AN AMERICAN “HIKER”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5466, 26 August 1929, Page 1

AN AMERICAN “HIKER”

NELL WALKER IN SOUTH. “NOT TREATED VERY WELL.’ i The following is from an Invercargill paper :— . “Nell A. Walker, or, as she is pleased to call herself, “Nell’s a Walker,” who has gained some prominence in the North Island not altogether on account of her walking abilities, made her appearance in Gore. Nell, who is supposed to be hiking round the world, attracted a good deal of attention on account of her strange attire. About 1.30 p.m. she was seen making her way to one of the private hotels. A rapid survey of the interior evidently did not please her, as she quickly made her reappearance. She next visited a local tea-rooms, where she announced that she had just walked from Clinton. As Clinton is some 26 miles distent from Gore, Nell must have set out at a very early hour in order to accomplish her journey shor - ly after mid-day. Her long walk must also have failed to help her circulation, as she was showing very evident signs of feeling the cold. Subsequently, followed by a large number of schoolchildren, she made a door-to-door canvass of the local business people, to whom she attempted to dispose of picture postcards and her booklet containing hints to -hikers. Her “hike” round the town must have added several miles to her morning s journev, so that it would appear that she is indefatigable. When interviewed by a reporter Nell was very reticent and would not say anything beyond remarking that the newspapers had not treated her very well.”