THE WEST COAST.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1923, Page 4

THE WEST COAST.

i 1 iPre>- of Wedlie.-dav.) I We have ah-tained fioni eoimnenfing ■ll Ml did i; n (.' ramie's r •feivmvs 1 , the West imlii Air (halide liinis"!l shonid confirm or cXjd.iiu t; cm : i'ol me- -Me oramie I.x|' la in.-d . IV.i while if is satisiactorv to knew luaf the object of his strictures was “lo arouse the liifiahitauts of the Coa-t to i the [ics-ihilii ms in their I ertiii iful j.uuu iiug it is ino-t 11ii-iOrt iinti that !m chose this negative method. Ihe Li a t is admittedly less I,mini iful in its town; ihiiu in tlie envii'miiiem in which those are set. For half a century it ha- I icon isolated from die rest of tlm Island, and since mining ceased to he its chief source of •vault. Im k of communication ha., he'U an all i Cut ruinous handicap. Tint win ever j went tv the ('east and -am onl ■ u- ! towns? All' Grande says m.\v that Westland ‘'has a beauty of its own''. It has a surpa.-sing and resplend ••>* beauty. For reasons that everyone m the Dominion understands the townhave Ins l temporarily the hustle t! yester-year; hut what other ter. n in the Southern Hemisphere looks out on more majesty than, say. Hokitika f Where el-e could he seen such an impressively rolling ocean, more beautiful P re-T, more gloriously gleaming mountains? ft is absurd to call the Coast "depre-sing. neglected, dirty-look ing." as it would he to say of SwitLerla’id that its chief characteristic is m. rvuarincss. Tl’.e Knglislunan who goes to the Alps pays a little hutul-ninely for the privilege: the guide who drags him up their sides puts no mock-im lies t p.rice on hi- -ervice-. Hut it would be strange to elimh the Sehi'erklmni and report afterward- only that the Intis were verminous and the eocoi cost a shilling a cup. Westland stands now on the threshold of a new ear- j eer. In a few weeks it will have realised the dream of sixty years, and realisation. largely through increased prosperity. will change its architectural standards. For towns, like individuals, are product of their circumstances. Wellington at present lias a lower home-making standard than flirist'hnreh. Away from its waterfront and nain business, thoroughfares it has a Irak and slovenly aid to southern eyes. Tut Christchurch lias had from the bedmiing the space for. and the constant dimulus of parks and garden homes. „ iVellington has had none of these thing-. Did su the Coast, now that it is to lave both a new prosperity and an uereasing association with the rc.-t of he Dominion, will build new towns i;nonsciously. Instead of reacting, like fr Grande, those who know what Ve=tland has come through wonder at ts courage and patience. J