FARMER VISITORS

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1927, Page 2

FARMER VISITORS

TRIP TO PUNAKAIKI. Immediately after the civic welcome tendered yesterday morning to the visiting farmers and their wives, from Canterbury, they were motored to Punakaiki. In all. some seventy-eight vehicles, which included seventy-four cars and four buses, were requisitioned, and marshalled in a line extending from the front of the Town Hall up Tarapuhi Street, as far as the Greymouth Club, made an imposing array. The visitors, all being seated in the cars to which they had been told off, the procession, headed by Mr E. Warnes, who acted as marshal, moved off at eleven o’clock for Punakaiki, where it. arrived at 12.45 p.m., nothing having happened on the trip to delay arrival.

As soon as the cars had parked in the places allotted them bj r Mr A. J. Sloss, Borough Traffic Inspector, who kindly undertook the duty of despatching the cars from and back to Greymouth, the visitors and local committee partook of luncheon. Lunch had been sent on by a car, and the members of the Punakaiki branch of the Farmers’ Union and their wives, assisted those who went from Greymouth to serve the luncheon.

Luncheon over, the visitors accompanied by their guides, set out for the Blowholes and Pancake rocks. Unfortunately, - the wind was not high enough nor the tide quite right for the Blowholes to work properly. The visitors, however, were able to witness the terrific force with which the waves were dashed into the chambers through the openings leading from the sea, and some who stood too close had a good wetting from the spray, which they good naturedly took as a “part of the business.” While at the Blowholes and Pancakes a number of photographs were secured, as mementoes,, of what was pronounced by one and all to be an enthralling and novel beauty spot. The visitors were loud in their praise of the beauty of the scenery on the road, with the rough sea on one side, and the bush clad hills towering far above the road on the other, and at Punakaiki itself. Many expressed the intention of paying the district another visit with members of their families, to again spend a holiday at Punakaiki. The tree ferns and nikau palms were of course the centre of attraction and admiration of the visitors.

- Chatting with Mr A. Horsey, Chairman of the Ashburton County Council, a reporter found that that gentleman was an old West Coaster, who had been brought up on a. run in the Greenstone, and educated at Hokitika. Mr Horsey said he found the West Coast still maintaining its traditional hospitality, nothing seeming too much to do for the comfort and enjoyment of the guests. As County Chairman, he expressed the opinion that the Grey County roads were a testimonial to good engineering on a small capital outlay, and stated that other districts which had much more revenue could show nothing better, nor as good in the way of roads as the road to Punakaikj. He expressed strongest approval of the interchange of visits as being a means for getting the farmers closer together, and getting to know the disabilities and troubles that were peculiar to each district. From his observations of the West Coast he thought it was. primarily a cattle raising country. The excellent Hereford stock seen at Kokatahi provided ample evidence on that score. The country being on the damp side made it necessary that sheep of such breeds as the Romney should be the class bred. He noticed there was still plenty of timber about for milling and other purposes. The whole trip had been opening the eyes of the visitors to conditions entirely different to those which obtained on the East Coast, and the East Coaster was assimilating a good deal of information regarding the West Coast which was useful and also interesting. He paid a tribute to Mr F. Pawson for his capacity in engineering the trip, his energy alone making the undertaking possible. Discussing the trip with Mr F. Pawson, the Railway Commercial Agent, that official was most satisfied with the success of the venture. “The farmers’ trips have come to stay,” he said. The present trip had succeeded beyond his expectations. He paid a high tribute to the assistance given by the local Committee, especially mentioning the great assistance he had received from the Mayor (Mr J. W. Greenslade), and Mr Joseph McLean (Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce). The lessons learnt on the trip to Ashburton from the Coast, and the return trip from Ashburton would help largely to assure easy working of future trips. He paid warm praise to the general good work done by the citizens towards the entertainment of the visitors.

Shortly after three o’clock the parties began to muster for the return to Greymouth. Prior to leaving, the Mayor expressed thanks to the Punakaiki farmers and their assistants for dispensing the refreshments. On arriving back in Greymouth the visitors were motored through the residential areas in High Street, Marsden Road, Cowper Street. Shakespeare Street, and back thence to their hotels. EUCHRE AND DANCE. Last evening the visitors were guests of the West Coast A. and P. Association at a euchre tournament and dance, when the Druids’ Hall was filled upstairs and down to its utmost capacity. Two hundred and sixteen sat down to play euchre. After an exciting tournament, Mesdames J. Smyth and J. Campbell tied for the lady’s prize and played off, when Mrs Smyth secured the honour. Mr Wells won the gentleman’s prize, Mr S. Beach (Ashburton) securing the “booby” prize. The work of dispensing refreshments to so large a number was excellently carried out by the ladies’ committee, headed by Mesdames Lindop, H. W. Kitchingham, W. Scott, T. Scott, Casey, Shuttleworth, T. Topliss, O. McLean, McKane, G. Schaef, J. Walton, C. Rose, Mackley, Misses Stokes, Greenslade (2), Scott,. Lindop, and their assistants.

Among the onlookers were: —Mesdames H. Carter, M. Keating, F. Denton, R. Elliott, A. F. Marr, G. Carr, Denis McKendry, Daniel McKendry, F. Horsfield, Rushton, Earl, Pithie, Webber, Leahy, Brown, Williamson', Stevens, Gregory, Johnston, Cass, Schaef, Hodgkiss, Heaphy, Reid, Topliss, Scott. Some of those dancing were:—Misses Spring, peacock blue georgette; Skinner, blue taffeta; McDonald, white ninon; Lamberton, blue georgette; Ruane, fuchsia georgette; Turtill, black crepe-de-chine; Irvine, pink satin beaute; Cotter, primrose merv; M. Donovan, black velvet; T. Willis, pink georgette; V. Williams, floral silk; Gieseking, embossed georgette; Doogan, cherry georgette; Phelan, mauve georgette; Bellamy, cerise; georgette; Leahy, lemon ninon; Coates

blue marocain; Hambleton, green merv; O’Hallahan, blue satin beaute; Lynch, green ninon; Meldrum, embossed georgette; Garvey, fuchsia georgette; M. Orr, black velvet; G. Orr, cherry velvet; James, pink georgette; Donovan, lavender georgette; Sampson, pink marocain: O’Donnell, white satin; Schaef, black velvet; Carruthers, blue georgette; E. Williams, green silk; Nelson, blue crepe-de-chine; Martin, lemon marocain; A. Lees, cherry georgette; Castles, black crepe-de-chine and lace; Kilpatrick, flame velvet, Coulthard, gold lace; Mayo, blue marocain; Lees, mauve georgette; Bruce, salmon silk; K. Bruce, white satin beaute; Buttrick, silver lace; Scott, blue marocain, Phillips, blue taffeta; Murray, blue georgette; Thorpy, pink georgette; Robin, black satin; Carruthers, black velvet. Messrs Withell, Oakley (2), Fitzgerald, Prebble, McKay (2), Appleton, Orchard, Holland, Power, Davidson, McKendry (2), Moore, Pithie, Harrison (2), Anderson (2), Shearer, Carr, Horsey, Bruce (2), Lamb, Blockhead, Bennett (2), Murdoch, Morrow, Baxter (2), Cameron, Stoddart, Jewell, Reid, Pawson, Clifford, Connor, Murray, Bates, Carter, Coates, Richmond, Hutton, P. Coates, Topliss, Skinner, Kitchingham, Dennehy, Cotter, McCarthy, Webber, Morgan, Dodson, East," Doogan, Guy, Dalziell, Coll, Murphy, Stubbs, Preston, de Freatus, Steele, Jones, Costello, Kilpatrick, McIlroy, Turtill, Shaw. The Committee pay a tribute to the manner in which the supper was arranged by the ladies, and thank all those who contributed refreshments. TO-3IORROW’S CONCERT. To-morrow at the Town Hall the Canterbury farmers will he the guests of the local citizens at a concert to be given by the Male Choir and Municipal Band. The soloists will be Misses Hopgood, Warnes, Adkins, Drake and Coburn. Humorous items will be given by .Miss Adkins, Messrs H. H. Brown and I. Nelson, and a duet by Messrs Smith and Harley. The Band will play “The Jolly Bandsmen” and the patrol “Kilt and Sporan,” whilst the Male Choir will render several part songs.

AT TOTARA FLAT. (Special to “Star.") TOTARA FLAT, July 21. The farmers’ train arrived at the Flat at 10.45 a.m. The visitors were met by Air W. Clayton, President of the Grey Valley brancii ol the Farmers’ Union, and Air W. .Fisher, (Ngahere branch), and welcomed. The residents provided morning tea, after which the party visited Air Jack Kennedy’s farm, in charge of Air .Dalgleish, fields instructor. They inspected a fine field of swedes. Another party visited the Totara sawmill. Air A. Mclnroe and Air D. Armstrong gave short addresses on West Coast timbers. On their return, all partook of luncheon as guests of the residents. The visitors much enjoyed the visit, many remarking that the Flat was a bit of Canterbury, the conditions be.ng identical, but the general opinion is that the holdings are too large, and better results would come from smaller farms. The weather is perfect. Prior to entraining for Blackball, the group was photographed by a Press photographer.