VISIT OF OTAGO FARMERS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1928, Page 2

VISIT OF OTAGO FARMERS

AH RIVAL AT HOKITIKA. The Otago Fanners on a visit to the West Coast arrived from Greynmuth yesterday at 0.10 p.lll. by special train. There was a large crowd at the station and they were warmly welcomed and at once taken to their various billets around the town. In the evening a large number of the visitors were entertained by a visit to the picture display at Princess Theatre. TO-DAY'S WELCOAIK. The scene in the vicinity of Newmans Motors Ltd. garage this morning at !) o’clock was a busy one there being about 240 visitors and a good many townspeople, when the official welcome was given.

The Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry) said lie desired on behalf of the citizens of fhe Borough of Hokitika to extend a very hearty welcome to their visitors from Otago. He trusted that their visit would be a very pleasant and enjoyable one and that they would he able to carry away pleasant recob lections of their stay. It was a. great, pleasure to the people of the district to have the visitors with them and he would conclude by again extending a hearty welcome and wishing them an enjoyable visit. Mr E. A. Wells (County Chairman) exten led on. behalf of the people of the County of Westland! the heartiest of welcomes to the district. Westland had in the past suffered front its iso lation, but now thanks to the opening of the Arthur’s Pass tunnel that isolation was passing away and the presence of their visitors that day was an example. Ho was pleased to say that the pastoral possibilities of the district were rapidly improving and he; trusted that many of them would dieable to go to South Westland to see the glories of that part of the district. He extended every good wish for a pleasant and enjoyable outing. Mr T. O'Neil (on behalf of the •Farmers’ Union) also extended a hearty welcome to the visitors. He desired to thank the Railway Department, Messrs Newmans Motors Ltd., the Borough and County Councils for the assistance given to help make the visit a successful cue and extended a hearty welcome to their Otago friends to this part of the West Coast. Mr Revie (Chairman of the Otago Fanners’ Union) returned thanks on behalf of the visitors for the \ cry warm welcome and hospitality extended which he assured them have exceeded their highest expectations. He thanked them one and all for their kind welcome which they all deeply appreciated. The assemblage then dispersed and the long line of ears and busses drawn up in the streets adjoining were soon filled and a line of 24 vehicles left smoothly en route to a visit to Lake Kanieri and Kokalahi. The visitors return this afternoon and in the evening will be entertained at the Town Hall by Dr Teicbelmann’s lantern lecture of the Southern Alps and subsequently at supper at the Soldiers' Hall. The special train to take the visitors back to Dunedin leaves in the morning at 6.55 o’clock.