CONGRATULATIONS, GREYMOUTH!

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 February 1928, Page 13 (Supplement)

CONGRATULATIONS, GREYMOUTH!

J offer my heartiest congratulations to the people of Greymouth on the attainment of their year of Jubilee and on the record of progress that has been made since the first hardy pioneers in their great quest for gold came to the laying of the foundations of West Coast settlement and the creation Of that spirit of good fellowship which has made the West Coast an honoured name in every part of the Dominion. The pioneers contributed their great quota to the achievements of the past, the progress of the present, and the possibilities of the future. I join with the citizens of Grey in honouring the memory of the pioneers who blazed the track, to find their rest in unforgotten graves, and I also join in welcoming and honouring those others who are still with us, and for whom life’s shadows are lengthening. Oh the foundation laid by them the generations of the present are building, and generations of the future will continue to build the social and economic superstructure that must make for lasting success and the fullness of the joy of life for the people of the West Coast, and consequently for the greater benefit of all the people of the Dominion. H. E. HOLLAND, Leader of the Opposition and Member for Buller. MAY I offer to the district my heartiest congratulations on the celebrations of its Diamond Jubilee. The sixty years that have passed have seen great progress made both in living and travelling conditions on the West Coast, and the people of to-day cannot but hold in grateful remembrance the sturdy pioneers who, by their grit, determination to succeed, and foresight, laid the foundation of the fortunate condition of the district at the present time. With the great gifts of mineral and scenic wealth with which Nature has endowed her, the future of Westland is assured if her settlers and citizens of to-day emulate the spirit of the pioneers in developing these gifts to the very uttermost. Go resolutely on in the track made by your forefathers, and there can be no doubt that in time to come it will prove to have been a main highway to the true success of the whole district. HON. K. S. WILLIAMS, Minister of Public Works.

. / TO mark the first sixty years in. the life of a municipality in a new country , less than a century under civilised occupation is 'no unimportant event. Apart from the opportunity it gives for a self reckoning of the material ups and downs of the past, and a contemplation of a vision of the future, it affords an opportunity for something which is of far more interest, and that is a gathering together of those surviving personages—links with the past —who remain from among those who were the potent factors in clearing the way and laying the foundations whereon man builds to-day. The celebration of the Diamond Jubilee will prove a reviver to the aged and a tonic to the young. In the former, it will revive memories of the past and the happy meeting of old friends and comrades will awaken deep-seated emotions which cannot fail to gladden the heart and make the blood tingle warmly, and in many instances bring a tear of happiness to the eye. To the early West Coasters assembled, and in this particular instance to the surviving pioneers of the Grey district I raise my hat, and say, “The blessings of Providence be upon you; may your length of days be extended and your cup of happiness be full to overflowing.” In the present generation it will awaken a lively interest in the doings of the past, especially where such human attributes as courage, self reliance, integrity and endurance played the important part. To the’ youthful the occasion will be memorable as one of enjoyment and inspiration to carry on the good work so well begun. Although not able to visit Greymouth for the celebrations my best wishes are with you all for a very happy gathering and much success in the future. HON. J. A. YOUNG, Minister of Health.

T 7 tender my very cordial congratulations to the citizens of Greymouth upon the celebration of their Diamond Jubilee. The event marks an important epoch in the history of a district which has played so large a part in the early development of New Zealand. To the sturdy pioneers of those days a debt of gratitude is due by the present generation, lhey built securely the foundations upon which the Dominion has since progressed, and no part of the country has greater reason to remember with pride its intrepid band of early settlers than the West Coast of the South Island. Within the last twenty years the population of County and Borough has steadily advanced, and with the valuable resources of the district, the steady growth of land settlement, and the application of modern and scienific methods of agriculture aftd improved means of communication, there is every reason for predicting a prosperous and successful future for its people. Moreover, the province stands unrivalled in its wealth of mountain, river, and forest scenery, and this for all time will form a most valuable attraction, not only for visitors from overseas, buP also for our own citizens residing in other parts of the Dominion. Let the people of Greymouth continue to have faith in their district and its future. Prosperous development is then assured. I extend to one and all my warmest felicitations on this important anniversary. HON. J. G. COATES, % Prime Minister.

ON the attainment by the Grey District of its Diamond Jubilee I offer my sincere congratulations. In rejoicing with you over the results of 60 years’ progress let us remember with reverence and admiration those intrepid and doughty pioneers who have passed to their rest, and who, in the face of extreme hardship and privations helped to lay the foundations of the district. More especially should we remember the many noble women who accompanied their husbands in those pioneering days and assisted them to overcome all difficulties. Great as has been the wealth produced in the past, there is much yet to be done in the winning of the tremendous store with which Nature has endowed the district. She has been bountiful in her gifts of timber, coal and unrivalled scenic beauties. In comparison with some other parts of the Dominion there is every probability of still greater wealth being found. In the early history of the district the glitter of mineral wealth attracted a large number of people, amounting at the end of the year 1866 to as many as 50,000, but the “black diamonds” w.ill ultimately prove a surer and more constant source of wealth for the district for many years to come. The progress of the Dominion has been intertwined with and at times stimulated by the progress of the Grey district, and while the production of gold nowadays has unfortunately decreased, nevertheless it is believed that there are still valuable minerals, the winning of which will result in greater advancement in the future. The hospitality of the people has always been characteristic of the West Coast, and the descendants of those pioneers, who by their energy and' enterprise so successfully laid the foundations, have shown that they can be depended upon to play their part in the carrying on of the traditions handed down to them by their forebears. My earnest hope is that the district will continue to prosper and maintain the high traditions of the past. HON. G. J. ANDERSON, Minister of Mines.

JT is a very pleasing fact that in all our ceremonies held to mark the progress of time and development, the dominant sentiment expressed by those participating is one of retrospection. In the cele-| brations connected with the\ Jubilee of the Grey District, there will be few who will not reflect on the work of those intrepid pioneers- who in the face of great difficulties laid the foundation of what is now an important and prosperous portion of the Dominion. We find inspiration in example and coming as they do from such splendid stock, the present residents and those who follow will continue to develop the great natural resources at their command, and build up for our Dominion a heritage of which posterity will ever be proud. Kia Ora. HON. A. D. McLEOD, Minister of Lands. DURING the next few days Greymouth will be celebrating its Diamond Jubi- * lee and the pioneers, of whom but few remain, will be relating their experiences of an earlier age. "Their recollections of the past and stories of their endeavours will /soon be lost; .so the Jubilee Celebration is a suitable opportunity of putting their interesting and valuable reminiscences on record. What they did, what they endured, their hopes and ambitions, will be an encouragement to their successors, and the accomplishments of the past are a prqmise of the success of the future. The large and substantial buildings erected in recent years show the faith of the citizens in the stability and future of their town. The mineral resources of its territory, the timber, the development of the farm lands, its position as a trading centre, and its shipping facilities, guarantee the future; and its citizens can look forward with confidence to the progress and prosperity of Greymouth. I congratulate Greymouth on its auspicious celebration, which marks the commencement of an era of greater growth and prosperity. GEORGE A PERRY, Mayor of Hokitika.