OKURU NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1926, Page 4

OKURU NEWS.

(From A Correspondent.) AUGUST 25. Lamb percentages are reported to be fully up to expectations throughout the district and young grass is appearing throughout the coastal area. A number of residents have been victims of influenza during the last few weeks. £l5O appears in the'Government Estimates for the Haast Pass track against £450 last year. £52 has been voted for Jacksons Bay Road and £IOO (£ lor £) for the Upper Okuru track.

POISON DISTRIBUTION. c ’ Complaints have been received of the ' unsatisfactory results obtained from the Government phosplierised pollard distributed in the district, it appears poison has been sent down here that has been carried over from previous ‘ <>,i,l iii imnn crises no-aill held

seasons and in some cases again neiu over here before being distributed, with results that have been far from satis- , factory. Rabhiters complain of packing this useless poison into difficult country. One man after packing forty miles averaged five rabbits per tin and ; in another ease a tin was laid and only one solitary rabbit was picked up. the joke of the district. AAlnle m another instance one man failed to > pick up even the solitary carcase. | PESSIMISTIC VIEWS. •

Recently a Hokitika business man closely connected with progressive organisations remarked during a discussion on development propaganda in South AYestland that Okuru had had its day and that the move to urge development work on the Haast I’ass locality was fifty years before its time. Such foolish remarks coming J rom the usual type of pessimist might have been placed oil its merits but such temurks from a person who poses as a lieutenant of progress tends to place keen lack of confidence in our leaders of progress. If Okuru has had its day it must have been long before the ad-

vent of the white man. If the agitator the Haast Bass road connection is fifty years before its time many past ami recently completed public works have been completed a hundred years before llieir rotation of importance. The necessity of the Haast connection was talked of many years ago by world famed statesmen and that importance has not yet diminished to-day, rather it points out the result of long delay, the, stagnant and isolated position ol the large territory it would have tapped and developed and more so the increased importance ol an early start being made on a great work of national importance. Let our Hokitika business man remember—doomed is the marked progress ol our capital with this vast southern territory laying idle and undeveloped.

Let it he remembered too the danger of further delay, already progressive members of an adjoining Province are fast becoming interested. Their number is increasing, their interest too and with strong press propaganda offering AA'estluml may yet lose the most valuable portion of her province commercially. Otago wants our fat stock, dairy produce, wool. etc., and also do they realise the importance of our scenic attractions added to their wellorganised tourist system. Already canning firms and ilaxmillers are enquiring into the nossihilities here. They do not think this a territory with no future to remain undeveloped for a further fifty years. COMRANY EXTENSION. White Star Tourist Services Ltd have recently undergone an important reorganisation by the formation of a new company with a capital of £10,003 divided into 10,000 shares of £1 each. Mr R. L. AVigley (Mount Cook Motor Co.) was appointed President of the new company.