A TRAVELLER WITH A MISSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16985, 23 April 1917, Page 8

A TRAVELLER WITH A MISSION.

ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT NEW i ZEALAND. Mr Leon L. Collvcr (vice-president of Raymond and Whiteomb Company, the greatest tourist organisation of America) is in Dunodin for a brief visit, and was entertained on Saturday by Mr Bathgate, and Mr Fenwick (president and vice-president of the Ctago Expansion League). Mr Collvcr is on a tour of observation for the purpose of developing New Zealand, with Australia and the South Sea Islands as a unit, as a now tourist field for Americans The- company in normal times sends a great number of the best class of Americans in many small parties round the world, and to Europe, Egypt, and Palestine, and South America, but with most of these travel fields now closed, Mr Collvcr became convinced that the timo was ripe to interest Americans of wealth in tlio remarkable scenic attractions of Now Zealand. Ho has, therefore, come to the Anzac lands to "write them up" for his company's publications, from the American traveller's view-point. He has had the cordial cooperation of the Government Tourist Department's representatives, who are fullycognisant of the good that will come to New Zealand from the diverting of the groat stream of American travellers-for-pleasrure from their usual fields into this new wonderland. Mr Collvcr lias been in every part of the tourist's world, and with that experience for perspective, expresses himself in terms of enthusiasm for the beauties and woirdnesses of Now Zealand's natural attractions. The Wanganui River and Buller and Otira Gorges delighted him with their primitive beauties, practically untouched by human hands, while the Rotorua and Whakarewarcwa thermal district had an especial fascination for him. As to the latter name, he says he has already collected ten different pronunciations, each with its warm partisans, and ho still hopes to add to the list. When he finds one method on which three people agree he will consider his mission accomplished, and be ready to sail for his home in Boston. In the meantime ho finds the only safe pronunciation to be Whiika. Mr Collver will leave this morning to extend his acquaintance with Ofcigo in general, and Lake Wakatipu in particular.