THE POTENTIALITIES OF CENTRAL OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 12

THE POTENTIALITIES OF CENTRAL OTAGO.

THE VISIT OF BUSINESS MEN,

The plane are being matured for the visit - which is to bo paid to Central Otago by a party of business men and members of Parliament in the week beginning with February 5. Mr A. Moritzson, who has been in communication with residents in different districts with the object of settling a programme for the trip, has supplied us with a provisional sketch of the arrangements. On the sth February the party will leave Dunedin by motor car, lunch at Wedderburn, and thence proceed to Cromwell, where a reception will be held in the evening. Next morning a start will be made at 8 o clock for Cromwell Flat, where an irrigated farm will bo inspected, and the party will then proceed to Mount Pisa station and inspect the irrigation works there. After luncheon at Mount Pisa, the visitors will proceed to Matukituki Valley, via Pembroke, and will return to Hawca, where they will bo entertained by the settle is of Tarras, Pembroke, and Hawca. The night will be spent at Pembroke. ■ Weather permitting, a start will be made at 5 or 6 a.m. next day by steamer for the head of the lake, so that the Makarora Valley may be inspected. The party will return to Pembroke about 4 p. in., and thence proceed to Clyde, where the evening will be spent. The visitois will there be entertained at a smoko concert, and an effort will be made to secure that a fairly representative show of fruit will bo submitted for their inspection, the lateness of the season preventing the Horticultural Society from holding its annua] display of fruit before the 15th. On the Bth February several orchards at Clyde, Earnscleugh Flat, and Alexandra will be visited, and the party will then leave for Roxburgh, via Bald Hill Flat, where the proposed scheme of irrigation will bo explained. The party will be entertained in the evening at Roxburgh, where it will stay for the night. On the 9th a retura will bo made to Dunedin, via Beaumont and Lawrence. At Beaumont a deputation will meet the party to advocate the expediting of the construction of the Law-rcnce-Roxburgh railway, and advantage will be taken of the opportunity to inspect the railway works at Big Hill. Apparently the party will consist of between 20 and 30 gentlemen. The Hon. J. T. Paid and Messrs W. Fraser, R. Scott, A. S. Malcolm, E. H. Clark, G. M. Thomson, and C. E. Statharn, M.P.’s, arc expected to make the trip, and the Hon. J. A. Millar, Messrs J. Craigie (Timaru), J. Allen, and T K. Sidcy, M.P.’s, arc at present undecided whether their engagements will admit of their going. The Chamber of Commerce will bo represented by Messrs G. R. Ritchie (president), J. Loudon (vicepresident), W. C. Burt, E. F. Duthic, W. Cow, D. M'Phereoa, and C. Morris, members of committee; the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society by Messrs A. M Orboll (president) and 11. V. Fulton (secretary); and others who will, it is anticipated, be included in the party are M<ssrs W. Burnett (Mayor of Dunedin and president of the Otago Central Railway League), A. Bathgate (president of the Lawrence Roxburgh Railway League, and also president of the Cromwell Flat Irrigation League), M. Cohen, F. W. Furkert (District Engineer, Public Works Department), R. Hudson, J. Hutchison, A. Moritzson, P. R. Sai good, W. Downio Stewart, G. C. Thomson, and J. Inglis Wright.