Town and Country Conter

When Mr. L. A. Paish, British Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, returned to Wellington from Auckland, after travelling on the Commerce Train in the Auckland district, he said how deeply he was impressed by the advantages of the tour to both town and country. “Of course there were formal speeches and abundant hospitality,” said Mr. Paish (in describing his visit to a representative of the Wellington Evening Post). “But,” he added, “it was the getting together, the little talks between the primary producer and the business man, that struck me as being so beneficial for both of them. Not only was the Pokeno railway route visited, and so on to Te Aroha, but much time was devoted to Northern Auckland, the potentialities of which strongly appealed to the business men; indeed, to some of them the country's productivity came as a revelation. It was all strenuous going for the party on the train, but I am sure it was worth it. This commerce train movement cannot fail to be productive of an immense amount of good, not only in enabling the city to obtain first-hand information of the country, but to strengthen the bonds of sympathy between the people of the urban and rural districts. To me, personally, it was an invaluable opportunity of seeing the country and getting a clear view of its conditions and possibilities.”

Peregrination charms our senses with such unspeakable and sweet variety that some count him unhappy that has never travelled.—Burton.

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