CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10239, 7 January 1899, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. "R.W."—Applv to the Secretary, School of Domestic Instruction, Chrisichurch. "Contractor."—We would suggest your writing to the Council direct. FOSTERING THE TOURIST TRAFFIC. TO THE EDITOB OF THE PRESS. Sir, —In writing our letter of the 3rd inst., in leply to your sub-leader of Monday last, we did not do so with any desire other than to assure the public that tourist bureaux are always open to residents, as well as. to tourists, and that to encourage special excursionists the promoters must have the support of the travelling public. We regret that your correspondent, "Holiday Seeker," did not sign her name to her letter, when we could most- probably recall j the extent of her enauiries and the alleged promise. In early December we had no notice of any excursions, and the "PipiriJri Excursion" being the first of its kind, we could hardly anticipate it, and, therefore, fail to understand that any such promise could be given. Advice of the Pipiriki excursion reached us on December l§th, with the Wellington printed hand-bills enclosed. These we had to use to the best advantage, but thoroughly agree that this means of advertising is very ineffective. We wonld, however, hardly have supposed tuat anyone would' compare the necessarily limited few who travel in New Zealand with the tens of thousands who travel in Europe. We believe that '"Holiday Seeker" could have obtained more than "uncertain information as to the cost" of a trip up the Wanganui river, and we would be pleased, on receipt of her address, to send her quotations for the trip to Wanganui, or to any other part of NeV Zealand; and, further, would give her information which the reading of "Bradshaw" or the "other books to which we have access" will not give her. As correspondents only, not agents, we do not profess to file the information for foreign countries in any bulk, but we are at all times willing to supply any information obtainable on reference to the head office for New Zealand. As a lady tourist once enquired "Was the air of Switzerland 'embracing. " we are not always, as in that case, prepared to answer off-hand questions, which hardly come within the sphere of tourist business. — Yours, &c, J. M. HEYWOOD and CO., Correspondents Thos. Cook and Son. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —If your correspondent, "Holiday Seeker," is correct in stating that the excursion to Pipiriki was insufficiently advertised, then those who went have at least one tiling to be thankful for, because as it was the patronage accorded was considerably in excess of the accommodation provided. At Wanganui both of Cook's hotels were full, and shelter had to be sought elsewhere. Going up the Wangaaiui river three relays were required at lunch, while upon arrival at Pipiriki excursionists found the accommodation house crammed to overflowing, and those who had not bespoken rooms were glad of shake-downs anywhere. Three people slept on the drawing-room floor, one in the passage, others in similarly and equally nrivate sleeping apartments. Cook's agent at Wellington expressed surprise at the patronage accorded by the public at the lack of provision made. If the result of the excursion in question can be taken as a criterion, it amply supports your contention that the public only requires a little encouragement to take the fullest advantage of tie'natural beauties of this colony.—Yours, &c, ONE WHO WENT.