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Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1928, Page 2

Tur. export of stock from tin: district is one of the factors indicating the assured progress of Westland. Time was in days gone l»v when week by week stock had to lie imported here. Cattle hunts were regular weekly features from the North Island, while drovers f; oil) Canterbury were continually on the read. That is now reversed, in lhaL the district produces a handsome surplus and stock is available for export. Just at present the export of lambs is taking place. Week by week truck loads are being despatched to Canterbury, where there is found a ready market. This is good business, local production being infinitely belter for the country, than having to rely on imported stock. Stock-raising has grown into something very substantial now, and it. must he responsible for a good deal of the growing prosperity of the district. Another pleasing factor is that developments in that direction may go' on without exhausting the resources of the district or over-stocking the available market The stock which is produced comes from a limited area in relation to the total land area of Westland. In other words, there is much room for expansion, so that where there are thousands to-day. in time to conic •ons of thousands will he produced. This opening and opportunity for successful settlement gives hope and confidence as to the future. The time was when the district relied on alluvial gold mining, hut those days are passing away, and something more permanent and substantial is taking the place of the gold-mining. But we need not suppose that the gold is done nor mining a lost industry. New methods yet promise to reveal the golden treasure, hut the number searching for it are sadly depicted. While waiting for discoveries yet to come in that respect, the settler may still forge ahead with his stock production and secure increasing flocks and herds season by season. With the price of wooT and the ready market for lambs, sheep farming will continue in favour. Most of the river beds of Westland—and they arc numerous—offer good facilities for sheep-rearing along the river flats, and those established in the business must bo enjoying lucrative returns just now. Production along these lines is less spectacular than in other industries, and people are liable to overlook the prospering conditions which are to be derived. But the prices quoted in the daily press indicate what is happening in the open market, and give assurance of the value and permananey of pastoral pursuits at this juncture just at a time when folk are often prone to say matters are quiet and even dull. But the year’s turn over discloses a different aspect and gives assurance for a general degree of prosperity in which all parts participate more or less.