[1] Communication between the coastal areas was difficult, as the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana created a strong barrier.

In practice, most of the communication was by ship; overland journeys were seldom undertaken.

The Canterbury Provincial Council reacted to the situation by installing George Sale as goldfields commissioner with wide-ranging powers.

He set up his administration in Hokitika, which thus became a sub-capital[1] In parallel, the Canterbury Provincial Council commissioned the provincial engineer, Edward Dobson, with finding a suitable route to be found for a road link.

In parallel, people in Greymouth petitioned the House of Representatives for their region to be annexed to Nelson Province.

[4] The legislation gave the Governor the power to install a chairman, and Sir George Grey appointed John Hall.

This act also provided for a membership of nine: two each from Hokitika and Greymouth, and one from each of the five road districts (Paroa, Arahura, Kaniere, Totara, and Ōkārito).

[7] The borough of Kumara merged into Westland County in 1969,[8] and Ross followed suit in 1972.