VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1931, Page 2

VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS

“AWED BY NEW UTK “It was a new experience • n:e in Chicago and .Montreal to have a temperature of live degrees below zero, wiJi running water freezing as soon as it left the tap,” said Mr R. B. Tingey, of Christchurch, who returned by the Makura from a business trip to Canada and the United States, “The River St. Lawrence was indeed a beautiful sight in November with ice on i-.t a foot thick. The port was free of ships except lake steamers, the ocean-going vessels having left the river before it froze, In Florida, Louisiana, and California, the weather was beautiful and a real treat after tlie cold of Northern Canada and New York.”

“When visiting Balboa Gardens, San Diego, and Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, I was struck with the splendid showing of our Now Zealand veronicas, and other shrubs. One of the most magnificent shrubs that I have seen was the Poinsetta or Christmas Flower of California. In the Balboa Gardens the plants were 14 to 15 feet, high, and had flowers of cardinal red 12 to 18 inches in diameter, “I was awed by New York with its magnificent sky-line of buildings,” said Mr Tingey, “The New Empire and Chrysler buildingfl, which are over 1,000 feet high, often bad their upper stories piercing the clouds, presenting an extraordinary appearance. The Holland Tunnel under the Hudson River is a wonderful engineering feat, and through it motor cars are bound to drive either at a high or n slow speed, there being a section for those exceeding 35 miks an hour, and a section for those not exceeding that speed. I was able to go under the river by tunnel on the river by steamboat, and over the river by motor car, “The underground railways get the tremendous traffic away at a wonderful speed, Itraveiling at flO miles an hour, and the fare is only five cents for any distance, “In Washington, 1 was impressed with the beauty and cleanliness of the city. I was very fortunate in being able to be present when the Senate was sitting, and to bear Vice-Presi-dent Curtis speaking. I visited the historic White- House, the wonderful Senate library, itbe Roosevelt Museum, and the Mint. 1 also paid a visit to the Washington Masonic Lodge at Arlington, where George Washington was Master of the Lodge. New Orleans was very interesting and indeed charming,- be added. The old French quarter and relies of the Spanish days were full of romance.