TOURISTS ON THE TRAIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1926, Page 3

TOURISTS ON THE TRAIL

EN ROUTE FOR WEST COAST. The magnet of publicity, which recently has been directed to the rest of the Dominion from, the West Coast, is now demonstrating its drawing power, and the number of tourists already booked appears to ensure *he coming season being a record. The prospective visitors are, moreover, not all New Zealanders, not a few Australians being on the list. The result cannot fail to be beneficial to the West Coast, both directly and indirectly. The addition to the population, although of a temporary nature, will increase the turnover of “the butcher, the baker, and the candle-stick-maker,” while strangers who see the beauties of Punakaiki, the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, and other West Coast resorts, will add to the attraction of the “Magnet” and bring others in their trail.

As some indication of the number o£ tourists this season is likely to produce, the following list of intending visitors, who have already booked to Greymouth through the Tourist Department and Messrs Cook and Son, is of interest:—December 1: Madames Wilson (2), Auckland; Miss Hiley (Christchurch); December 3: Mr Mooney and party (3), (Wellington) ; December 4: Miss Houghton (Auckland); December 7: Miss Young (Wellington), Miss Archibald, Miss McDougal (Wellington); December 10: Mesdames Woodruff and Mc- ' Crane, Mrs Martin and party (3) (Challis House, Sydney); Mr and Mrs H. Nixon (Challis House, Sydney); December 11: Mr, Mrs and Miss Greenwood (Auckland); December 15: Miss G. J. Freeman (Wellington); December 17: Mr and Miss Walduck (Wellington); December 23, Misses Hurst (3), (Nelson); December 24: Miss E. Clark (Christchurch); December 27: Mr L. Reid (Wellington); December 28: Miss Nelson and Miss O’Shea (Wellington); December 29: Misses Bundell and Houlon (Melbourne), Misses Paytner and Mayor (Wellington); December 30: Misses Hall and Gordon (Adelaide), Mr and Mrs Gratama (Auckland East); December 31: Mr and Mrs Winspear (Wellington), Miss Davis, Mr Coffey (Christchurch); January 1: Misses Hastings (3) (Christchurch); January 5: Rev. J. T. Paddison (Christchurch); January 7: Misses Carey (2) (Auckland)/Miss Bolder (Auckland); January 10: Misses Gray and Munday (Challis House, Sydney); January 14: Misses Wood and Mcßae (Melbourne); January 18: Misses Gibb (2) (Christchurch); January 27: Misses Atkinson and Black (Wellington); February 4: Mrs F. Starnes and Mrs J. C. Smith (Melbourne), Miss Dinhert and Mrs Kussmaul (Melbourne); February 28: Mrs L. J. Cornish (Challis House, Sydney).

ROYAL VISIT ATTRACTION. (Special to “Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 1. It is amusing to see how a Royal visit to any country immediately creates a craze for holidaying in that place. Already a number of wellknown English society folk are arranging to spend the winter holidays in Australia and New Zealand. When the Prince of Wales went to India a few years ago half society “wintered” there. Then the Royal visit to Africa made the latter country a popular resort. Now Australia and New Zealand ire coming into their own. Among well-known people coming to New Zealand next year are Cornelius Van ■ lerbilt (jun)., a millionaire, and Zane Grey, the novelist, but their plans were made before the Royal visit was announced. The Renown will not call at Lyttelton, according to a statement made by the Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr W. J. Walter) today. The Board decided to write to the Minister of Internal Affairs asking if the Renown could call at Lyttelton to synchronise with the visit to Christchurch of the Duke and Duchess. The Board voted £lOO towards the expenses of the entertainment at Christchurch. Mr W. G. Galagher: If the Renown comes to Lyttelton-, I take it £5O will be voted for the entertainment of the officers and crew.

The Chairman: I supose so. The grants for the Prince of Wales’s visit were £lOO for Christchurch and £5O for Lyttelton.

The Chairman added that he understood the Renown would call at Picton and go round the West Coast to the Bluff.