TOUR OF THE PROVINCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20087, 26 October 1928, Page 14

TOUR OF THE PROVINCE.

SPECIAL COMMERCE TRAIN.

PARTY LEAVES THIS EVENING

A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME. Sixty members of llio Auckland Clumber of Commerce and Government officials will leave Auckland by special train at nino o'clock this evening, on a nino days' comprehensive tour of the Auckland Province. After practically five months' organisation arrangements for the tour havo been completed, and distinct success is promised this first vcnluio of the kind.

Tho tour is designed to enable city business men to boeomo acquainted at first hand with tho potentialities of the province, and it is in no sense intended for tho advancement of particular business interests. It. is possible tho tour will havo a fur reaching effect, because included in tho party will bo men from overseas, who, in a sonso, hold diplomatic positions in tho Dominion. lhese comprise Mr. C. M Croft, Canadian Trade Commissioner; Mr. Julian B. Foster, United Stales Trade Commissioner for New Zealand; Mr. W. 13. Lambie, actingBritish Trado Commissioner for New Zealand; and Mr. A. W. Essex, representative of the Canadian Pacific Rail-

ways. Businessmen and Officials. Those who are making the trip aro: Mossrs. 11. T. Morritt, president of tho Chamber of Commerce, J. A. C. Alluin, J. W. Andrew, R. Angus, J. Arneil, C. M. Bnrtley, C. F. Bennett, F. W. Blakey, C. E. Clmkard, W. Coltman, C. M. Croft, Paul Cropper. W. M. Dawn, A. Eccles, W. 11. Ellingham, A. W. Essex, YV. R. Fee, J. Findlay. G. Finn. Julian B. foster, G. M Fowlds, W. Fraser, A. A. Grav, N. Walker, J. P. Ilooton, Gainor Jackson, T. G. Julian, J. Kidson, E. Kitchener, W. B. Lambie, S. 11. Leyland, J. T. D. Lloyd, W. H. Paul, A. G. Limn, P. R. M. Manning, R. B. Marshall, A. E. Moore, E. P. Neale, A. C. Nordcn, A. M. Paterson, T. R. Proctor, J. R. Rendcll, A. A. Ross, John Schischka, A. M. Seaman, J. B. Shacklock, G. G. Sliierlaw, Campbell Thomson, G. L. Thorbiirn, B. Turner, T. C. Webster, F. M. Winstone, E. Yates, E. W. Yates, 0. Jones, E. Takle, J. C. M. Laird, Profossor Belshaw.

The Government party will comprise Mr. H. H. Sterling, general manager of railways; Mr. F. W. Furkert, engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department; Mr. J. W. Collins, secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce; Mr. E. Phillips Turner, Director of Forestry; Mr. P. W. Smallfield, Mr. W. T. Collins, and Mr. W. Dempster, of the Department of Agriculture; Mr. E. Casey, divisional superintendent of railways; Mr. D. Rodie, commercial manager of railways; Mr. A. W. Wellstcd, Auckland business agent; Mr. J. G. Rickerby, district traffic manager; Mr. G. G. Stewart, officer in charge of tho publicity branch of (he railways; and Mr. A. 11. W. Evenden, district supervisor of the refreshment branch. Mr. J. T. Collins, of tho Railway Department, will accompany tho party as secretary, and thero will be three representatives of Auckland newspapersComforts ol tho Home.

The train has been especially fitted for tho trip, and the arrangements aro such that it will bo possible for members of tho party to make it their homo during the tour. Thero will bo two Main Trunk (lav carriages and a lounge car, furnished with easy chairs, couches, writing t&blss and card tables. Then there will bo a utility car fitted with a kitchen and shop, where members of tho party may purchase cigarettes, tobacco, etc. •Four sleeping cars will be provided, each with accommodation for 20 passengers. Thrco will be utilised by members of the Chamber of Commerce, while tlm other will bo used by Government officials. Tho last-mentioned car will also contain a secretary's office, with telephone attached. Wlicro stops of any length aro made a telephone will bo connected to tho train. Also attached to tho train will bo a largo Z.P. waggon, fitted with eight showers. For a part of tho journey Mr. Sterling's special car will be attached to tho train. It is not expected, however, that ho will accompany the party for tho whole of the tour, as pressure of business will probably necessitate his return to Wellington. Nothing has boon overlooked, and arrangements havo been made with tho Post and Telegraph Department for all letters addressed to a passenger, Commerco Train, to bo forwarded as quickly as possible.

Waikato and Rotorua. The itinerary is a comprehensive one. Leaving Auckland this evening, tho train will proceed to Frankton Junction, where it will remain until early to-morrow afternoon. Members of tho party will disembark early to-morrow morning and will visit the butter-box and casein factory of tho New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company. The remainder of the morning will be devoted to a tour of Hamilton and a visit to the lvuakura State farm, tho party assembling at Hamilton to be tho guests of the Hamilton Borough Council and the local Chamber of Conimerco at lunch.

Alter lunch the party will rejoin tho train, which will leavo for Rotorua. On the way, a stop will bo made to inspect the Waharoa butter factory, controlled by the New Zealand Co-operativo Dairy Company. Rotorua will bo reached in time for dinner, and mombers of tho party will have a froo evening. The travellers will sleep on the train to-morrow ovoning, and early on Sunday morning tho train will leavo for Putaruni. Visit to Far North.

A visit will he paid to Arapuni, and later to tho nurseries of New Zealand Perpetual Forests, Limited. Tho party will ho the guests of tho directors of tho company at lunch, the train leaving at two o'clock for Paeroa. via Momnswllo. Late in the afternoon (ho train will arrive at Waihi, antl after a short stop will proceed to Taurangi», winch will bo reached m time, for dinner. After dinner the train will l<?ave for Tancatua, whevo tho night will be spent. Succeeding days will bo as full as those two. The places to he visited will iucludo To Awannitu and tho Waitomo Caves, Waikino, Thames, Waitoa, Morrinsvillo, tho Pukeiniro mines,- Huntly, Kirikoptini, Dargaville, Tronnson Park, Hokianga, then .as far north as Runaruna, Brondwood, Opua, LUissoll, Whangarei and Karoo.

Tho tour will end on Sunday, November 4 Tho special train will return to Auckland from tho north in time to enable Government officials to join tho ordinary express for Wellington.