IN SOUTH WESTLAND

Grey River Argus, 23 October 1936, Page 3

IN SOUTH WESTLAND

An Oamaru Opinion Writing in the October issue of “The News Wave,” an Oamaru production, H.V'.R. a member of an Oamaru touring party writes his opinion as follows:— “We are having a great, time. You ask my opinion of the Coast? Well, here . it is—bush and forest by the hundreds of miles, people who have been long enough from, shall I say, “civilisation,” to rusticate, and sandflies and mosquitoes by the million. It is gratifying to note that the P.W.D. has foreseen that that West Coast is going to be the wealthiest land in New Zealand, and in building fine bridges (concrete) and extending roads they are doing a permanent good. Who said “Boo! Labour?!” The land is mainly covered with bush and forest, and where this has been cleared swamp lands form ideal pasture Xpr cattle. And what cattle! It would say that if an Oamaru butcher could buy one herd of the cattle we have seen being driven along the road he would establish a reputation for good meat for the rest of his life, Sheep may be seen in some places, but the land is too broken for extensive sheep-farm-ing.

Lumbering is, I suppose, the main industry in South Westland. Anywhere and everywhere one meets huge lorries carting timber to the rail. It is a pity that the scrap wood could not be utilised’, as everywhere there is lying heaps of rotting wood. What of gold:? We went to see the Rimu dredge, but it is not working at present. It, is situated about five miles from here and partly supplies this town with electricity from its own plant at Lake Ranieri. Since it began it. has taken about a million pound of gold from the land and left miles, of barren tailings. Two new dredges are starting here soon —Australian

Hokitika is some town! The main street is much as it was in the “good old days” and yet stacks of timbe- roU in forest. Window-dressing and how! There is a. new concrete theah-e, and the shops near it are so-so, but the rest are not-so. A chap with a little Eastern style would go a long way’ in a town where you still have to “take it or leave it.”

Finally, I would say- “Wake up West Coast” and cater for the tourists. There are miles of bush and forest, grand snow-capped mountains, lovely ’akes and sw’ft clear streams. But no real service except in the many- bars (Hokitika has 17), and' the 1 air is the only way by which one mav know that there is such a thing as “serv’ce” south of Greyrnouth. P.S. The chaps here look as if then 'ive on lemons.”