SOUTH ISLAND TOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1939, Page 3

SOUTH ISLAND TOUR

IMPRESSIONS OF NELSON DISTRICT. WAIRARAPA YOUNG FARMERS' VISIT. Recording impressions of a visit to the Nelson district as a member of a party of Wairarapa Young Farmers who toured the South Island recently, Mr D. McLachlan, referring to the Cawthron Institute, said the visitors were given a lantern lecture in the Institute library. It was stated that some of the finest soils in New Zealand could be found in the Motueka and Riwaka districts while the area near Hope, in a normal season, was very early as far as crops were concerned, green peas and new potatoes being available in June. The yield in many orchards was £3OO per acre and of raspberries 3 to 4 tons per acre were common. Nelson also boasted the whole of New Zealand’s hop industry. The lecturer detailed the results of deficiency of trace elements in the soil. There was a deficiency of boron in some areas of the district, and this resulted in bush sickness. The provision of a small quantity of cobalt as a lick, or a drench greatly improved the sheep. Brown heart in swedes and turnips was also caused by a deficiency of boron. Reference was also made to the Institute’s work in connection with the white butterfly and diamond back moth. The visitors were shown over the Institute, including the museum, which contained a valuable collection of insects, fungus diseases, mineral and geological specimens, etc. Mr McLachlan referred to a drive over - Moana Hill, from the top of which a magnificent view of Tasman Bay was obtained, with the famous Boulder Bank - prominent in the foreground, and to other places of interest visited in and around Nelson. Passing through the earthquake area on their way to Westport, they were interested to see where the river was dammed for a number of hours and in the line of the earthquake, which could be plainly seen over the hills. Lyell, an old gold mining town, once had a population of five or six thousand people. There were only a few houses there now. Much pleasure was found in the magnificent scenery of the Buller Gorge while the Punakaiki pancake rocks between Westport and Greymouth were most interesting. The formation resembled one pancake upon another and huge holes in the rocks allowed the sea to be sent up into the air like a geyser.

Since the overseas exchange restrictions have been tightened, many intending overseas passengers have been able to acquire supplies of English coinage from unexpected quarters. It has apparently been the practice among many persons to put aside English coins which, in the past, have come into circulation, and some of the amounts thus acquired are surprisingly large. Relatives and friends often offer English money in exchange for New Zealand coinage to persons about to travel, and sums acquired in this fashion are often very convenient on shipboard.