ADVERTISING THE COLONY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8411, 10 January 1899, Page 4

ADVERTISING THE COLONY.

In the course of an interview with an important official in the Lands and Survey Department a correspondent of the Auckland Star referred to the alleged statement of the Governor as to negligeuco in making the scenic and climatic attractions of NewZealand known to the world. The oilicial emphatically denied the allegation. He said that since Air Reeves assumed the office of Agent-General he had exhibited much enthusiasm, enterprise, and judgment in bringing the natural beauties and"abundant resources of the colony under the notice of travellers ami business men in London, Paris, Berlin, and many other cities. A large sheet of very fine photographs, mainly supplied by Burton Jiros., were tastefully arranged within a space of 3jft by 4ft, and very beautifully framed in the choicest New Zealand woods. These photographs were hung in conspicuous places in leading English and foreign hotels, ocean going passenger steamers running to New Zealand and Australia, and in every locality where they were likely to come under the notice of travellers and others, whilst shoals of illustrated guide books, pamphlets, etc., etc., were distributed broadcast. These efforts are continued at the present time, and neither the Agent-General nor the Lands and Survey Department neglect any opportunity of advertising the picturesque beauties of tlin "Land of the Moa." Since ISO 4 shoals of pamphlets, illustrated guide-bonks, circulars, posters, and other publications h.we been distributed in all the chief cent res of the United Kingdom and other parts of the world. They have been sent to clubs, institutes, agencies, libraries, readingrooms, railway stations, watering places, and every place where they are likely to come under the observation" of the Uave lling public. In the case of India, the distribution of a few score of copies of the illustrated guide-hooks had the effect of inducing several officers going Home on furlough or trip leave to take New Zealand til route to England. Of course, the Governor, if he made use of the language attributed to him by the correspondent. must have luf-cd hi.s ide !■- fi<un v. H.it h<- ' i saw in the colony, but it i« fair to .'.-.miiiic .

that the people of New Zealand arc sufficiently familiar with the attractions of their own country without becoming acquainted with them through the medium of advertising. "One does not need to climb Mount Cook," remarked the informant, "in search of a highly-colored advertisement. It is the people outside the colony who need object lessons as to the magnificence of our scenery and the marvellous curative properties <>F our sanaloiiums, and of course thc-e advertisements are not visible to people living in New Zealand, hence Lord Kanfurly's little mistake."