most inaccessible parts of the Island: it is backward and non-progressive solely due to lack of better means of communication. A motor road would also open up Hie large tract of farming land (for close settlement) in the spacious valleys pi the Haast and Landsborough, and it would also traverse a large, tract of suitable farming land at Copper Creek (or Matakitaka) used only lor bush cattle rims. The die of land opened up by this proposed road would go a long way towards defraying the cast ol construction.

Air Steel asked Mr Nolali to circulate a petition to have it largely signed and presented to tho Government through the member for Westland, Mr Seddou. .Mr Steel said lie would attend to tlie/other side and have a monster petition signed by Wanaka and Cromwell residents, also a host ol prominent men in Dunedin, and several Al.P.’s, and have it presented to Parliament through, Air Horn, Af.P.

This request is not unreasonable — the Haast Pass is really the only natural crossing in the whole Southern Alps range—its low altitude*, and even grades should make the reading problem (from an engineering point ol

view) an easy one. Tourists are now coming from America and other foreign parts in ever increasing numbers. They admire and advertise our bush. lake and 1 1pino sceiierv. They visit the Waiho Glacier and Pembroke (Lake Wanaka) in great

numbers, but have to retrace their stops —go back the way they came. How many would retrace their steps if this wonderful through. route via Haast Pass were established. It would be a great asset to Westland and Otago, to New Zealand as a whole, ami certainly to the Tourist Department. Air Nolan with hi- usual enterprise and enthusiasm is having a petition prepared and it will he circulated shortly for signature. No doubt the in urnment will bo unanimously signed for flic roadiiig question is the first step towards solving at all adequately the serious isolation the far south at present .suffers from.