The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 2nd. 1928.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 2nd. 1928.

THE JI'BILEE, AND AFTER. I'm-: wonderful success of the jubilee celebrations at Grcymouth has been .■ontributed to largely by the weather conditions which must he described as perfect, Still, behind all that there mist have been both enthusiasm and irgnnisation to ensure so complete a irogramme being provided. For a week >r more Greymouth has been en fete, md daily, and even nightly, the varous functions never ceased. Tliere was ■arietv and novelty for all. One outtanding aspect and one quite in keepng with the occasion, was the reunion f the old hands—the bringing to;ether of those wliom the early days assisted to lay the foundations for tlie uture of the Coast. The hand is fast liminishing. 'Hie following generaion is now growing old and taking he places of the pioneers. But not few of the legitmate pioneers still eniain. and the public at large had a indly thought for the old folk this eok, and they were honoured as was leir due. The celebrations will end ion, but life and living will go on, nd Greymouth and district, as other hues, must move on to its destiny, i’ll at of the future? What has hapened this week in the gathering or reat concourses of people, in the ords of hope and encouragement oxi'essed, in the kindly interest tnanistfc'd in the future, all suggest great >ssihlV’ties. The facilities for transit .and vh e onse with which the thounds were about, suggest how ie Coast is W. rnnc ' in ?’ The hopeful

sentiments expressed about the future remind us that all things are yet ]k»ssible for the district. With (he interest manifested hv the presence of so many visitors from all parts of the Dominion, we must realise our district is becoming better known, and that there is a wider realisation of its possibilities, The industrial expansion of the district would be welcome anil that could ho assisted by a wider use of the two main produets of ihe Coast timber and coal. Both still have to contend against the imported article to a com ■siderablc degree, and every hundred 1 1 't of timber or ton cf coal imparled into New Zealand means so much less earning .power fur the millers ami miners. A total prohibition is not possible nor necessary, but there should tv more loyalty from the Government downwards in regard to the wider use of New Zealand timber and coal. We should like to see our settlements produce and develop more. One helpful way would he more co-operation in dairying pursuits. Another would be in the direction of closer settlement, utilising areas which are at present neglected and even under stocked. Afore - far more—should come off the lands of the. Coast if fanning pursuits were pursued more intensively. A groat deal more will ho made out of our scenic assets. \\V have had this year what is probably the host season on record hut that should he only- a beginning. Our attractions are only now being extolled in the right key. and we .see the result when fame spreads abroad. There is no occasion to lose hope as far as the future of the Coast is concerned. There are always possibilities in regard to mining developments, and as is usually the case, these are sprung upon the people. Great discoveries are always on the tapic bemuse .Ids 1- a highly mineralised territory. Let us then regard the jubilee as a milestone reminding us of the progress of the past, and the still greater progress progress promising in the future as a result ol the inspiration to lie drawn I nun w hat has gone before, and the firm belie! ami hope that brighter prospc'-ts still are on before.