The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 1930. A TIME OF OPPORTUNITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 1930. A TIME OF OPPORTUNITY.

Tun prospects of the district for the immediate future, wore referred to in the closing article of the year, published on Tuesday The new year appears to be a time of special opportunity. Citizens with a knowledge of the district and its prospects, agree that the outlook for the future of Westland was never niorfe hopeful than at present. With such a pleasing prospect there should he a union of local forces to

make the"'-, greatest use of circumstances serving so well. The undertakings which private enterprise have in hand involve a large general expen- > diture both ill plant ana labour, and indicate the faith or others in the gen- > era! trend of affairs. This fact should encourage a closer touch with the lui'p- : pollings and the desire to co-operate in any way possible to help towaids that material advancement which means so ( much general prosperity. The publicinterest in local' affairs might well be sharpened, and there should be an 5 open desire to assist in movements calculated • to. help the district. Of late there'has been seen the advancement • hi an improved roading scheme. The attention to roads has produced a greatly improved general condition, and as a consequence traffic has improved. Particulars have been published of the increasing railway traffic, and there is the .feeling now that the East and West Coast railway is doing even more than was expected of it. This notwithstanding that the railway system of the district is far from complete. And in particular the railway system of Westland is not by any means complete. The virgin forests of \ vest land stretching to the south are in the main untapped by a public railway Private enterprise has done its part and reaped its reward, while the State enterprise was Jacking in coniidcnce to- push on. But there is an obvious lesson to be learned now, and at the second time of asking the Gov- ■ eminent of the day should not be lacking in the foresight requisite to see j Ine work pushed on and so save the tile forests lor the use of the people. A former. Government threw away a' great opportunity in that respect, and the district has been penalised ever since, but the facts are such now that a similar mistake is not likely to be made. We should like to see a combi nation of local forces and an expression of public opinion leading up to an organised agitation for the extension of the railway into South Westland. This is a matter which should be taken up betimes so that the request can lie put before the Government in time to be dealt with during, the session of this year. The Government lias a considerable amount of data available regarding the prospects ior the line, and that information studied in respect to the conditions as they arc to-day, should certainly lie impressive. All important public Work of the nature here referred to put into hand will be. of the greatest importance to the district a.s a whole There is no doubt about the future he loro South Westland. I lie locality lias resources and assets which assure its success. '1 lie, produce of the country now is only a little of what it could he under closer settlement and improved means of access. There is a. far-llung area awaiting settlement, and stored in the first instance with great forest wealth. < If settlement is to go ahead, that rarest must lie saved for use, and the only way of saving it is to provide a railwav for the export. With 'such an assured means of transport the district will receive a general fillip in com- 1 mere inf undertakings, and the people . will lie altogether remiss if they fail to take up this matter with enthusiasm now, and press for the happy issue. ; which the prospects of the district 5 should assure in the minds of the au- i thorities. e

Let’s talk about the weather. It has been a ready subject for discussion for some weeks past now, and has been varied enough, as well as robust enough at times, to provide special remarks. 'I ne weather lias been on its general misbehaviour all round the world. Perhaps it has been most severe in the northern hemisphere, where there lias been a heavy toll of human life due to .storms and. floods. The Southern Pacific also had its taste of very severe weather and the stressful period stretched across the Tasman Ocean. The broken weather has been general all over the Dominion, with here and there a seasonable day. Once in a while the sun shone out just to show it had not gone out of business, or that the “spots” were not altogether too- much for Old Sol. However,, “C'ivis” in the Otago Times, has been drawing some comfort from a recent publication which contains a reminder of what we owe to tiie changeable weather. Were we- as the moon we would lie in a climate beyond endurance. So we must welcome the changeable weather as the best for the welfare of ourselves and Mother Earth. There was a time when the earth had no weather. It was only climate, the authorities say. Every day was the .same, excepting for seasonable changes. If tnose times recurred a special object for conversation would be lost! However. the weather is quite beyond our control, and lias to lie accepted as it is and made the most of. S ience juggles with nuiny phonemena, but the weather it may not arrest, though it seeks with considerable success to foretell it in advance. The present bad spell of weather was forecasted long years ago, evidently by calculating the recurrence of the sun spots, but we are not prone to accept the prophets of evil in advance. However, the period marked out is now passing, and with the new year opened we may hope for more normal conditions. The mini or part of ' last year was good weather for Westland. If the d"strict could count upon a more settled and seasonable spring the whole district would prosper exceedingly. Still, last year’s experience was not to be regretted for feed in plenty was provided, and in these days of pastoral pursuits, good weather counts so much for the general weal. "While, therefore, we must take the weather as it comes and accept it as philosophically as we can, we can look hack with a good deal of thankfulness for favours bestowed in the past in that respect, and hope for nothing worse in this new year.