FARMERS’ EXCURSION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4996, 5 July 1926, Page 2

FARMERS’ EXCURSION.

TARANAKI VISITED.

A PLEASANT TRIP.

On Wednesday morning last several local people left by the early train to join the farmers’ excursion train which left Frankton Junction for Hawera at 9.50 a-m. When the train left Frankton, there were some 140 passengers'from South Auckland bound for Hawera. The run through was a, pleasant one, Hawera, being reached at 11.35 p.m., the distance being thus covered in 12% hours. Thanks to the energies of, Mr Welsh, the commercial agents of the Railway Department, provision was made at the various stopping places! en route for refreshments and meals, and a,t the end df the journey the party was met by Mr A. W. Wellsted, also of the Railway Department, who had made arrangements for accommodation at Hawera for those desiring it. Mi- J. R. Corrigan, chairman of the Winter Show Committee, and Mr L. O. Hooker, organising manager, and a number of the committee were also 1 at the station and extended a hearty welcome to those arriving from the north.

The facilities provided by the department were greatly appreciated by the party, both travelling to and from Hawera. The provision of a specially published booklet descriptive of the country between Frankton and Marton gave the travellers an added interest to the journey.

A stop was made at Te Kami, where an explanation of the experiments, being carried out by the Department of Agriculture was given by Mr Patterson. During the journey lectures were also given by officers df the department on the country passed through, and on matters ofc general interest to the travellers. To make the journey more interesting several competitions were arranged. The first wa.s>, “What do you consider the best designation of a scrub bull in relation to a farm As there was, a. sum of £5 in prizes for the keen interest was ma,fiifested. First honours were awarded to Mrs Andrews, of Onewhero, who described the scrub bull as “a, first-class brake,” and Mrs Fagan, of. Newstead, defined it as “a typical example of ineptitude in excelsis.” In another competition “The quantity of butter exported from the Auckland province for the five years ended June, 1925,” the prizes fell to Messrs J. Thompson, Hamilton, a,nd H. Hull, AVaiuku, who each put down 160,000 tons. The correct answer was 161,304 tons. Another ‘feature df interest was an address bn the running of a train which wks given by Mr H. Welsh. On the homeward journey another competition was held," Why should the Farmers’ Excursion Tra,in be run again next year ?” A number tied for this, the answer being, “Because of its educative value to the farmers.” Speaking to a "Gazette” reporter Mr Welsh, who had carried out the whole of the organising work for the department, said that he was pleased , with the venture and was convinced that ■ next year a greater- number of farmers would avail .themselves of the opportunity to travel. He foresaw

that the system would prove in the future to.be U popular institution, and that appreciation woud be accordedthe efforts being made by the department to give those engaged in farming pursuits the advantage of excursion ’fares at wh'a t t was, to them, the most favourable period of the year. Just before the arrival at Frankton as many of the travellers as! could do so assembled in one of the large carriages, and the Hon. Mr Anderson, Minister of Agriculture, in a neat speech piesented Mr Welsh with a novel which bore the signature of every passenger on the train as a mark of appreciation ’for the painstaking way .and consideration he had provided for the party’s com'fort and amusement on the journey. Mr Welsh received the gift amidst three ringing cheers.