OKURU NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1926, Page 4

OKURU NEWS.

(From A Correspondent.) OKURU, June 20. The Okuru school was officially opened last week for regular attendance. Miss Bo list ridge, the new teacher arrived with Mr Pratt tho school Inspector lust week. The attendance numbers thirteen pupils. Mr J. Harris and Mi' A. Cron arc deer stalking in tho Haast Valley. Babbiting is in* full swing throughout the Wanaka. and Ih.iast districts. Some report difficulty in enticing bunny to take the baits, probably due to the late season. The rabbit skill market is high and the future appears sound.

Tho petition urging Government action in the road construction connecting Westland and Otago via Haast Pass has been passed through the district front Wei ho southwards and includes, many M’akarora signatures. Mr James lias undertaken this work and reports a long list of signatures. I lie petition will be placed before Parliament by Mr T. Is. V. Seddon and Mr Horn, M.VP. Tho Otago Expansion League have also petitions before the public and no doubt the total will run into thousands including. many prominent citizens from both provinces. The whole length of Westland will benefit to no small extent when achieved as also will Otago. A two da\s motor ride from Hokitika- to Dunedin or Invercargill will never be equalled in any part of the world and the l’uture traffic hath tourists and commercial will he tremendous. Tins undertaking is of great nationpl importance and must be insisted upon.

The new Central Otago Railway extension in a. direct line to the Haast Pass rend will add much importance to the Haast reading venture. Okuru residents will soon reach Dunedin in two days arriving in tho evening ol the second day. It is often done in three days under the present conditions. The White Star services have now a through connection including necommndation houses. Another scheme is afoot organised by this enterprising organisation whereby tourists can he conducted from Dunedin or Invercargill via Cake

'Vanaka- and 11-last pass to the A\oxt Coast and down the coast to Big Bay and Lake McKcrrou to Lake W akn-

t ipit or to Lake Te Allan and Alilford Sound. Another suggestion is being considered whereby tourists could be conveyed from the Hermitage via Copeland Pass and Hot Springs to Otago via Haast Pass, or to Southland via Dig Tiav and Lores Pass. OKURD. June JO. The Abakarova meterologicn! observer was somewhat surprised to find cue morning that his gauge recorded a considerable rainfall of soapy rainfall. It appears '.n traveller bo accommodated for the night had in error mistaken the rain gauge for a drain pipe when disposing of his hath water. The balance of the last ycur’s vote for the Haast Pass track is to he spent forming a, vehicle road from where if was left off some few miles east of the Haast Accommodation House and Post Office. The whole area in which it is proposed to cover with the money available passes through some excellent flat pastures highly suitable for dairying. There still remains, however, a section on each side fo tho Burke Mat which should have been attended to while the men were in that vicinity, more so as it would necessary ill the event of tho building and improvement operations in connection with the tourist traffic. The work necessary is not extensive ami should never have been left. METEOROLOGICAL.

The total rainfall far the month amounted to 8.70 inches a considerable decrease from the previous two

mouths. On the whole ii has been an excelled; month with ’ frosts inland. Snow fell on the high country ITivni the 10th to the lit’). The month finished with strong easterly winds. There were nine days of rain Ihe lowest for ti e ye ir which are as follows : January, l-I.Plin.. 16 da vs of tain for tile month: February, 15.52 iii.. 1.3 days of rain for the month; March, S.l2iu., 12 days of nil'll for tile month; April, lfi.o2iu.. If) days of rain for the month; Ally, IJ.llin., 16 days of rain

i'cr the month: .Tune, 8.76 in.. !) days nf rain for the month. TOURTST TRAFFIC. oki*]?r, .lime ao.

A letter has hern received here 'mm the Monet Conk Motor Co. proprietors of the Hermitage, indicating their willingness to co-operate in a scheme to commence next season, whereby tourist traffic might he popularised from Holdtihi via Wnilio and Copoland Pass; from Otago via liaast Pass and from Milford track and Lake Wnkatipu via West Coast and Cope, land Pass thus connecting up important tourist centres—glaciers, fiordland. and Lake Wanaka with Canterbury's

alpine resort. All these connections have a great future. A large concrolt* .scheme of 'advertising the Dominion’s wonderful scenic resorts is now under way. Westland is to he prominently placed in this scheme.

11A AST PASS ItOADI.VG SCHEME. In the course of a letter from a well known person in tourist circles to a local resident congratulating'him on his very keen interest which lie nes taking in the development of tlie West Ci.'.ist the writer mentions I attended a very important meeting of the citizens of Hitnedin last evening arid at this meeting letters were mad from various parts ol New Zealand which contained a fund of information regarding your operations in the interests of the West Coast country, It will be of considerable satisfaction to you to learn Unit this project has been taken up by Organisations throughout tlie whole of Now Zealand. Tho last report received by me was to Hie effect that a piihlifc body in Auckland had taken the. matter up very seriously. The. local (West Coasters) gentlemen have also taken this matter up and with your united efforts 1 fee! positive that our objective is within the hounds of possibility and I leel sure that cur united efforts will ultimately he crowned with success. Our Otago friend has been delegated to tl'.e honoured responsibleduty of presenting on July -Ith the claims of the West Coast proposition at a pro-sessional meeting of members of Parliament.

The Okuru correspondent knows this live gentleman personally and leels confident no person could he selected mere fitted for this honoured post and confidently joins our friends assurance of a verv successful outcome.

The unanimous feeling and support amongst- our neighbours over the Pass coupled with ,a wise and confident plan of action must ultimately result in an achievement accomplished, connecting tnir most isolated lands and forests in quick and easy direct commu hi (fit ion with the centres and ptogressive rural district. GENERAL.

Mr and Alls P. Nolan leave shortly for a holiday in North Westland. It is probable Okuru will experience an early spring. Six weeks ago field daisies were in bloom closely followed by daffodils, jonquils arid prim rows, ail spring flowers. Mr J-misoii lias returned to Okuru, having spent a few months ill ihb North Island.

' Birth the Haast Pass track accommodation houses together with rill kind and stock, etc., are on Hie market., one owner retiring, the other leaving due to ill health,