LINKING UP TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 206, 8 February 1915, Page 3

LINKING UP TARANAKI.

DEVELOPING THE HINTERLAND.

RETURN VISIT OF OHURA SETTLERS.

In order to enable New Plymouth and its commercial men to become better acquainted with the needs anil prospects of that progressive, and productive portion of the Taranaki Land District i known as tin; Oliuva, which, it was felt, I could be more advantageously served from New Plymouth port when the harbor is available for deep-sea liners—as it should be at a very early (late now —the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce last year organised, a trip into that distinct, and the party returned impressed with' its great possibilities. They were most hospitably entertained by the settlers of the Ohura. whom they invited to return the visit. This invitation was cordially accepted, and, as the outcome, several representative Ohura settlers are now in New Plymouth. Some arrived here early last week, and competed at the Ride Association's meeting at Waiwakaiho, with conspicuous success 'winning the teams match, whilst all of them sot prominently, on the prze-list. The remaining members of the party left Ohura on horseback on Saturday at 7 a.m., and arrived. at Kotarc about half-past 10 o'clock. They were met there by Messrs. .T.. Paten (president of the Chamber of Commerce) and W. .1. Benn, and came on in the cars which had been sent out lor them from Xew Plymouth. After luncheon at Urcnui, the party visited Wa - - tnra where thev w re. shown over the Waitara Freezing Works by Mr. Lcntion. Thev were greatly impressed by the magnitude of these works, of the ex- . tent of which they had had no idea, and particularly with the extent of the storage accommodation. On the wav into Xew Plymouth, which was reached , about « p.m., the golf links were I ■visited. In the evening the visitors were wet at the Chamber'of Commerce by a very representative gathering of New Plymouth commercial and professional men The visitors, Messrs. fi. Loveday, Meredith, Hope, Stevenson, McClellan, Sandison. Cnrrie, Eomayne, Chapman, and Williams,, were formally welcomed to Xew Plymouth by the Mayor (Mr. .T. E Wilson), who expressed his pleasure at meeting these representative gentlemen, wdio had come from n, distant part of the Taranaki provincial district, to visit them at the seashore, and at hav-. ing the opportunity of extending to them a welcome on behalf of the people of the town. Xew Plymouth, he said, had for years past looked upon Ohura as one of the coming districts of Taranaki, a district which was full of promise, and on? which, he believed, would become one of the most important rro- 1 ducing districts in Taranaki. To New; Plymouth the visit of Ohura representatives was the more pleasing, because we hoped that residents of lh« Ohura would look upon Xew Plymouth as their shipping town, the port through which they would send their produce, and receive their imports. Some of the I members of the Chamber of Commerce | had had the pleasure of a visit to the i Ohura, which thev had enjoyed very much and had come back very pleased | with the Ohura, and the hospitality I thev had exrxricnml there. The speaker ] felt sure that the members of the | Chamber of Commerce would leave notlrng undone to make this visit a pleai-ant one. He concluded by expressin" the wish that their trip would be I an eniovable one, and that, while here, ( thev would make themselves acquainted with the. prospects they had of making ■ Xew Plymouth the seaport for the (lis- , trict. ' - ' Mr. 0. Loveday, on behalf of the settlers or Ohura, and of his party, expressed his pleasure in accepting tjie kind welcome extended to them an settlers of Ohura to this beautiful town. They had already had a tine motor trip through splendid country, and though i the friendship had only been of a few ) hours, they felt that already they had made long-standing friends. The trip had been very pleasurable, and he felt . assured that they were in for an enjoyable lime while here. Yesterday morning the visitors were , taken to Marsland Hill, thence through i Pukei".;r." Park to the racecourse and

Mr. Xewton Knur's beautiful home- | -tead "Brookbinds." Tn the afternoon it | wiv: intended to visit the beach, but o\v : m- to the rain this outing had to be cops'derably curtailed. To-ibiv's programme includes visits to various points of interest about the town, whilst this afternoon will be spent at Motnroa, where the Freezing Work*. Oil Works, and harbor will be inspected. To-morrow morning the parfv will visit the High School,- and in the afternoon Mr. Xewton King's Holstein farm and Mr. E. Orimths' pedigree Jcrsevs at Hell Block. In the evening thev will'be entertained at dinner. On Wednesday the Ohura visitors will be the guests of the Taraiiaki Jockey Club at the Autumn meeting. On Thnrsdav thev go to Stratford, where they will be the guests of the Stratford people, afterwards returning home via Whangamomona. Where a coach will, meet them to convey them the 45 miles to Ohura. i -