PRAISE FOR DOMINION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22193, 21 August 1935, Page 13

PRAISE FOR DOMINION

AMERICAN VISITORS DELIGHTED WITH COUNTRY TOURIST DEPARTMENT'S HELP "We are so delighted with your country that we do not wish to return to Hawaii," said Mrs. Emma B. Hottel, of Honolulu, organiser of the Hawaii section of a party of 11 American tourists who conclude a two weeks' visit to New Zealand with the sailing of the Niagara this evening. The party, which arrived from the South yesterday, is composed of professional men and women, seven from Hawaii and four from the United States. Travelling by motor-bus and escorted by a Tourist Department guide, the party visited Christchurch and the West Coast of the South Island as far south as the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, and National Park, the Waitorno Caves and Rotorua in the North Island. They had already spent a short holiday in Australia and considered that that country had nothing to compare with New Zealand in as far as beauty of scenery and variety of natural phenomena were concerned. The visitors were particularly impressed with the magnificence of the bush scenery in the South Island and with the wonders of the Waitomo Caves, Mrs. Hottel said. Some of their number had not been in snow before, so that they had great';y enjoyed their visit to National Park, where a blizzard had occurred during their stay. They had also been most interested in the model Maori pa and the thermal activity at Rotorua. "We have the greatest praise for the efficiency of your Tourist Department,'' said Mrs. Hottel. "Personally, I think the department has its business down to a fine art. The officials, and particularly the officer who conducted our tour, were most courteous and obliging." Mrs. Hottel added that they enjoyed meeting New Zealand people, for they were very kind and helpful. The hotel accommodation was excellent and the service provided was equal to any they had experienced.