WALKING TOUR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 86, 11 March 1932, Page 11

WALKING TOUR

MISS JAMES ARRIVES. NEW ZEALAND GOODS. Perhaps the first girl to walk 76.0 miles in 57 days, and certainly the first New Zealander to undertake such a mission, Miss Esther James arrived in Palmerston North late yesterday afternoon in the course of a walking tour of tho Dominion with the object of drawing attention to New Zealand’s primary products and Dominion made goods. Sho is succeeding admirably in her self-imposed task. Following upon a period of three months training at Auckland, Miss James made tho start of her tour from Spirits’ Bay. Sho went down the sounds to tho water’s edge where two oceans meet close by the northernmost homo of New Zealand—that of Sir George Richardson —and the first stag© of her journey was a long tramp over 27 miles of country which mo foot had trodden before, and over which a light aeroplane is used as a means of transport. It was an achievement at the very outset. Since tho middle of December Miss James has been on tho road, covering the distances in easy stages and halting for the night at each centre of population—town or township. On Thursday evening she stayed with Mr and Mrs N. Campbell, at Awahuri. She is not a weary, dusty figure as she tramps tho roadside, but a sunbronzed, physically fit, mentally alert young woman thoroughly enjoying her walking life, and fully appreciative of the country through which she passes, as well as tho hospitality of its people. Walking vigorously, and the picture of radiant health, she came into sight at Newbury yesterday at 4 p.m., steadily maintaining her schedule, and looking forward to her objective. Clad in light sports dress of woollen gabardine and a flannel blazer, and wearing a wide-brimmed soft hat of flax fibre and stout leather shoes —all New Zealand made—she was enjoying the freedom of her outdoor life. She had worn the ono pair of shoes all the way, resoling being done after 432 miles. “My clothes are New Zealand made, T eat New Zealand grown foods, and I am New Zealand made too —for three generations back,” she stated. “I have lived on a farm nearly all my life nnd would not have needed to make this walk if everybody would use New Zealand primary products, but they will not, and so I am here.” Miss James said that since she began her long walk she had put on a stone in weight. She was thriving on New Zealand products and in wonderful health. She resolutely refused to accept lifts offered by passing motorists and intended to accomplish her whole journey of some 1500 miles on foot. After reaching Wellington she would spend some two months walking tho South Island to tho Bluff. Miss James intends making a walking tour through England from John o’ Groats to Land’s End and she. will leave in June to undertake this journey with tho specific object of advertising New Zealand dairy produce. Meanwhile sho is tramping over the country from which it comes. Considerable interest is being taken in her tour, and she has a quiet determination and forcefulness of chararacter which emphasise her mission. She was met at the city boundary yesterday afternoon by quite a number of well-wishers, including the Mayor and Mrs Mansford and also Cr. W. H. Brown. Sho was given a cordial reception and the representatives of the city walked into town from Boundary Road with her, headed by the Manawatu Scottish Society’s Pipe Band. There was a large crowd of spectators in the Square, where the Mayor extended congratulations to Miss James on their behalf, and explained iho reason for tho tour. Miss James returned thanks. She will speak at the Palace Theatre to-night. During her stay in Palmerston North Miss James is the guest of the Mayor and Mayoress. She will leave on Monday morning for the Manawatu Gorge, en route to her 1 'rthplace, Pahiatua, where she will bo the guest of Mrs S. Bolton. Miss James is one of a family of ten children of pioneer settlers and is nearly 25 years of age. She is a great grand-daughter of Sir George Whitmore, well-known in political and social circles in former days, and after whom Whitmore Street in Wellington where the Art Gallery is situated was named. Her father was the son of Mr T. J. James, connected with the Methodist ministry, who came out to tho colony in the very early, days. She cairies over her shoulders a haversack made from . New Zealand leather by an Auckland firm, and bearing tho sign of the tiki. This contains her modest . travelling requirements and a record book make from New Zealand produced paper, on which the Mayor of each town places his stamp, with the time of her arrival. The first signature in the book is that of Lady Bledisloe, under whose patronage Miss James is travelling. She has had bright sunshine all the way nnd her walking is checked by a pedometer.