WESTLAND’S DISPLAY

Grey River Argus, 8 November 1939, Page 3

WESTLAND’S DISPLAY

AT THE EXHIBITION Features of the Court The Secreary of the Westland Provincial Organisation, New Zealand Centennial (Mr D. J. Evans) has supplied the following details of the Westland Provincial display at the New Zealand Exhibition, opening today at Wellington: —

The Counties of Inangahua, Grey and Westland, with the interior boroughs (Reefton, Greymouth Brunnerton, Runanga, Kumara, Hokitika, and Ross) comprise the Westland Provincial Section of the Dominion Court The area involved is about J.uuu square miles, and the residential population 30,000. . The chief towns are Greymouth, oi which an interesting model is shown, with the electrically lit transparencies of Hokitika and Reefton. Other loca bodies are the Harbour Boards at Greymouth and Hokitika, and the Electric Power Boards also at Greymouth and Hokitika. All ie oca bodies co-operated in the organisation of the Provincial display. The essential industries of the districts are gold-mining (reefing in Inangahua) and alluval and dredging other parts; sawmilling; coal mining; stock raising and farming production generally, including butter making. The gold production of the West Coast up to 1938 was given at 6.644.601ozs, valued at £26,941,735. At pi esent modern gold dredking is being established, and is proving very successful. The monthly returns from dredging only averages about 6,0000z5, and at the advanced prices nowadays constitutes attractive results, inviting additional enterprise. A model of ie Pactolus dredge, which operated in the Grev Valiev, is on view in the display. In the Town of Knowledge there is a display of the economic minerals of the district. These will be of interest to many visitors, and includes a model of the' Roddy nugget recovered al Ross about 30 years ago, ultimatelypurchased by the N.Z. Government, and presented to King Edward VIII at his Coronation. Coal production is confined mainly to the Grev and Inangahua districts. Up to the end of 1937 the total coal return was—Greymouth, 16,554,417 tons; Reefton. 1,012,406 tons; total. 17,566,823 tons. A very interesting working model of the James State Coal Mine, Runanga, is operating in the display. It is electrically operated showing the complete operations, with moving tubs. This fine model is the work of Mr Geo. Millar, M.8.E., exEngineer of the Mine in question. i ( The timber production from the large forest area the West Coast is. 's substantial. The latest returns of the Grey Couny was 45 millions for the year, and Westland County 30 millions. The average from these two Counties is 75 millions over the last

four years, though in 1930, the two districts had an output of over 76 million feet. There remain 'vast stands of timber in the districts, and for many years to come the Westland Provincial area will remain a constant reservoir of timber supply for the Do ninion. A model of a Ngahere (Gre> Valley) timber mill is included in the listrict display. The production of stock is an increasing quantity as the district V opened up and roaded. Besides producing for home consumption, cattle totalling 26,885 were sent to Canterbury in the last five years, and 279,560 sheep. The estimated annua’ value of stock produce is abom £450,000. The quality ranges amony the best. Each year large drafts of cattle are now coming forward from l he far south of Westland. Dairying flourishes in tire three counties, ano production is substantial and of high quality? In various North Island competitions, Coast dairy factories have now some of the best trophies. There is plenty of room for expansion of the industry.

It is the scenic attractions of the West Coast which are well known outside the district. The fame of the glacier lakes regions have gone abroad,, while the mountaineering attractions for climbing and ski-ing are well known. A great,range of high mountains dominate the d’stricts. In the Dominion display Mt. Cook is the central figure of the South Island, and it is in this vicinity that the Westland section is spread in pleasing shape. The roads of the distret pass through avenues of forests, bounding lakes and rivers, and with a snow-capped bac-K--ground. At the popular resorts thenare all the needs for pleasant holidaymaking. Models of the Franz Josef Hotel and the Fox Hostel indicate "'"iplo accommodation available. There are many pictures in the Westland Reception Room depicting the varied scenery of the Coast, with transparencies displayed in the Tower of Knowledge.

A great arterial highway is now penetrating South Westland, and will I'nk with Jackson Bay and Otago, b> wav of the Haast Pass. These roads are forging ahead rapidly. It is now possible to motor to Lake Paringa, 50 miles beyond Weheka, while on the Otago side the road to the Coast is over the Divide, separating the two provinces. The highway leads through magnificent scenic country the whole way, and the variety of scene is remarkable. The bridges are all. of permanent material and the road w ; ll constitute a wonderful asset for travel, permitting the whole Island to be circled by roadway. The developments of the natural, resources of the province and the opening up of the southern country of the district, assure a growing future for this valuably endowed territory bv nature, with its groat inexhausted deposits of gold, limber, coal and unmatched scenery CENTENNIAL TOWER. COMPLETELY FLOOD-LIT FOR FIRST TIME. On the occasion of the Centennial Ball, which was held in the Festival Hall of the Exhibition Buildings at Rongotai last Friday, the Centennial Tower was lit in all its dazzling splendour for the first tme. Previous lighting trials have been held, but on these occasions the tower has not been fully lit. and on Friday night its great height of 172 feet was painted in red and amber against the black outline of Wellington’s hills. Its strikingly beautiful, contrast was tne most outstanding feature of the grounds and could be seen for many miles around.