NEW ZEALAND'S ATTRACTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 110, 12 May 1930, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND'S ATTRACTIONS

(To the Editor.) Sir, —As a visitor permit me to extend upon the remarks of Mi1. Harvey, of Seattle.; Having just returned from the South, it is ray candid opinion that the southern cities and provinces are the real sufferers from lack of, publicity. From what I can gather there appears to be a certain amount of jealousy arid a reluctance on the part of the north to give due credit to the south. In fact, I found that I was discouraged from proceeding further than this city. Now, in the general interests of this Dominion, such petty activity is to be condemned. As the centre and seat of Government, this-city should see that the charms and natural beauty of the whole Dominion receive the necessary publicity. ■ ■ .

In my opinion there is no other city in the Dominion which can offer the architectural charm of Christehurch. "Beautiful Christehurch!" thus it might be described. The orderly and well laid city squares constitute a welcome change from the straggling and narrow ways- which pass for thoroughfares in "certain" northern cities. And what a feast to the artistic eye is offered by the beautiful and stately avenues of the residential sections of the beautiful Cathedral City. I have said nothing of the beautiful and stately bridged Avon. Truly a city to cause feelings of swelling pride. And how charming the little towns and hamlets of Canterbury—each a perfect jewel. And where" north or south can beautiful Caroline Bay be matched? _ Nor (loes the town built around its gold fringed shoi-e lack in a lingering charm all its own.

And now the stern and majestic beauty of Otago. The soul stirring beauty of this new Caledonia cannot be justified in mere words. Its appeal strikes deep—steikes to a responsive note that belongs to Nature's own harmony and knows not the artificial beauty raised by mau. And_ it would indeed be impossible to find a city which reflected the beauties of Nature more than Dunedin. I cannot use the word "charming" in regard to Dunedin. Such a word is all too inadequate to describe the appeal of this "hill-girded" city. This jewel in Nature's most beautiful setting appeals to the lighter mood beneath a sparkling sun, but when the clouds lower and veil the bush clad hills then is it that this city exerts its most compelling appeal to the artistic senses. Where the beautiful Christehurch manifests the achievements of man's architectural aims, the city of, the south displays the wilder and stern visage of undisturbed Nature as a setting for a jewel in which man has achieved his own beauty side by side with the varying moods of Nature. . , , i

I have .set down the cliarms of the south because it is most apparent that they are ignored. I say not one word of the north, though it does not" lack for appeal, but ."the north will look to itself." •. And, Sir, I would request space to record my most sincere appreciation of "Beautiful New Zealand."—l am, etc., 'THE. BEAUTIFUL SOUTH. (To the Editor.) Sir, —I was greatly interested with the letter W. Harvey wrote in your last issue on "boosting" Wellington. He complains that the city does not issue an illustrated paper containing views of beauty 6pots. Perhaps being a stranger he may be pardoned for committing an error, and I desire to inform him that the "Free Lance" is a weekly illustrated paper and is published in Wellington. Further, the Government Publicity Department issues splendid books relative to New Zealand landscape, etc., and if this is known to.your correspondent he must indeed be hard to please if he is not satisfied with the matter that is now printed and in circulation. Nevertheless, his remarks show that he at least is observant, and one is grateful for him drawing attention to the great benefit illustrations now perform in advcrlis-

ing any city. Perhaps the City Council can answer his question relative to each, of municipal effort in "boosting" Wellington.—l am, etc., ANNIE FRASER