The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1920.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1920.

A LINK .FOll SETTLEMENT. Tun Okiiru-Jackson Bay road, as proposed, has been a matter ol some comment of late. It is some time now since the opening of the route was proposed, and interest is being aroused now from the fact that the settlors are sending a deputation to Wellington next month to press the work

upon flic notice of the Government, 'i lie district has been favoured with

usits from several members of the ministry ol late, but the lion, gentlemen are all conneeud with portfolios apart from lands or settlement or public uoiks, and it was not possible to ./ring matters such as tlio.se under notice oof ..re the .Ministers, such works being cut ot their administration. In passing, it might be remarked that not any of the visiting Ministers spared time lor any part of Westland other than the sieuic resorts in the south. This was quiie proper as far as it went, but to ga.n a more intimate Knowledge of the potentialities of the district, the Ministers might hare been induced to look over some of the settlements, and noted whathas been and is being done in that respect. Such an e..per.ence would have helped to an understanding as to what can he done with Westland land for settlement purposes, if given means of access to markets and'proper community interests lor the resident settlers. Such an experience, for instance, would lie helpful in gaining a knowledge as to the creation of settlement in the far south where the proposed road is to act as an arterial highway for an area of Crown Lands capable of closer settlement. As to the capacity of the territory to be affected by the reading proposed, there is an area occupied already and used for grazing of 9000 acres, with another Coi,o still unimproved. In addition there is further area- of B.O'JO acres of dry land suitable for occupation and settlement, with swamp areas additional of 11,0-0 acres capable of use by drainage. This catalogue of available areas served, by the proposed road does not exhaust the available country. In addition there are considerable areas of useful valleys running into several thousands of acres. The r'oad in question would be a helpful outlet to the country just referred to, and he a factor in its ultimate closer settlement and development. The timber content of the country to be opened up is a matter of special moment. It has been estimated as over eight hundred million super feet, which at a nominal royalty would mean a very large return'far in excess of the cost of the reading. Jackson Bay offers one of the best sites for harbour accommodation along the \Vest Coast, and would be the outlet ■for the- timber much of which would ue available for an export trade, thus ensuring a large industrial development in the south from the very outset The road in question would follow the Turnbull road in the first instance, starting i from Okuru, some three or four miles up the Turnbull river. I nonce a new road of some 24 miles would require to be’made through the hack country to be opened for settlement ,as far as tlie upper waters of the Arawata -river, • and .‘thence by the south bank of the river to Jackson Bay. The route does not present any engineering problems, and would naturally present some fine scenic features. It would be capable of being used in connection with the Haast Pass road ultimately to be constructed, and would indeed be a branch or extension of the Great South Road. Its ultimate service as an outlet for the Haast-Okuru settlement is the first point or consideration, lending as it will to highly important pastoral developments, once the port of export for produce (live and dead) is assured. For settlement and timber developnent purposes, the mute -lias spec ip 1 •aims, while as a means to open up Crown territory and give life and being to an isolated country, it has special claims also.