BUSINESS MEN ON TOUR
i A VISIT TO MARLBOROUGH.
By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. Blenheim, March 21. The Wellington business men who are visiting Marlborough as guests of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce are being motored through the various parts of the province. The visitors were met at Picton, and motored to Blenheim, where they were welcomed by the Mayor and councillors of Blenheim. In responding Mr. C. M. Luke, Colonel Mitchell, M.P., and Mr. M. Carr emphasised tlio need of a larger and faster steamer on thy Wellington-Picton run and the pushing oil of tha railway to span the 80ihile gap separating the railheads of the South Island Main Trunk line on the Kaikoura coast. It was to the interest of Wellington as much as Marlborough for a closer communication to bo established and the fertile province of Marlborough developed both as rogards the produce which Wellington needed and the tourist viewpoint. Just across the Strait Wellington had a holiday resort that was unrivalled. Mr. W. J. Girling, president of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, asked the visitors to keep an open mind until they had seen what they would be shown in the succeeding four days and to express candidly their opinions at a special meeting of the chamber, which would be held on Monday night. The outing arranged for Saturday covered the. Wnirau Valley from Blenheim to Birch Hill 40 miles out on the proposed road to Top House. Tho importance of this road to the West Coast, giving rapid access by rail or road between deep water at Picton and the coalfields, was made ovident both by the straightness of the route and the easy nature of the country for road engineering purposes. Sunrise was expressed by tho Wellington men that the gap of 10 miles which exists had not been roaded long ago, more especially as Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa, which offer splendid facilities for hydro-olectric power, are on this direct route. Tho horse power available totals 50,000, and the lakes are so situated that the towns in Marlborough, Nelson, and tho West Coast are at equal distances from them. The soldier settlement at Erina _ and the Hillersden settlement were visited, and the advantages of cutting up tho. largo estates demonstrated. At Hillersden the party was entertained at lunch by the Settlers' Association nnd .the benefits which were sure to follow this visit were Stressed by ' several speakers. The party motored through the- Waihopai, Leefield, nnd Fairhall Valleys, and inspected orchards on tha Kaituna-Springfield road, which showed that fruit of first-class quality and practically free from blight can be grown in Marlborough. To-day the country adjoining Blenheim was visited, and the lucerne crops specially noted. ' The Wellington delegates expressed surprise at the extent of land m the Wnirau and tributary valleys and the comparatively low figuro at which much good land is offered. To-morrow the visitors will be motored on the South Road as fnr : as tho railhead at Wharanui,. the Plaxbourno and Starborough. settlements being inspected on the wny. Owing to lack of time Ivaikoura cannot be included, but the Polorus Valley and t.lie Linkwater between Havolock and Queen Charlotte Sound will be traversed on Tuesday and Picton reached in time to catch the Wellington steamer. _ It is expected that many matters of interest to Wellington nnd New Zea\pnd as a whole, including Mr. Stuart Wilson's Boys' Agricultural Club scheme, Will be come up at tomorrow night's meeting.
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 151, 22 March 1920, Page 4
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572BUSINESS MEN ON TOUR Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 151, 22 March 1920, Page 4
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