GIRL’S LONG TRAMP

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 155, 28 March 1932, Page 7

GIRL’S LONG TRAMP

Walk Through New Zealand SELF-IMPOSED TASK With the idea of encouraging the use of New Zealand-made goods, Miss Esther James, of Pahiatua, is engaged in the self-imposed task of walking from one end of the Dominion to the other, and endeavouring in the course of her travels to demonstrate the merit of local manufactures. Miss James, who commenced her tour from the northernmost point of the North Island, Sir George Richardson’s station at Spirits Bay, on December 3 last, reached Wellington on Thursday, after having covered 870 miles in 74 walking days. Miss James positively refuses to accept a lift from a passing motor. She carries with her a record book, wholly made of New Zealand materials, and in addition to records by city, town or borough officials of the places through which she passes, it contains a formidable list of names of the kindly disposed motorists who have offered her a lift. Miss James is travelling under the patronage of Lady Bledisloe, who has inscribed her signature at the beginning of the record-book, and the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates wrote a few words of encouragement in the book when Miss James passed his farm in the north. At every town she reaches Miss James is met by the mayor, who arranges to have her billeted, and she regularly lectures on Dominion products. “I am doing the tour because I am patriotic.” Miss James told a “Dominion” reporter. On Wednesday Miss James suffered the first misfortune of the tour. While walking down the Wellington side of tlie Rimutaka hill she was caught by a strong gust of wind and was thrown with considerable force against the bank. She was considerably bruised and shaken, and had to be brought to Wellington by car. She is determined, however, to do the whole distance on foot, and proposes to go back to Kaitoke on Saturday next and walk to the city, arriving here about midday. Miss, James says that every stitch of clothing she wears is New Zealandmade. and that she . only eats New Zealand-bred and grown foods. One pair of shoes has lasted her the whole 870 miles, requiring resoling once only, at Hamilton, after 442 miles had been traversed. Miss Janies proposes to commence her South Island tour of 600-odd miles at Picton. and hopes to reach Bluff before winter sets in. After that she inlends to walk through England from Land’s End to John o’ Groats in similar fashion, displaying and advertising New Zealand primary products.