PORT OF AVONMOUTH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 November 1924, Page 6

PORT OF AVONMOUTH.

SHIPPING FACILITIES. ENTERTAINMENT OF NEW ZEALANDERS. LONDON, 4th September. Prior to leaving Bristol, where they spent several most interesting days, Sir Thomas Mackenzie (Freeman of the City) and Sir George Fenwick wrote a joint letter of thanks to the Lord Mayor. In making this public to the citizens of Bristol the latter remarked: “I hope the best results will follow their visit, and that socially as well_ as commercially the relations between New Zealand and Bristol will be developed to mutual advantage.” The New Zealand visitors remarked on their good fortune at being at Avonmouth on the arrival of the Rimutaka, and thus they had the opportunity of seeing the very efficient manner in which the port handles its shipping.”

“Under official guidance,” the letter proceeds, “we also visited the various stores under the control of the port authorities, and were greatly impressed with the up-to-dateness of everything, especially the excellent manner in which valuable cargoes of perishable goods were delicately handled —such as fruit, dairy produce, and frozen meat. Avonniouth is the natural outlet of a large area of country, and must ultimately

command an enormous import and export trade with the various countries of the Eiripire. Its facilities are of special value, being as it is the nearest port of England to these great possessions. It is unnecessary for us to enter into, further detail in referring to the great advantages the port of Avonniouth affords to the shipping of the Empire. It is obvious to those who, like ourselves, have paid previous visits to Bristol and Avonmouth, what enormous advances have been made in shipping facilities at Avonmouth.”

Arrangements were officially made for the visitors to see the maily interesting features of historic interest and beauty in the county of Somerset, including the I cathedrals of Bath and Wells, the beautiful ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, and the famous cliffs and caves of Cheddar. In a parting letter the Lord Mayor wrote: “You have had the advantage of seeing for yourselves Bristol’s surroundings, unsurpassed in beauty and interest, its many evidences of antiquity as well as of modern developements, its commercial activities, the facilities it offers in the way of dealing with oversea trade, the faith of its citizens in its future, aud the desire of one and all in giving you a hearty and fraternal welcome as fellow-workers in promoting the prosperity of our Empire. I hope that your visit will give you everlasting pleasure, and that you will make known to the people of New Zealand the fraternal regard in which they are held by their kinsfolk in Bristol, who will never forget Neve Zealand’s kindness and hospitality to them on their visits to the Dominion.” i