EMPIRE PRESS DELEGATES

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1925, Page 1

EMPIRE PRESS DELEGATES

I.OIiP BURNHAM INTERVIEWED. [IJY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] XEW PLYMOUTH, August 21. The weather oil Sunday was not favourable for the latter part of the journey of the Empire pressmen from Xew Plymouth. There were, however, sufficient line spells to give them an idea of the beautiful bush scenery in the Awakino Valley Rond and climbing Mt .Messenger. They were charmed with the green pastures and comfortable homesteads on the more level country from Urenui to Xew Plymouth. Lord Burnham, interviewed, .said: " What strikes me about Xew Zealand, coming to it with fresh eyes, is the high level of general prosperity of which one sees signs anywhere one goes. If you take Auckland, or any of the .smaller places, we have been to, yon liml a universal bright and homely appearance about the houses, each standing on its own grounds, with pleasant hedges and flowered shrubs. Xo where have ! seen any marked difference in ;Tie quality of bousing. 01 course some are bigger, and some are smaller, but all are of a good type, and almost all in a good slate of repair in the ease id’ farm bouses. Although there are here and there tenements. obviously put up by I lie pioneers. still there is a general level of useful buildings suited to the country and its requirements. We have been shown such extraordinary phenomena that if is difficult to do justice to them. The scenery seen to-day is marvellous. It is not on the same scale as the Canadian Rockies, but for delicious qualiiv of native forests and gorges, there is nothing that 1 have seen anywhere id exeel it. Wlmt particularly struck me was the exquisite beauty of the verdure of the forest and the limpid blue of the streams and rivers. The caves of Waitomo are verv beautiful bill wlmt stands alone is the great glory of the glow worm chamber. There is nothing like it anywhere in the world." The weather was not promising this morning but cleared and the day was beau til’ll I. In the morning the delegates were scattered in different directions lo see something of the town and surrounding country, but all made their way north to the Kgiaont .Mountain House for lunch. There will lie a citizens' dinner tonight .