The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1928. THE COAST CENTRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 December 1928, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1928. THE COAST CENTRE.

WT: notice our (Ireynuml .j, evening contemporary has designs on t!ie “capital” rights ol’ Westland, and in a recent reference claims the northern town to have "deliniLely and permanently established’’ tlio.se riehls. It would ap-

pear our coveting iontempurary i.s in a hum - in this matter. and certainly in

its references it rotors to certain pus.sihilttio.s »>f the future. as well as certain jiossibilit ies with regard to natural assets in which (dioymuuth van take no immediate part. It refers to the Inrtlmr loading and bridging in South Westland, slating from that source "prosperity must greatly increa.se.” It adds a note of commendation, too. a! out “the stock raised in Westland.” in both these instances, the territory south of Hokitika will play the chief part, and all trade and intercourse confined to road transport must pass this way before it can roach Creymoutli. And there arc vast possibilities in that dire'tion. Wo have said before that we regard ihe construction of the (treat Suuli Hoad in Westland as second only in importance as a nat oiial pub ! ie work to the iinal linking up ol the Hast and West Toast railway. The territory the road will serve and assist to open up is going to prove of the highest, importance in assuring the more permanent and profitable future for the south—and that added increase in settlement hum all he served through Hokitika. Again, our contemporary refers to the timber industry. Here also, the great store of tills natural product of 'Westland is situated to the south and i.s in the domain of Wesf-

laud rather than the Trey County. The latter has clipped the major portion of its 1 111 i t i'll I produce, and the trade must look further aliehl and south, for its illLimate supplies. As a mailer oi fact Trey mouth interests are Inking time by llie forelock already, and ha. e secured holdings well to the south, and altogether remote from the town of Treymouth. In passing, a reference ..s made hy our contemporary l > “the hem lils of the (Mira Tunnel,” hut wo musi recall that the northern dispos.Ikm to the e unplel ion of that all important work was certainly tool, the main agitation having keen ma.ntained from the Hokitika quarter, and that enthusiasm helped materially to hasten the advancement of the work to final completion, regarding which Treymouth at this juncture is reaping imp utaut bench Is. • There is a suggestion by outrun temporary that Hokitika has not pregre.sscd, and should he pcmi'b-ed hy losing it.s “capital" status as well as Ihe removal ol certain Covenimonl Departmental offices. Over a very adverse period during which we have witnessed ihe decline of the gold mining industry. it is very pleasing to be able lo say that llokilika lias not declined, and is to-day sounder and more prosperous than for twenty years past. Holding its own through a very trying period, is warrantry to believe that ihe town now that its prospects are improving, will advance notably and the next few years will sec important changes in this quarter. Industrially the town is going to be better oil', and as L l lO .supply town of the southern district it is going to enjoy a revival in trade and trading which will make it a more populous and busier centre, from all points of view. Nor i.s Idler'’ reason to believe that the buoyant, success it had in the past from gohluining is I'.imllv lest. Important do- •• el pmenls in respect to a steady revival promise in the coming year. Tim tinaimial worth ol ib ■ town is bcyellil compare with our northern Irimds as ankers will cuidirm. ami it i.s a notable IWI that lie- lending operations !mm this quarter for ihe northern cud of Hr- di I riel are eou-ddri aide. The Ijreymoutli paper casting c vutoiis eyes o-i Pends, forestry and other official departments. overlooks that the great area of Crown Lands to he administer’d in Westland are to the south of Hokitika, while as has been mentioned above, it is 1.0 the southern quarter, where there are the greatest tracts o r tinder hearing lands controlled by the State. Another matter for consideration is tin' housing of the. Departments t ovet.od by our neighbours. Here they are in offices constructed with a view to (he future and well housed in every way. Kenmval would he costly and expensive from every point, of view -all to gratify our Croynioutli friends! The f’overnment did not erect the public buildings her without fully considering tin* possibilities. Hokitika i.s undoubtedly the chief centre of Westland .serving its most important natural assets, in which the Crown is mainly interested, and which as time goes on and developments occur, will make this centre more and more important, and Hokitika worthy of it.s reputation and history.