SIR E. RUTHERFORD.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16634, 27 October 1925, Page 5

SIR E. RUTHERFORD.

VISIT TO WELLINGTON.

IMPRESSIONS OF DOMINION

.(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday.

Sir Ernest and Lady Rutherford arrived in Wellington by the limited today. They were met and and welcomed at Thorndon Station by Messrs A. 0. Gifford, president of the Wellington Philosophical Society, P. Marshall, president of the New Zealand Institute. Dr. E. Marsden, assistant-direc-tor of education, and Professor D. G. 11. Florence, professor of physics, Victoria College. During a brief stay in Wellington they will be the guests of Professor and Mrs Florence.

Sir Ernest gave a brief talk to students at Victoria College in the afternoon. A reception was tendered at the college in the evening, at which the Governor-General was- present. A welcome will be extended to-morrow,

In the course of an interview Sir Ernest Rutherford stated that during his present tour of New Zealand he had visited Auckland, Taranaki, and the Waikato.

"I have been much struck," he said, "by the great advances which have been made in the clearing of the country since I paid a. short visit just before the war. I have noticed a great improvement in Iho farm lands of the provincial districts. I have mentioned that the improvement is

due to clearing and draining, and particularly to the use of various fertilisers which appear to have had a marked effect on the returns from the land.

"When I was here 1:1 years ago," continued Sir Ernest, "the milking machine was just coming in, but 1 now And that it is universal, and in the great majority of cases there is also the local separator. The growth of towns like Auckland, New Plymouth and Hamilton has been very obvious.

"In travelling through the country 'me observes the great improvements in the main roads, although in a number of places there is still great room for improvement. During my motor journey from To Kuiti to New Plymouth I was much struck with the line road that has been made from Mokau to Now Plymouth. "I bad the opportunity of visiting Ihe proposed power installation at Arapuni and saw ft at the most interesting state of its development. I have seen some of the big power stations in Canada and the United Stales, and it is clear that this station at Arapuni when completed will rank in importance will; some of the biggest power stations in the world. It is a sign of the progress of the Dominion that such large works can he undertaken, even before it is possible to use the full supply of power from the station. No doubt this power scheme will Ultimately prove of great value to New Zealand, and as I have said it is interesting to see that your Government is so progressive in providing electric power, both for the cities and for farming.''