The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, March 29, 1865.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 200, 29 March 1865, Page 2

The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, March 29, 1865.

The meeting held on Wednesday evening was very unanimous in supporting the views we have lately expressed, as to the importance of opening overland communication, via Dr Hectob's route to the West Coast. The matter is one that affects the Province as a whole, and we therefore dwell strongly upon the necessity of opening up this portion of the Province. We have no selfish interests at stake in doing so, for the opening up of a road in this direction would create, probably, a powerful rival to Queenstown, but, on the other hand, the district and Province at large would be largely benefitted. Otago is evidently too large a Province—geographically—to be supplied and her progress advanced by one or two ports. Her conformation is a peculiar one, and, at the present time, she divides her Customs revenue and trade with the neighboring Province of Southland. A great deal of ignorance—and, in cases, misrepresentations have further increased this—has existed in reference to the West Coast. It has been the custom to represent this coast as barren, bleak, and indospitable; a few, however, knew this sweeping assertion was unfounded. Now that attention has been drawn to it, large i areas of country will be found eminently adapted for cultivation and remarkably well situated for the purposes of agriculture and trade. We believe that Otago possesses the choicest of these harbors and areas, and that, independent of the gold discoveries, other and more permanent attractions will be discovered. We have, therefore, very strong and convincing reasons for the establishment of a port on the West Coast. The region will become settled, agriculture will soon take root, timber is abundant, the seafisheries are excellent, minerals are plentiful, coal is reported, the climate is a magnificent one, warm and genial all the year round, and last, but not least, it is within three days' sail of Melbourne. As we proceed westward from Dunedin, the climate becomes warm and the air light with a bright sky. Letters tell us the climate is Australian on the coast, and that the rains are soft and warm. These we apprehend are convincing proofs enough of the necessity of opening a port on the West Coast, if Otago wishes to maintain her position as a Province ; and we believe that in Martin's Bay an excellent harbor exists, or easily can be made one. Then to support such a poit a fine line of coast exists, and, behind it, one of the most magnificent countries imaginable actually teaming with wealth and resources that merely require the slightest assistance to develope into great importance. We trust these powerful and convincing facts will have weight with our legislators, that selfish considerations will be thrown aside, and that no feelings or desires for Separation shall be allowed to take root. Melbourne merchants have more than once cast their eyes in this direction, and though colonisation should, from any source, be encouraged, we trust to see Otago taking her proper position and recognising the importance of her West Coast territory by at once moving in the matter.