CONFIRMED TRAVELLERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 499, 31 October 1928, Page 6

CONFIRMED TRAVELLERS

THROUGH THE GOLD COUNTRY (ShN’S Special Reporter.) - COMMERCE TRAIN, Morrinsville, Tuesday night. We woke this morning to a chorus of birds singing in the plantation near the Waihi railway station. It was a good omen. Clouds drifted away, and the day has been gloriously fine. Every man is now a confirmed traveller, and sleeping on the train comes as second nature . to him. No more efficient railway staff could have been selected for the journey. The comfort of every man is the consideration of the stewards and attendants, who have been loudly praised for their courtesy and efficiency. As the party leaves each town or station appropriate choruses are sung.

Mr. E. Casey ha£ developed into a most admirable song leader. Hospitality continues to be showered on the travellers. The only regret expressed everywhere is that time is short. To-day we have travelled from Waihi to Thames, and back again to Morrinsville. To-night the journey will be continued to Frankton Junction and on to Hangitiki, in preparation for a visit to the district and the Waitomo Caves to-morrow. Complexions grow more and more sun-burned as the journey progresses. We were -the guests of the Waihi Chamber of Commerce at breakfast, and to recover from that excellent meal everyone was taken for a motor spin over the surrounding country—where, incidentally, there are many prosperous farms. A call was made at Waihi’s lovely beach, which is rapidly becoming a renowned seaside resort. A tour of inspection was then made of the Waihi Gold Mining Company’s works. The travellers learned that SOU tons of ore are brought from the bowels of the. earth each day, and approximately £1,300 .worth of gold and silver extracted from it. Next we journeyed on to the quai'tzcrushing plant belonging to the same company at Waikino, a few miles down the line. Back on the train again, and the party settled itself for the run to Thames. Lunch at Thames, as the guests of the local chamber of commerce, was another of those delightful functions which has become a feature of the tour. Mr. W. Bongard, Mayor of Thames, apologised for the tide being out. During lunch, he said that he hoped the visit of the Chamber of Commerce train would be the forerunner of others from Auckland, and perhaps other parts of New Zealand. Dr. J. B. Legger, president of the Thames Chamber of Commerce, remarked that the town was being put back on the map by the magnificent dairy country which was being opened up. Mr. C. F. Bennett, a Thames old boy, spoke of the benefits which would result from the tour of the commercial men. For the benefit of the tourists, A. and G. Price, Ltd., had prepared something reminiscent of Dante’s inferno in their workshops. It was one of the most interesting experiences of the tour so far, and showed the different processes involved in the manufacture of cast steel by the Bessemer process. Furnaces and molten metal gave out a scorching heat, rather like a volcano. Giant cranes swung huge receptacles cofitaining the boiling metal over the tiny moulds into which it was to be poured. The whole process gave one some idea of what a volcano in eruption would be like. During the tour through the works the Mayor explained to me that the town at present practically depended on the works, and that if they were closed many of the families would have to leave. The only solution to the problem will be if the Government gives Messrs. A. and G. Price a definite understanding that sufficient work would. be available to keep the workshops/going indefinitely. Then on again, through glorious sunshine. Everyone seemed to be drowsy with content and fresh air, until a call at the Waitoa dried and condensed milk factory urged them to activity again. Morrinsville was waiting with a fleet of cars, and the visitors were taken on a tour of some splendid dairying country before settling down to dinner and a smoke concert.