Grey River Argus and Blackball News SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1922. A LOCAL SOURCE OF WEALTH.

Grey River Argus, 5 August 1922, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1922. A LOCAL SOURCE OF WEALTH.

Dc , ’vr--e.J evt'-t mc<ning in (.i Ur. K Hckii'.ka . .-.ilnend, Taylv. .Ule, Ngahert. dson Creek, Brunner, T/ Ki.ikl p K. io.- i, Fucriw*, Inchbonnie, Pataca Rura, Kotukp Moana, Aratika, Bunaugi Dunoliie, O. den, Baxter s, Kokiri, Ahaura Ikan.atua. Stu; water Waiuta, Reel ton. Ross, Ruatapua, Ma-La-nin. Hari Hart, Waiho Gorge. Weheka, Rewanui, Otira. ImmUahua Junction, Westport, Waimangaroa, Denniston. Granity, Millerton. N ( «.,kawau. 'lector, ScddouvilLt. Cape Foul wind, and Kai'awe?

THE prospect of an early completion of the overland railway is manifestly quickening public interest in the industrial and commercial development of all the northern half of the South Island. There are proposals to link up railway and road communication with Marlborough and Nelson, as well as between Westport and the South Island main railway system through Reef- , ton. There is also talk of direct shipping between this port and Australia. The progress leagues and chambers of commerce, which relegate to themselves the right to speak in these matters for all and sundry, are busily conferring and deputation!sing, but much of their activity ends in mere verbosity. This applies more particularly to the Grey district. Not very long ago the farmers of the West Coast engaged in a determined agita tion for cheaper lime for agricultural purposes. In consequence the Government sent down an expert to the West Coast, to report upon our lime deposits, and to ascertain which were the most suitable. According to the reports published in the press at the time, adapted both for agricultural and best adopted both for agricultural and com mercial uses is a deposit that is located only a mile from Greymouth. Wo refer to the limestone range at Omoto, which contains a supply of the mineral in question that is practically speak-

ing inexhaustible. Yet in spite of I the expert’s report, which was the | fruit of an exhaustive survey of the j various limestone formations on tho Coast, the manufacture of lime was not begun here, but down at Ross, a company being formed to develop a deposit there. There was not a word of advice or protest from most of the gentlemen w T ho are forever using tho slogan, '‘Advance Greymouth'’ at election times. The progress of South Westland will doubtless absorb the Ross output ere long, whilst there is imported limo being at present sold here. The demand for lime all over the Dominion is constantly growing, and-is destined soon to do so more quickly, while it is only a matter of a few months when the East and West Coasts will j ; be connected by rail, and when we j • shall doubtless have much cheaper . freights for West Coast exports and I I imports. Therefore, if the local cham- ! ber of commerce want to develop a source of wealth, as well as to establish refrigerators and new railway buildings, let them not overlook the potentialities of the very valuable lime stone ranges which lie within the radius of a couple of miles of the town, and, moreover, within very easy dis tance of the railway. There is no doubt, whatever, that the limo in question could easily be made to compete in price and in quality with any other lime produced in the Dominion, and thus to establish a flourishing local industry. The delegates attending next week’s progress league conference at 1 Christchurch might do well to bring up I this matter for the sake of the publicity alone. If local capiial is not to be induced to exploit the local resources, then it cannot be denied that, under the present economic system, the next best thing is to bring in outside capital.