IMPERIAL FORESTRY DELEGATION

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1928, Page 6

IMPERIAL FORESTRY DELEGATION

The special train from Christchurch with the Empire Forestry Delegation, headed by Lord Clinton, ol England, arrived at A. 40 o’clock yesterday afternoon. There were several representatives of. the State Forest Service wtih the party, including Mr P. Turner, Director, Mr J. Diggs, Secretary, Mr A. D. McGavock, local Conservator, and other Forestry officials. The party was met officially by Mr W. Jeffries, Deputy Mayor, Dr Teichelmann, President of the Progress League, and Mr D. J. Evans, County Cierk, representing Mr E. A. Wells, County Chairman. A fine’ fleet of motor cars provided by Newmans Motors Ltd met the party on arrival and they were taken to their hotels. Three cars left later with some of the party for Waiho Gorge, where the visitors will have the opportunity to-day of traversing the lower part of Franz Josef Glacier before returning north to Greymouth this afternoon.

Lord Clinton preferred a request to Dr Teichelmann to deliver his illustrated lecture on Westland scenery and mountaineering and Dr r l eichelmann agreed to make arrangements at very short notice for the lecture at the Town Hall last ni<rht. DR TFJCHELM,ANN’S LECTURE Most of the touring delegates attended at the Town Hall at 8 o’clock last evening and greatly enjoyed Dr Teichelmann’s scenic illustrated lee. fure. All W. Jeffries, Deputy-Mayor, took occasion to welcome the delegates to the district, and in doing so wished them a pleasant time. He regretted the short duration of their stay, but the worthy doctor’s lecture would help to fill in some idea of the places they would hot have time to see. and while the,ir knowledge of Westland would he added to thereby, be hoped they would not be unfavourably impressed with the district long regarded as the Cinderella of New Zealand, hut now coming into its own. Dr Teichelmann displayed a long series of slides depicting all scenes' in various parts of Westland. The tour started at Arthurs Pass, and followed down the Christchurch road to Hokitika • thence to the dredge and Lake Knnieri, and finally into South WestIn nd, finishing up with some of the high mountain scenery, including the scaling, of Mount Cook. The views were excellently shown m a good light, and Dr Teichelmann gave n few remarks about each with an outline of the tour. Many of the .pictures found special favour and were applauded henrtilv. Bush scenes were specially appreciated, and so were the sea scapes and sunset scenes at Hokitika. The lake view caused pleasurable surprise and the wonderful glaciers, water falls, and other mountain scenes held the audience engrossed. At the conclusion of the display .a long round of nppiau’se testified to their great appreciation felt for the display. Mr E. J. Lavitv, Deputy Minister of Forests, Ontario, said that in Canada they regarded New Zealand as a place to supply them with butter and other commodities of produce. They had no idea they had a rival in scenery such as they that seen that evening. He was delighted personally with the display and marvelled more was not known of the wonders of the district outside the country. As one with a knowledge <J photography he congratulated Dr Teichelmann on the fine series shown, and had to confess if the general surroundings of the scenes were not as “great” as in Canada,, they certainly rivalled them in distinctive beauty and .unique attraction. On behalf of the party he thanked Dr Teichelmann for the display which all had enjoyed, thorougly. (Prolonged applause.) • ' TO-DAY’S TOUR. The. large party left at 8.30 o’clock this morning for the State Forest nursery at Woodstock. Proceeding south the plantation along'Ross road .will he inspected and later the sawmills of Stuart and 'Chapman Ltd. at Ross. The party then motor through the southern forests, including Ferngrove Avenue, on to Lake lanthe and lunch at Harihari. The party returns in the afternoon and .take train for Greymouth where to-night will be spent. An early start in the morning will be the commencement- of the trip through to Nelson to catch the Wellington steamer at night.