VANCOUVER

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 March 1929, Page 9

VANCOUVER

GROWTH OF A FINE CITY

THIRD GREATEST IN CANADA

ON New Year’s Day the city o,f Vancouver, )on the mainland of British Columbia, enlarged its boundaries by the inclusion of the two southern suburbs of Point Grey and South Vancouver. Both these suburbs are extensive and well-settled communities, and it is claimed that Vancouver is now the third city of Canada, with a population of about a quarter of a million.

eouver is more English than any of the more eastern cities of Canada. The stream of polyglot immigration from the Continent of Europe has not yet. made its Avay so far Avest and except for the Oriental quarter and the native Indian settlements, the city is almost Avhollv British.

The climate also is like England’s, most like that of the South-West and Cormvall. Winters are mild, and there is an entire absence ol‘ the prolonged cold A\ T hieh is experienced in other parts of Canada. A fcAV days of light frost or snoAA" suffice for the winter. The summers are temperate, and Avhile there is a good deal of rain, there is abundant sunshine. No part of the city is far distant from the sea. There are many bathing beaches and lovely parks for games or rambling, and it is a very simple matter to escape from the city to places of primitive simplicity, Avhere there is no lack of sport both AA’ith rod and gta.

The rise of so large a city within the space of 40 years is not particularly remarkable as American and Canadian cities .'grow. The striking things about Vancouver are that its greatest development lias been accomplished in very recent years, and that its future seems to be more definitely assured almost than that of any other city on the continent, certainly than that of any other on the Pacific Coast of North America.

It is not difficult on approaching Vancouver by one of the transcontinental railways of Canada to realise the vast possibilities of the place. It is set in a wonderful position for a continental terminus, with great scope for harbour developments in safe waters on all sides of the city except the cast. Behind it lies the enormous stretch of hinterland with a boundless wealth of timber and minerals that has as yet scarcely been touched, and tremendous opportunities for the future in the development of agriculture and water power. It is the seaport of a province Avith an area four times as large as that of Great Britain, and a population of little over half a million. From the construction of more easy grades on the railways across the Rocky Mountains it is also rapidly becoming the outlet for grain from the more western prairies and the Peace River region, Avhich is being opened up for the neAvest settlers in Canada. The route from Vancouver across the Pacific is the shortest and the quickest, and the Panama Canal has greatly lessened the distance by Avater from it to Europe. All the products of Western Canada —timber, salmon, fruit, furs, grain, and minerals —pour through Vancouver to the markets of the Avorld, and in return there are brought in vast quantities of silk and the other Avares from the East for sale in all parts of the North American continent.

Fcav cities have a more lovely setting' than Vancouver. It stands on' a narroAV neck of land, Avith the waters of great Fraser River, the Straits - of Georgia, and Burrard Inlet circling it on almost every side and "False Creek penetrating into the heart of the toAvn. Across the Inlet, Avhich is just over a mile wide but uarroAvs doAA’n considerably at its outlet to the sea, there stands the tOAA’n of North Vancouver, and behind it rise mountains that are as high as any in Britain.

On a protruding point on the south shore, where the inlet narrows down at its entrance, lies Stanley Park, 1,000 acres in extent, one of the Avonders of Canada, and indeed of the AAmrld. There are a feAV driveAvays round and across the park, a small zoological garden Avith black bears and quarrelsome grizzlies, and a portion reserved on the east side for sports; but the place has othemvise been left in its natural state. The footpaths Avhich leave the main roads lead right into the heart of the deep forest, Avhere gigantic trees rise 200 ft. and more into the air, Avith a girth of nearly 50ft. Vancouver is farther aAvay for emigrants from this country than other parts of Canada. But the Farthest West can offer as fine chances to the Avilling Avorker, and in surroundings and with a climate more like those of home.

Like its companion city, Victoria, the capital of the proA’inee on .Vancouver Island, Van-