HOKITIKA-ROSS RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8023, 9 January 1906, Page 2

HOKITIKA-ROSS RAILWAY.

OPEXIJfG OF FIKST SECTION, SPEECH ItV THE PREMIEU. I'HH I'll ESS ASSOCIATION, Hokitika, Januury 8. llio opening of the first section of the Ifokitika-Uoss railway was performed by the Premier mid the Miainter for Lands, there being over 4000 present. In the evening these gentlemen were entertained «t a public banquet. Tlio Premier, in Lis spceeli, -dwelt largely on local subjects, referring to Holtiiika ns one of the soundest financial towns in the colony, the returns of the Government Savings Bank showing a larger percentage of deposits than any other town of a similar size. He strongly advised local peoplo to go in for more substantial improvements, cs« pecially first-class hotel accommodation f o attract the tourist traffic to view Westland's science wonder. He pre. dieted that ere long thousands of visi* tors will find thiJtr way to Westland, and lie would ask the Tourist Depart* mcnt to provide better facilities. He briefly referred to the necessity of creation of annuities' scheme in orde* to dovelop the immense national resources of Westland. It was necessary to co-operate with Otago, in order to call their assistance to extend the railway from Hokitika through Bouth Westland, to connect with the Otago ceutral railway.