CHARMED WITH DISTRICT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 96, 10 August 1945, Page 5

CHARMED WITH DISTRICT

VISITORS WARM PRAISE < SIR HARRY AND LADY BATTERBEE

Travelling purely in a private capacity since the completion of hlis term as High Commissioner from the Imperial Government Sir Harry and Lady Batterbec were interested visitors to Whakatane over the eaflier part of the week and expressed utmost pleasure and appreciation of I the friendliness and hospitality extended them so readily by residents. In thlc course of an interview with a BEACON representative. Sir Harry remarked that they had heard much in praise of the attractions of Whakatane and its environs from Their Excellencies Sir Cyril and Lady Ncwall ? and now having seen them themselves they fully understood Their Excellencies enthusiasm. After spending the bulk of his period in office in the cities Sir Harry declared that they have'been charmed with the beauties of the New Zealand countryside. The Fast- \ era Bay of Plenty had distinct appeal for them the vast expanse '' of mountain and plain, as seen from together with the wide 1 seascape fading away to the north- < em. bight being described as 'very ] lovely.' 1 1 Ohope Beach) Avhich they saw un- ( der ideal conditions on Wednesday ( afternoon they considered, one of the j finest resprts it had been their plea- A sure, to visit. Here the Native bush t caught their eye as indeed it hlad t throughout the- whole of their stay

in the Eastern Bay. The fact that so much of it had been, preserved along the road ways made it a wonderfully beautiful and picturesque asset. They also visited the Paper Mills and were personally conducted over the establishment by thie Manager Mr E. C. Brown. Sir Harry declared himself deeply impressed with the possibilities of the new industry and also at the substantial nature of the Wha'katane plant. On Wednesday morning thiey were the guests of the Mayor and 'Mayoress Mr and Mrs B .S. Barry at their home on Hillcrest. The dairying potentialities of the Rangitaiki had also warm appeal for the visitors who stated that when they had first traversed the they realised that they was visiting one of the. richest farming centres in the Dominion. It was a tribute to those who had bad the foresight in the past to pioneer and drain the then waste of rush and swamp land which constituted the Rangitaiki Plains only 40 years ago, and it was yet another instance of the tenacity and courage of the early settlers who transformed the waste into the smiling pasture lands of today.

Both Sir Harry and Lady Batterbee declare that they thoroughly enjoyed their stay in the town and will take withi them pleasant memories- of its scenic .charms and its people.