The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1933. A WONDERFUL ASSET.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1933. A WONDERFUL ASSET.

Tin kk yet remains to he told sometint g of the wonderful asset South Wes tiaud possesses in its groat, in fact vasA., areas of timber-bearing country. We have written of its settlement faun! jmining possibilities, and now peter -y> it.v timber resources. Tl. ere are extant many fine photo-g-i Aiphs of the south, taken from fcvated points, or from an aeroplane, aid all show great forests of timber filing in the space between the mountain and the sea coast. This great .natural deposit has potential value f which is soon to be added to the I wealth of the country. Already i people with an outlook on the futuie, aie securing rights and titles to large tracts of timber-bearing land, in some cases paying •substantial deposits on a purchase, or arranging 0 n a lucrative royalty bays, This is the position in respect to land held by the settler, but the Crown lias tho greater estate and areas are being applied for in selected places. Th. & upshot cf this now, horn enterprise is the premise ! ft huge industrial development in milling, and that must carry with it the material for greater progress in Soulli Westland. Already ore firm is setting in at the Wntaron, A large initial ■exomwe is bos up; undertaken in bridgO'building and •erecting a substantial mill, opart from the outlay in securing the standing timber. This undertaking will be in action very shortly. Nearby, a settlor disposed of bis standing timber for a very large sum to a North Island company, and this means further, industrial development in that locality. The same Company i. s said, also, to have its eyes on the Crown held .timber at InterWanganui, and file .making of a barhour at the Big Wanganui river would he part of this scheme. At Okarito, two companies working together have joint mining and milling projects in hand, as well ns development of hydroelectric power for operating its schemes. The improvement of the harbour would be part of this large project, which indicates prosperity will 1,0 created on very definite lines for the Okarito district. The undertakings referred to are in the main by people who have come.- into the district, seen tho possibilities, and set about their ventureSihißiut further south, yeohib' of our local millers alive to the possibilities, are negotiating for areas in the Bruce Bay district. '.The project is taking definite steps for already the County Council has been asked to permit the extension of tho Bruce Bay I.<amling road, whence it is proposed to export tlie timber. This chain of milling projects is sufficient to indicate Hie great possibilities in sight. It lias to be borne in mind that from each centre, timber-getting will have a considerable radius, and the material will be brought to the shipping point for miles around. There is the promise cf a great industrial development recurring in the south, as it did in the north when an outlet was provided. The material prosperity which must accrue will be reflected all over the district,' aiul all should share in some measure. Our references to the timber resources of the .south, extend only about half way cf the available area. There i.s still further south great timber resources, which are another argument for what we set out to urge on

”I’'irsdav, the further extension of Hw Great South Road into it district of prent Intent possibilities and undeveloped natural resources.