THE GREAT HAAST ROAD

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1929, Page 2

THE GREAT HAAST ROAD

THE LINKING OF OTAGO AND WESTLAND. (By ERIC JAMES in the Cromwell “Argus.”) Its achievement means progress must follow that, will' surpass the lim- \ its of the most optimistic imagina- ’ tion. It is most 'gratifying to know a start has been made and that seven miles of this great undertaking has been completed and the balance of the 24 miles of the Hewea-Makarora section round the shores otf the great Jakes is now underway. A start is not enough—to rest by the way when Makorora is reached is not enough. The continuation . right through to the Coast must be, urged and insisted upon. No person with average vision can pass, through the country without seeing the ultimate and everincreasing advantages to both Otago and Westland.. i TOURIST TRAFFIC. ‘ Revenue from this source would be ' immediate and lasting. Nowhere withip.. ■ the Southern Hemisphere, can such a variety of .nature’s wonders, be seen intermingled ; w:ithin such a limited space. . World-famed, glaciers anowfields, ice-pinnacles, and crevasses, magnificent, snow-caped . peaks, all jumbled together with hot mineral springs, many .miles and miles of wonderful and ever-changing virgin forest with, its fern glades ringing with the songs of many birds. Its many lakes, ranging from the great Southern, Lakes to the numerous silent bush-clad lakes • and lagoons, , where reflections beggar description. Its many, rivers and rippling streams and the wild and rugged seashore with luxuriant ‘ foliage to the very /■’ surf. The seal penguin and gull rookeries and'storm tossed islands are all situated but a few miles from the Alps, which within are- hidden rocky clefts and crags, chasms and canyons gorge following gorge, cataracts and waterfalls largeand small. Every mile is-ope of ever-changing scenery which will become famous and attract .thousands '.of tourists annually from every part of the world. r FARMING AND'PASTORAL. . Its. suitability t'o the latter has v long been proved, while in the progressive Northern Westland dairying .is a flourishing-industry. The (formation of the South is identical, each river valley, and these are many, is quite capable of maintaining a dairying community and dairy factory where at present one property now embraces... two, and s'ometimes four . valleys for, grazing pursuits. , .'Noted; for permanent pastures once the bush is cleared and an early Spring with ample rainfall—what more is necessary given access to make such a promising country a second Taranaki. A splen- <- did., pattle. fattening country as. weH, as all fat stock buyers know. Sheep • .too, of the right breeds thrive re- : 'markably well, and sixty pound lambs i:;for the Xmas trade is not an un;;cbmmon thing. From a farming point • Of view it is ideally suited for dairying jv-hnd close settlements^;. INDUSTRIAL AND - COMMERCIAL. V Almost everywhere one .looks, water ■power in quantity may be seen going ‘;to yaste. Nearby the’, great forests stand with their wealth of timber • Trees unrivalled for the manufacture of pulp of world demand. The hard •black pine and the soft white, also . tlie everlasting silver-pine - stand ' •amidst many others. Yet so near ■ Itflere is “forestless” Central Otago. vast wealth /awaits enterprise -. inaterial for hundreds of sawmills and ’employment for thousands of work;;inen, without affectipg or .robbing the ; v ijia.tural beauty along the road route ’'■’Flax grows natural and in •another industry - awaiting access. \ : )Each year tons and-tons of whiteOmit pass up the rivers and streams ’.--from the sea. A keenly sought comipodity again awaits enterprise. Within the extensive forests each acre

•••'qduld become the home of hundreds •l.jnf opossums inducing hundreds to go and hunt for their valuable *>kius.

' . : MINING. Undoubtedly the ipost valuable of ;tbfe natural resources is the known Tbut undeveloped mineral wealth. These are similar to the mining districts of the north where prosperous jnines and ' towns have sprung up. Within vSouth Westland there are beams df superior coal in quantities .'which have yet to be mined that are at present /marked inaccessible. Nearby mica outcrops, oil shales, and granite have been ' found. Lithographic stone and silver have been mined,' and copper is to be found in the Matakitaki Range. Indications of. deposits are belived to exist in the /JViahitahi Valley. The Paringa Valley • ’contains most of the above, besides alluvial gold, quartz, galena, and others. Gold has been mined in almost every river and gully in varying quantities, while some still await the prospector. Among the early gold rushes with this now almost deserted district, south of Okarito, were the Three Mile, Five Mile, Waiho Forks, Callery, Oameroa, Sandfly, Gillespies, Bruce Bay, Paringa, Bullock Creek, Haast,* Okuru, and several others of lesser importance. Old diggers still get gold on some ,; cif ■ abandoned fields, while a dredge has been recently erected on

the Three Mile and it is understood another is to follow at Gillespies. Promising quartz reefs are known to exist in the Jackson and Arawata Valleys. There is good limestone in various localities; while iron stone, chromite, and asbestos y are to be found in the Red Mountains, and possibly platinum. A nickel lode was located in the Hope Valley, and also at Barn Bay, while considerable territory is practically unknown. The whole length and breadth of South Westland contains minerals in some variety and to quote such authorities as the veteran geologist, Professor Park, who writes: “I predict this country: will become the scene of extensive mining activities in the years to come and be of great national importance,” etc., etc. Other geologists have written in a similar strain equally optimistic. > SPORT. Within this wonderful country roam the Austrian, English and Scotch Red Deer, also the Thar and Chamois. Wild cattle and pigs may also hunted. Every stream and lake abounds in trout and salmon, offering plenty of the very best sport. In the river mouths flounders are to he caught and herrings from the sea beach. From the islands near the coast quantities of many varieties of fish are to be caught. There are open seasons for ducks, quail, and geese around the Cold Lakes.