EARLY HOKITIKA

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1934, Page 2

EARLY HOKITIKA

SCENIC GLOMES.

• ' Gold, to-day, is more in th e peoples’ minds than for some time past. Due to the high price of gold, mining is .coming into its own again.’ In South Africa- there is a -wonderful boom, land with the aid. of the levies nnd taxation, that great State is reducing its 'national debt at a remarkable rate. In Western Australia and other parts joi the Commonwealth, gold is being recovered in increasing quantities, N eW Zealand is flailing into line likewise, and the auriferous territory of ‘West-, land has possibilities which should en- . able'it to participate in the-golden era • again reviving. The records show that from 1857 to 1932, the West Const produced nearly seven million ounces ol gold 6f a- value >d approximately • £27,000,000. All classes of gold mining contributed to that notable result, which must have had a marked effect on . the prosperity of New Zealand. It , was the gold finds of the early days that brought the population to people this distant and isolated colony. Without the gold find, New Zealand would have lagged behind in- development as other - isolated islands have done, were it not for the peopling of the apparently waste places ’by the venturesome miners many of whom stayed behind to develop the natural resources land assist to make this fair land what it ..-is : io-day. ; The West Coast generally presented a -problem for the venturesome pioneer. It. was densely -wooded, • with many ■ .-rivers and dangerous streams. Access hva s difficult at every point. Yet prei- 'served as it. was by nature for only the i' jha-rdy and' venturesome, groups of I strong-willed and resourceful men made | -their • way to the Coast and began to 1 ’open up the country. . The gold finds ■ •were the' lodestone, (and wer e it not Ifor the generous favour of nature with 'auriferous deposits, the .progress and development would have been slow indeed. Even now after seventy years, .'tfie,' district- is not -roaded as completely > as it should be. The chief delay iii road extension has. been in South Westland, despite the fact that where I‘pixdotl 1 , the localities are not only settled permanently, but prospering as .'few isolated parts'of New Zealand a r e y,doing. The stopping of the railway at Boss wias a blow to the district, yet to-day that section of railway must be -I"Ante of the most -remunerative in the Dominion. It is fed by timber exports and stock, which are increasing year ■by year as the country below becomes y settled. The South' W r estlancl road is ■-I...regarded by many as chiefly a scenic y'oioute, but the bulk of the traffic liowa- ' days ■ is the .result of industrial expansion and the' natural, progress of . district-, . munication.,.- .YL - ...>* y The scenic glories of South Westland ~- are lan everlasting 'asset—for the hills 3. and mountains and ' glaciers are not movable.- They constitute a great r’j panorama of nature’s handiwork, yet is of late' years only that the district has come ‘ in a measure into its ywii. 'When Sir Julius von Haast visit-

ed Hokitika in 1865, he was struck by “the fine and extensive mountain view visible from the sea beach, at Hokitika.’’ The wooded mountain sides struck him in contrast to the snow-covered peaks, and was considered a most interesting feature of the- landscape. The glaciers at Waiho and Weheka may be considered unique, and have been praised by world travellers for their novel charm —rivers of ice set between high wooded hills carrying almost tropical vegeta- . tion. The Franz Josef at Waiho i s | notable for its splendour—a crystal face in a forest framing. The glacier j is eight and a- half miles long, aim J descends 9,000 feet in that distance. It ! has its birthplace in the perpetual snow, •j and ice fields of the Divide, and from •jits terminal face flows the Waiho river, j The Fox Glacier at Weheka is about- : nine miles in length, and its terminal ! face is under 700 feet above sea level, j Alpinists will find the climbing of bot h ! popular resort, s easy and interesting, j and the facilities lor accommodation j at every stage, lattract votaries all the i ypar round.. The lakes of Westland are an outstanding feature in the scenic rich-ness-of the district. Good roads serve j all lakesides, and all have- their own ‘ peculiar charms. In particular they j -are /all mirror-like .in their natural j properties, and reflect the surrounding | scenery (often taking ip the snowdapped mountains) with accurate fidelity. Lake Kanieri, Mahinapua, Janthe, ;Wah.apo, Mapourika, M.atheison and i Paringa, miay be mentioned as true ex- ' pononts of the varied nature of the I lake scenery .revealed in the West-land I wonderland. Associated with the scenic 1 glory of Westland Jig the bush in all it s majestic variety. Tall timbers fringe the southern roadway, and tfie forest stretches back in all its varied and vivid colon ting to decorate the high background. There are many charming bush scenes,' while the forest and fern tracks about the scenic resorts are gems of the lavish display nature ha s provided. To know the ■ real beautv of Westland a trip to the southern district, is a necessary .experience. There are m-’les of good road beyond Hokitika where the holiday mlnker may penetrate, and enjoy nature’s ■best throughout. Some day a roadway will circle the South Island, nrd until that- time full justice will I not he done to the store of the picturesque in the southern district. 1 i y It has been interesting to watch development in the south district as communication improved. About forty years ago pack horses .served 13 long stretch of the district. The widening of the- road began only with the accession of the late R. J. Se.dd.on to office. And after the road was widened, the •bridges were the problem, for there w c !’e many costly crossings to be spanned. The fast visit of Mr Seddon to South «Wetland dfe’ mcmMte fo> SftcPoi©!' ing of the first large bridge—the Bin Waitaha. Since then other bridge* have come slowly as far south as Weheka, but beyond there—where packhorses still carry the mails anj goods —there are many difficult streams to and but poor roads for access. Looking back over the solid progress of the 120 mile span between Hokitika

and Weheka since roading was put in, one can marvel that the need for the next stage to Okn.ru, remains for iso long neglected. ’Over the years since the early rush days', settlers lrtve made their homes in the far south, and now their sons and daughters, and their families are carrying on—sturdy occupants of the outposts who, it would appear, arc almost forgotten, and certainly neglected by the authorities charged with the development of New Zealand, A vast area of maiden country still .awaits closer settlement w the south, and when served with roadiing will sho.w as steady an advance as the northern half now in more prospering days. Tho southern district owes its, advancement greatly to. the enterprise <9 local residents. As .a case in point, the catering for the tourist traffic could ;be Imentfoned. Motor services jof a high class have keen developed for transport, following the bridging of the try veus, and 'ssometijm*; distant (point? are brought closer to the centres. In the pack horse days, and later the •coaches, two and three days were required for a- one way journey. Now, the trip can he covered in four or five hours, and as a consequence the. improved intercourse, has ‘been responsible for an influx of visitors. The traveller is well catered for at variou s points for all requirements, and at the chief t°uiist centres accommodation equal t" first class needs is available._ Ah facilities for high climbing, skiing, o' other classes of mountaineering, are available, together with at h a nd, experienced guides. All this has been provided by private enterprise, and the tourist, or holiday maker will find every want or need supplied from resourceful and capable hosts experienced in ail 'the details of mountaineering. There are esntres in New Zealand where the ■State conducts resorts and lavishes expenditure. But beyond slow-moving assistance with tracks to favoured sP otylittle is done help boom Westland resorts. That falls to the enterprising proprietors and they are doing the task j very successfully. | One of the objects of the Jubilee j festival at Hokitika, is to draw attention to the scenic glories of the I district. For that purpose the district j resorts should 'find favour with visitors The various interests .in regard to trans- ’ port and catering are prepared to meet all wishes in respect to travel up and down the district. There are regular ■motor services to « a ll par£s, and those | can l.ve supplemented by special cars j for parties to suit any convenience. I There will be day trips from Hokitika to neighbouring resorts as required, and pleasant outings may be made to the lakes, the farming districts, and ■above all to the old mining centres. Now that gold dredging ■is coming into its own, the gold producer at Rhnu Flat (should be ir.spocted to see what u%H®o^aniS > eds%lid' fr ftaanage.rl pi.Vn't call* do. In 1932, out of £110.529 won by gold dredges in the South Js’lind, the amount won by the Rimu Flat dredge was £92.079. >So visitors will see a very successful dredge .in full operation. The Jubilee period is from December 26 to 31, and will be, a period at Hokitika, of happy reunion and the foregathering of old friends. O-d identities day will be December 27, when there should be a notable gathering indeed.