THE WEST COAST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4902, 17 March 1894, Page 6

THE WEST COAST.

Visit by tlie Mißlstercf Lands-

The Hen John M'Konzio, Minister of Lands, arrived in Cbristchnrch last evening, after a three-weeks' tour on the West Coaet. While on the Coaßt Mr M'Kenzie received deputatioaa in almo3t every place he visited. At Greytacuth and at Hokitika banquets were.tendeved to him. One of the firat oueationa which waa brought before his notice at almost every placo waa that of land for settlement. It waa represented that the Midland Compapy'a area seemed to block the wholo aefctleaicnt of the "West Coast. One o£ the principal objects he had in visiting the Coast had been to see this large area for himeelf aud jud^e of ita capabilities for te'-.tlement. While be thought that tho land ou tho West Coaat wa3npt.of a. very biah valuo &n agricultural land, there were considerable areaß of very fair quality which could be opaned up if tha Gbvarnmeut had ita disposal, especially in the way of the grazing leases. In many of the placea visited attempts had bean made to clear tbo bush aad sow Engii3h graaee;. These attempts had been fairiy successful, although by no mear.s the beat laud had as yet been touched. The settlers had kepb on tho river flats, which were invariably very wet, whereas some of the flopea of tho ranges, which had hardly been touched, would be much drier, and tho soil waa equally as good. In his opinion tbe West Coaet, if the present liberal land laws could bs exercised, was juat the district for satisfactory settlempnt. He had met a large numbor of people anxious to take up land if they could do ao on reasonable terms. The pricea sow asked from people desiroug of getting land were almost prohibitive, and that fact, together with, the absence of any regular plan of disposing of a sufficient area at one place, and the absence of necessary roads; completely barred settlement. The mining iuduatry on the Weat Coast Mr M'Kenzie said, was not as thriving as it waß m yeara pas>t, and every effort ahould be made to keep the population there by endeavouring to open land for settlement. Judging from what be had seen, golddigging would be a very material industry on the Coaat for many years to come. The ccal-miniag industry was . also an extansive one at Westport and Greymoutb, and one which would give employment to a very large number of people, who would be consumers of agricultural and pastoral produce, a great quantity of which waa now being sent from the east ccast, but which, could easily be supplied ia the immediate vicinity of theae works. Mr M'Kenzie says that he erpariencad the greatest possible kindnesa ducing his triD, aud that he was invariably heartily welcomed by the settlers, diggers and residents of the coast. He considers thet he haa gained by his trip some very valu-. able information, which will prove of great service to him if he should be called upon to deal with land in that part of the colony.