SUNNY CALIFORNIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 213, 8 September 1923, Page 11

SUNNY CALIFORNIA.

PEACE AND PLENTY. NEW ZEAXAXDER'S IMPRESSIONS. " It 13 a land of constant sunshine and splendid roads," declared -Mr. P. Griffin, proprietor of the Gresham Hotel, who returned to Wellington on Thursday by the Maunganui, from a two-raonths' visit to California. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin went over in the same steamer with Inspector \V. B. iMcllveney, and the party kept together on the tour of California, and on the return journey to" New Zealand. Mr. Griffin stated that Inspector McHlveney and he were introduced to the Mayor of San Francisco (Mr. Rolfe), and at that gentleman's invitation attended a meeting of the City Counci held to make arrangements for the reception of President Harding. The Wellington visitors were much impressed with the businesslike way in which the San Francisco city councillors got through their business. It was something new for Xew Zealandcrs to hear the representatives of a great city calling each other by their Chrsitian names. But there was no doubt about it, they got through the business. Mr. Griffin was delighted with the roads in California, which he said were as smooth as marble. The 6urface was treated with some kind of preparation which resembled oil. and prevented friction on the tyres of motor vehicles. The traffic on the 500 miles of road between San Francisco and Los Angeles was enormous, there being one unending stream of motor vehicles, and ome luxurious cars were to be seen amongst them., The police informed the visitors that automobile stealing was very rife in America, and many of the stolen cars were recovered in California, as it was a dead end, and had practically only one main highway. Mr. Griffin stated that he had eeen more fruit on the journey from San Francisco to Los lAngelee than he had ever seen in his life before. He had passed for miles through heavily-fruited orchards. Some time had been spent in Southern California. Los Angeles, San Jose, Santa Cruz, and Palo Alto being in turn visited. " We etruck the most severe earthquake I have ever felt at Los Angeles," said Mr. Griffin. "We were on the tenth storey of a fourteen-storey building, and I can tell you we felt it pretty badly." Mr. O. Beere, of Wellington, was in the same building at the time the earthquake occurred. Asked as to the condition of affairs in California, Mr. Griffin stated that the country seemed very prosperous. Wages were higher than they were in JCevv Zeai land. The cost of living was much the J same as in Xew Zealand; some thing 9 ! were cheaper and others dearer. It was, for instance, something of a shock for a New Zealander to be asked to pay a dollar and a half for a helping of rump eteak. "The people are most hospitable," concluded Mr. Griffin, "and we enjoyed our trip immensely."

A Gazette notice announces the formation, as part of the !New Zealand Defence Forces, of a New Zealand Permanent Air Force, to be part of the Permanent Forces, and a Xew Zealand Air force to be part of the Territorial Force*