TOURISTS WERE PLEASED.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20105, 8 December 1930, Page 10

TOURISTS WERE PLEASED.

THE MALOLO'S TRIP. TOUR OF NORTH ISLAND. General pleasure and satisfaction with their trip through the North Island of New Zealand were expressed by a party of tourists from tfco American pleasurecruise liner Malolo, according to Mr K. \V. Marshall, head of the Government Tourist Department in Christchurch, who accompanied tho party throughout the trip. This year the cruise was run in two sections. The Malolo was run by the owners tho Matson Navigation Company, and the shore excursions by the American Express Company. The Government Tourist Department is the New Zealand agent of the American Express Company and so was responsible for the entertainment of the party of 50 who made the overland trip from Wellington to Auckland. Nine shore trips were arranged to take place during the cruise of 90 days and of these two were specially recommended to the passengers by tho American Express Company. One was that through New Zealand and the other the one through Java. Fifty of the 187 passengers on the liner made the New Zealand trip during the five days the ship was in New Zealand. Good Accommodation. The party was very satisfied with the accommodation offered them by New Zealand hotels, and considered that it was quite as good as in other places they visited. One thing that pleased them greatly was that the hotels made no attempt to sorve American dishes, but kept to New Zealand food, which was greatly appreciated, especially the puddings. The party travelled in luxurious sevenseater limousines, obtained from various North Island towns. Only three or four travelled in each, and in all there were 14 cars. They were surprised at the drivers, who, they said, were unfailingly courteous and exceedingly capable, and answered patiently the thousands of questions that were put to them. On some of their trips in the East the party had coloured drivers who could not speak English and were surly. Another frequent causo of comment was the state of the roads. Tho party was surprised at their uniform condition, which they considered to be good. It appears that in America, once the concrete highways are left, the roads become very poor, and in places practically unformed. The Best Shore Excursion. The party was composed mainly of business men, bankers, manufacturers, and attorneys. During their trip through New Zealand tho weather was perfect, and the party felt that the trip was undoubtedly the best of their shoro excursions. They described the glow-worm cave at Waitomo as the most wonderful sight of the whole cruisii. They visited the State farm at Bualcura, and there were very interested spectators of shearing, as most of them had never before seen a sheep shorn. Thcv were also interested in an auction sale of stock, one man being particularly surprised at siieep selling at 10 to 12 shillings each, when in America he had to pay 60 to 70 cents per pound for lamb chops. About forty of the party had cine-Kodaks, and they took moving pictures of nearly everything they saw. Tho tirst day was spent in travelling to Wanganui, and thence to Tongariro National Park for tho night. The next day they went to Wairalcei, and then on to Itotorua. Tho third day was spent at Botorua, the party going to Waitomo by way of Arapuni for the night. On tho fourth day they inspected the caves and then went to Auckland, spending the last day in seeing that city. It is hoped that next year some of the tourist resorts in the South Island will be included in the itinerarv.

The Delay Wellington. Mr Marshall went to Sydney to join the Malolo, and on tho trip across the Tasman ho lectured tho passengers on New Zealand, and told them what to expect. Ho also showed them moving pictures of New Zealand in tho talkingpicture theatre on the liner.

Mr Marshall said that when the ship arrived at Wellington there was no delay with the Customs Department, as the usual landing declarations wero signed. There was a slight delay with the Health authorities, but the only complaint about that came from one of the minor officials of the ship, and not from any of the passengers. Two doctors went off to the ship, one to examine tho passengers and the other the crew. Tho passengers were put through quickly, but as there was a crew of nearly 6CO tho examination took them soma time.