WESTLAND’S PROGRESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 February 1928, Page 30 (Supplement)

WESTLAND’S PROGRESS

Written for the “Star,” by i

Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon,

M.P.

WHILE the Jubilee rejoicings are at their full height and our celebrations ringing merrily as weddingbells, it is meet that we pause, if but for a few moments, to pay homage to whom homage dnd honour are due. The heroic sacrifices, the undaunted courage of those white men who penetrated the mountain passes and unfriendly forests and forded Westland’s surging rivers, are to-day freshly remembered. No townsman rejoicing in the prosperity of Greymouth, the comfort and easy travel by road and rail of Westland, fails to revere the names of the men who ventured to these lands first as explorers, then as surveyors, then as pioneers, and then as settlers. The names of Brunner and Heaphy, who set out from Nelson in 1846 to explore the “Pounamu Country,” are on everyone’s lips. To them and to the Oakes Brothers; to Harper and Locke, we owe an inestimable debt. To James Mackay, whp negotiated with the Maori owners for a title to Westland’s vast areas; to

Rochfort, Whitcomb, Smart, Howitt, Lee, Mackley and Townsend, Mitchelmore and others, our indebtedness is not forgotten nor belittled. To Revell and the Canterbury Provincial Government; to Reuben'Waite, the foun-

der of Greymouth, we pay all honour and respect. But while mindful of the hardships endured and the difficulties overcome to-day, we, the present residents, ask ourselves if we appreciate all that these pioneers have done for us and wonder whether we have made good the resources and possibilities of this land of ours. The answer assuredly is that we do honour our pioneers, and the present prosperity of the town ■proclaims that every use has been made of the vast resources of which the pioneers gave us possession. It is not a far cry from 1868 to 1928, but what • changes have been wrought in the town of Greymouth and its environs. Attracted by the discovery of coal and gold, men came to. those shores from all the corners of the globe. In 1868 Greymouth was founded, a Small place with possibilities and citizens of courage to carry on the good work of settlement. The first record of a census appears in 1867, when Greymouth numbered 1607 and Cobden, excluding Maoris 727. Hokitika' then numbered 4,866 souls and Ross 855. There was a steady increase from 1867 until 1901, when the population reached 3,748. To-day it is 5,790. In 1874 there were only 571 private dwellings. To-day the private dwellings number 1,112. In 1922 only two building permits Were issued, while in 1927 there were 49. The following table, showing the value of building permits in the town of Greymouth, is both interesting and informative. No figures could demonstrate more effectively the progress and prosperity of a town and district than these; Building Permits Year Ended March 31, 1927. Boroughs outside urban areas with a population of over 3,000 and under 7,000. Borough. Population Value of (excluding Maoris) Building Permits.

The following table, showing the growth of manufactures in Westland Provincial District as compared with that in New Zealand as a whole is illuminating and gratifying. (The value of the production of coal and gold is not included in tills table): —

VALUE OF PRODUCTS Year ended Westland

In the early days of the town of Greymouth no one ever dreamed that the timber industry would one day develop so amazingly. The following figures show how steady has been the rise in importance and value of our timber industry.— Growth of value of sawn timber produced in Westland Provincial District. Year ended Value of

The amount of coal produced in the Greymouth Mining District compared with the total production in New Zealand shows this district up in a very favourable light. Its coal resources as undeveloped assure h, steady stable industry for an incalculable number of years. A perusal of the accompanying table shows the importance of the coal industry—our local coal supplying from 16 to 25 per cent, of the total of coal produced in the Dominion:— Coal Produced in Greymouth Mining District compared with the total production in New Zealand Period Greymouth New Percentage

The decline in the output of gold from the West Coast is lamentable but inevitable. The records show a sad falling-off from 1867, when the value of gold produced amounted to £2,018,874, to 1918, when the value of gold produced was only £9,474.

However, in 1926 gold to the value of £147,338 was won, and this inspires the hope that with improved methods of gold-dredging gold production on the West Coast may again take a foremost place in our industries. Since the Otira tunnel was opened there have been carried by rail from the West Coast to the East Coast 1,029,966 tons of produce. Of outward cargo from the port of Greymouth there has certainly been a falling-off. In 1923 the amount of cargo that crossed the bar amounted to 367,740 tons. In 1927 it was 297,401 tons, a falling off but an increase in the tonnage of outwards cargo of 1925. Taking the Otira tunnel figures and allowing for the slight failing z 'ff in the trade over the Greymouth bar, one can immediately sec the enormous strides trade has made on the West Coast, demonstrating the great advantage that has accrued to the Coast in having not only a port at its disposal but

f also railway connection with Canter--3 bury an'd Otago. ’ A study of the table's submitted above is gratifying and gives heart to the residents of Westland. With [ the timber and coal industries assured L of a prosperous future, our farmers . enjoying a ready market in CanterI bury for their lambs and wool, and L our dairy farmers experiencing a phenomenally good season, our scenic ' attractions somewhat belatedly receivi ing the recognition they deserve, the Coast is in a better position'than it ' has over been. To those pioneers who made all this prosperity come to pass, the citizens of Greymouth to-day are grateful. To those old residents who loft Greymouth and are returning for tire, celebrations, the citizens of Greymouth bid a hearty welcome, and proudly point to the splendid position Greymouth has made for herself today.

The Town, 1871.—After the heavy I rainy day on Monday, the glorious t morning of Tuesday roused Grey- • 1 mouth into new life, and the faces that s on the former day were long and melancholy gradiially expanded into a I pleasant smile. Old decorations, wet r and draggled were removed, and from 3 a very early *hour the bush was being " ransacked for fresh ferns and ornamental evergreens. It is noticeable i , that one of the periodic changes in the , habits of the mining community has J arrived. Some few years since, rowdy- } ism, with the smallest amount of male 1 attire, was the rage, but now all is ■ [ changed, and the streets are crowded 1 [ with respectable men who deem a ( decent suit of clothes a necessity, and 1

who are not given to pick a quarrel with the first man who appears. In no other portion of New Zealand is a holiday more decorously and rationally observed than on the West Coast. Early yesterday morning, the trains were loaded with miners and their wives and families from the Saltwater, Paroa, Marsden and the South Beach, all bent on a day’s enjoyment, the great majority of whom proceeded in the direction of the Camp Reserve, where the Christmas sports were to be held. Considering the amount of rain which had fallen, the ground was in good condition. The booths were tastefully decorated, and appeared to do a flourishing business. The Volunteers discoursed sweet music.

£ Whangarei 6,620 71,606 Waihi 3,710 13,827 Thames 4,630 30,741 Rotorua 4,155 33,366 Dannevirke 4,360 29,293 Stratford 3,395 41,008 Hawera 4,545 25,126 Feilding 4,265 12,251 Blenheim 5,120 44,262 Westport 3,875 3,769 Greymouth 5,790 .50,067 Ashburton 5,150 24,314 Gore .. 3,970 24,198

31st March Zealand. £ Thousands Index of Index 1886 75,014 100 Pounds 7,041 100 1891 53,294 71 8,792 125 1896 56,092 75 9,549 136 1901 124,971 166 17,141 243 1906 227,546 303 22,423 318 1911 352,896 470 29,535 419 1916 399,263 532 43,036 611 1920 576,792 769 69,780 991 1921 762,311 1016 82,474 1171 1922 732,527 977 67,146 953 1923 710,693 947 73,853 1049 1924 826,577 1102 76,996 1094 1925 976,797 1302 84,101 1194 1926 1,025,184 1367 84,792 1204

31st March Sawn Timber 1886 £ • 16,267 1891 9,133 1896 19,858 1901 35,835 1906 103,957 1911 153,373 1916 203,282 1920 294,613 1921 414,4S0 1922 426,288 1923 359,459 1924 488,619 1925 626,912 1926 643,619 i

mining Zealand Grey 1886 district 130,485 534,353 district of Total 24 1887-91 752,720 3,065,151 25 1892-96 745,222 3,618,087 21 1897-01 816,036 5,044,608 16 1902-6 1,250,755 7,636,025 16 1907-11 2,012,934 9,866,666 20 1912-16 2,363,481 10,806,972 22 1917 460,213 2,068,419 22 1918 386,102 2,034,250 19 1919 307,469 •1,847,848 17