SOUTH ISLAND TOUR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 66, 28 December 1928, Page 7

SOUTH ISLAND TOUR

THE CANTERBURY TRAIN.

PLANS FOR THE TRIP. (Special to the "Guardian.") CHRISTCHURCH, December 27. The Canterbury Progress League, with the co-operation and support of the Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers' Association, and Railway Department, has planned the running of a special Canterbury train in order to enable representative business men, manufacturers, farmers, and others to study at -first hand the resources and potentialities of the South Island. Several conversations have taken place between representatives of the Pailway Department and of the League, and an itinerary has been drawn up for the tour.

This itinerary is subject to minor modification, but in its broad outline will be adhered to as the most convenient arrangement from the standpoint of the likely wishes of the majority of passengers and the convenience of the Department. The train will consist of four sleeping cars, two parlour cars, utility car, day car, and bath car. Government officers will travel on the train in order to lecture to passengers on the farming resources and possibilities of the country traversed, and on matters of interest from the scenic, engineering and historical points of yiew. These lectures will be supplemented by free distribution of suitable bulletins. Secretarial and stenographic assistance will be provided to enable passengers to deal with urgent correspondence, and arrangements will be made with the Postal Department for prompt forwarding of telegrams and letters to passengers on tour. The establishment of intermittent telephonic communication with Christchurch will be arranged. Sleeping accommodation and morning and afternoon teas will be provided on the train. It is anticipated that members pi the party will be entertained by district organisations and public bodies, and that there will be therefore no occasion to provide heavy meals on the train. The cost, inclusive of fares jtnct refreshments on the tram, will be £l-3, and it is estimated that extras mi the way of motor fares, side trips, and incidentals will amount to another £5 or £6. . __ 'i The party will be limited to 65 male Pa The lSe foilowing is the. suggested itinerary (subject to modification):—

Friday, February 22—Leave Christchurch for Dunedin at 10.30 p.m. Saturday, February 23 —Visit places of interest at Dunedin, including Woodhaugh Paper Mills. Sunday, February 24—Leave Dunedin for Cromwell by train at 5 a.m. Motor Cromwell to Queenstown, visiting fruit farms, irrigation works, and other places of interest en route. Sleep at hotels at Queenstown. (This will be the only night not spent on the train.) Monday, February 25—Visit Skippers, Kawarau dam, v fruit farms 2> m ana other places of interest in wicimty of Queenstown, and leave Queenstown for Invercargill at 2.15 p.m., arriving Invercargill 8.30 D.in. Tuesday, February 26—Visit farming districts of Southland, Ohai coalmine, Preserved Milk Factory, Wallacetdwn, and other places oi interest in the yicinity of Invercargill. Wednesday, February 27 Bluff harbour facilities and local industries. Possible visit to Stewart Island. Leave for Dunedin m afternoon, stopping en route at Edendale to view farms and inspect Sugar of Milk Factory. Arrive IDunedin 7.30 p.m., and leave for Kurow at 11.20 p.m. Thursday, February 28 —' Arrive Kurow 6 a.m. Inspect Awakmo Hydro Works on the Waitaki River, and leave Kurow for Oamaru and Greymouth at IU.dU am. Inspect tunnel works and power-house at Otira. Arrive Greymouth 11.20 p.m. Friday. March I—Visit coal mines and other points of interest near Greymouth. Saturday, March 2—Leave Greymouth for Hokitika at 6.30 a.m. Visit Rimu Gold Dredge, sawmills, afforestation area, etc. Sunday, March 3—Leave a.m., visit gold mines and other points of interest at Reefton. Motor Reefton to Westport, through the Buller Gorge railway. Arrive Westport 12.30 p.m., where points of interest will be visited. Leave Westport 7.30 p.m., and join train at Inangahua Junction at 9.15 p.m. for Christchurch. Monday, "March 4—Christchurch arrive 6 a.m.