VISIT TO EAST COAST

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1933, Page 12

VISIT TO EAST COAST

MANGATOKI RESIDENT’S RETURN. Mr. and Mrs. C. E. McGuinness, Mangatoki, returned yesterday from a trip to the east coast, where they visited relatives. The first portion of the journey was made by train to Napier, thence by service car to Wairoa, Gisborne, Opotiki and Whakatane, connecting with the train again at Rotorua. The roads of the east coast were very much improved from what they were three years ago, said Mr. McGuinness. Many of the bends had been taken out and the roadway was metalled or tarred all the way from Napier to Rotorua. There were lengths of tarred surface on each side of Gisborne and around Wairoa. Even the road was metalled up the coast to Tokomaru Bay, where a stay was made, and within 12 months it was expected to have the metalling completed round the coast from Ruatoria to Opotiki. The residents were expecting this to develop a considerable tourist traffic. Mr. and Mrs. McGuinness travelled down the new Waioeka Valley route and were much impressed with the scenery. While at Tokomaru Bay they visited Te Puia hot springs. The journey from Gisborne was commenced by car at 6 a.m. on Thursday, and 24 hours later, as the result of rail connection through the Stratford-Main Trunk line, they were at Eltham. The weather was good and the country was looking very well, said Mr. McGuinness. Lambs were doing very well and good percentages had been obtained. Killing would be started at the Gisborne freezing works next week and it was expected that lambs would be worth Bd. per lb., or 255. for a 401 b. lamb. On the east coast the natives had taken up dairying with energy and it was stated that from home separation they were obtaining finest grade butter. Travelling conditions were much more rapid than before, concluded Mr. McGuinness. ■