Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 6th, 1918. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 6th, 1918. THE WEEK.

The cable news this week has made reference to the sayings and doings of Lord Reading in the United States, where, in conjunction with Lord Northed iffe, he is expounding the British position regarding war' aims. The Lord Chief Justice of England went to Washington not quite as the British Ambassador, but of more importance'than' a Deputy Ambassador. Lord Heading is, it appears, a financial expert of such calibre as to possess /the unbounded respect even of American financiers. His grip of the science of money, and Ids success in solving its knottiest problems in respect of the war as it affects the finance of Britain and America, were brilliantly in evidence on the occasion of his recent mission to the United States that no other public man was thought of in the matter of this new appointment. Already possessing hosts of friends in influential American circles, it is confidently expected of him that his qualities and capacities will achieve great things in the way of

straightening out the innumerable tangles of the war-time situation as il now presses upon Britain and America, and that he will accomplish many tilings impossible to other of our foremost ones. Besides Washington, holh Paris and Petrogfad are about to ho provided with new Ambassadors. There is much discussion abroad as to how far the typical diplomatist of old will give place in these great positions to the increasingly demanded diplomatist of a new order, who shall be loss ceremonial, or ornamental, or accomplished in the exterior graces of life, and more businesslike and approachable, and of hard-headed capacity in affairs.

war undoubtedly has let in upon some of the great ambassadorial posts light of a particularly illuminating, bra ml and the Foreign Office officials abroad are expected to suffer some startling changes of status and function as a result of the disclosures. There are now vacancies in three of the foremost positions in the gift of the Government. The post of British Ambassador to Paris, long held by the veteran Lord Bertie, is the highest-paid diplomatic office in the world, the salary attached to it being £15,000 a. year. The Washington post is worth to its occupant £IO,OOO a year, and that at Petrngrnd £BOOO.

Tire, Germans are still striving to break through to Paris by way of Amiens, a feat which would give them the most direct route to the goal so long in view. Later messages Ante that the cnemv is endeavouring Fo drive towards Amiens, the centre of his thrust being along the Hnm-Amien railway, v-hw'i is part of the direct throimh route from the. Channel to Rheims and on to Bah*. Moreifil. about a diyion miles from Amiens, was lost by the Rritish and then recovered in a counter-attack. Nearer the Rornme the position held hv the British had probably been hastily organised and may have been insecure, hut it. was not given tip and the enemy had to pay a heavy price for any progress he achieved. Tlie situation at this stage must have been critical .however, because the enemy was pouring fresh divisions into the struggle a"d was clearly intent on breaking

’•edit thromdi t<> Amiens. Amiens is a Ido- eit-v of 00.000 neonle, the junction of ten national highways and eight railways. Tt- is on the direct run from Calais to Paris..from London to Switzerland. Ever since the beginning of 1916 it has been more British than

French, at any rate in appearances, i because it was the main base during | the battle of the Somme, and it has } been one of the main bases ever since. Its strategic importance is obvious I from a consideration of its roads, and railways. It is on the canalised Somme, at the confluence of two .Tributaries with the main stream, and its own little canal system carried considerable 1 traffic. It must be packed with stores .of military value. There can therefore be no question as to its value, and its capture now would bo worth the sacrifice of many/ German regiments. The Germans know it and are prepared to pay the price for it.

Amiens, of course, was in German bands at one stage- It may be recalled that during the initial advance of the enemy into France, General Joffre planned, tentatively, to give battle along tile line of the Somme. At the end of August, when the British Army would be bolding a line by Ham and Bray on the Somme—according to the plan —a new French army was constituted. It was composed of two corps five reserve divisions, and a Moorish brigade. The intention was to assemble it in the neighbourhood of Amiens and to bring fit into the battle Am the British left, aiminig at the envelopment of the German right. It was soon apparent, however, that that plan could not he carried out, because the speed of the German rush preclude/! the organisation of a new line of battle, so far forward. Gonoral Joffre decided on' the retreat to the Seine and the Marne, with ,the result that is histoiy. The enemy occupied Amiens, hut all railway rolling stock was got away. The British, thus cul off from their main base at Boulogne abandoned it and established a new base at St. Nazaire, at the mouth of the Loire, with an advanced base at Le Mans. The battle of the Marne chang ed the situation, and the effect of the French attempt to outflank the Germans !wa<s to compel the fenemy to abandon the country west of St Quentin.’ Amiens was evacuated by the enemy on September 13, 1914.

The news given out this week that mining developments on an, extensive scale ar to take place in connection with /the new gold find near Lake Kanieri is very cheering at a time when most folk think' the days of alluvial mining are hastening to a 'close. The fact is that there has not been any organised prospecting in maiden country for a long' time past. Such prospecting as there has been was of “the back down” character —in the vicinity of existing fields hoping to pick up the run beyond the worked ground. ; In the successful instance now referred to, the prospecting was undertaken in a systematic way in new territory, and the remard has been reaped. The enterprise had to be backed by capital, which combined with experienced leadership, has given the results now so pleasing to know. The same enterprise which marked the prospecting, is to be shown in the working of the ground. What is known as the Humphreys Gtilly water race (fed from the Arahura river) is being purchased and is to be brought to tile new field. This is a work of considerable magnitude and large cost and at once indicated the promising character of the new field. Road access will be required to get plant and material into the scene of working operations. Tho energy shown in regard to this undertaking, which by the way, is a branch of the large dredging proposition in the AraImra. Valley, evidences the fact that this mining development is one of' expanding promise, and should he responsible for reviving interest in the fortunes of alluvial mining in Westland. < >

Other mining development schemes in Westland are in view—notably in the Ilium district—which suggest that the mining era is far from eclipsed . There will considerable mining advancement with mining, once more labour is nv_

ailable for .various resources in pgard to natural products arc to he takin hand. Coupled witli this promising outlook, is the fact that land in Westland is tlie cheapest settlement proposition in the Dominion and there is tip’ assurance that this part of the country has an improving future ahead of it. Wlien the pall of war is lifted the relief to he felt here will ho immediate. The po.st-war period for this district at all events, should have no terrors. Tlie enterprises are here for holh capital and labour to fully occupy themselves. A large amount of labour is require here now, and with the developments to follow, the demand will increase, and take koine satisfying. This means added population, just the requirement to tons up the district, ami give hte lever to ensure lenhanccd prosperity. The outlook for the district is very reassuring and must give confidence to the people even in these troublesome times. No one need he faint-hearted about the future of Westland. What is taking place in regard to mining and other ventures is an indication that the latent resources of the district are. of sterling value. The confidence should )>« get further improving signs to war rant the fullest reliance in the future of a district which, will, at last, come into its own.