JOTTINGS FROM A TRAVELLER’S JOURNAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1051, 16 January 1884, Page 2

JOTTINGS FROM A TRAVELLER’S JOURNAL.

[specially WRITTEN FOR “ THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN.”] CHAP. XXIY. The Weather—Prudence and Consol ixjoN—Sx Franc krba Di Paola—Some Fine Paintings and Statues—The Cherished Purpose Abandoned— My Companion’s Disappointment and Her

Remonstrances—An Obedient Slave. The weather continued boisterous—during the night it blew a hurricane, and the rain came down in torrents. By breakfast time, however, it had become more moderate, the wind was not so violent, and instead of incessant rain we had intermitting showers, with gleams of sunshine between. But it was very provoking, trying to ore's temper, to look out upon the far-famed bay, and descry notiing corresponding with the balm surface of deep blue tint it usually wears when presented to the view in pictures, to see only rolling waves with angry white crests, and to know that they were rougher in reality than they seemed, and utterly unsympathetic with the travail of a tourist’s spirit. My brave companion cast many wistful looks at the clouds, and for a while seemed to hesitate between open air defiance of the elements and quiet indoor sul mission to temporary restra nt. Prudence prevailed over Daring’s desire : relinquishing the idea of sight-seeing for the day, she sat down meekly, armed with a needle, to find consolation in employment which e, of the sterner sex, know very little about, and with whioh if we meddle we are almost sure to prick our fingers I ventured abroad, however, having some business to transact with a shipping firm. On my return I entered (he Church of St. Francerea di Paola. I begin to weary of describing churches ; and almost shrink from* employing so frequently, words of grandiose meaning. But what am Ito ! If I describe them at ail, I must describe them truly. Grand, splendid, gorgeous, ornate and similarly significant sonorous words, seem to drop naturally from the point of my pen, when an attempt to convey to the minds of my readers an adequate idea of these noble shrines. The Church of St. Francerea di Paola is not an exception to the rule, it mav be termed a splendid edifice. The guide books say it is an imitation of the Pantheon of Rome. But I cuuld not sae much resemblance, except in its circular form It is flanked by Colonnades extending as wings, something like the approaches to St. Peter’s, only, in this instance, the ground floor is mostly occupied by shops. Thirty ma r ble columns of the Corinthian order adorn the interior of the church, and the high altar is inlaid with lapis lazuli and jasper. Statues of the four evangelists stand conspicuous. I don’t pretend to the acnmoo of a connoisseur, as works of art they may lack the mystic grace of the chisaeled productions of the ancients, but to my untutored eye they seemed to be worthy of highest admiration, Besides the statues, there are many fine paintings; but these are by modern artists, and therefore, I presume, must not be too highly esteemed. One of them, representing Francis di Paola, the patron saint of the church I suppose, raising a young man from death to life, struck me as evincing great powers of design and execution. The next morning the weather was not much more promising ; there was but little wind, but the sky was cloudy, and the sea what the sailor calls “lumpy.” I consulted the proprietor of the hotel and other authorities about the practicability of a visit to Capri and the grottoes, but they all said it would be foolish to attempt it. I might get to the island, perhaps, but to enter the grotto would bo impossible. Very reluctantly, therefore, I abind med the cherished purpose. But I had before me the difficult task of reconciling my travelling companion to the disappointment. “ Well, cm we go to Capri to-day?” was the eager question as soon as I returned from my mission of enquiry.

“Patience,” I oracularly replied “is tho Christian grace usually the tardiest in attaining perfection. The weather is adverse to the desired excursion, but favorable to the display of the perfect work of the rare grace of patience in you. ” “ Come, sir, none of your sarcastic inuond'iqs” was the quick response. “ I am sure you are not more patient than I am.”

“ Wo can leave that an open question,” I meekly suggested. “ Meanwhile I must tell you that qualified judges have pronounced the expedition to be impractable. ” “ I declare I would not have come to Naples, had I known the weather would have been so unfavorable ; and I don't care how soon we go back to Rome. Are there any places we can visit without too much exposure!” “ Yes,” I replied, secretly rejoicing in the savety valve that obviated an explosion. “We might go to San Martino and the royal palaces.!’

“ Very good,” was the contented rejoinder; “let us go at once.”‘ It did not take long to summon Guiseppe and his equipage; and off we started.

He had noticed a great falling oS in the administration after the secession of Sit John Hall, si oca which time there had been no good or hor.est Government in New Zealand. On its becoming known that he intended to contest Inangahua he received a telegram from Wellington, asking what his platform was to be. He had replied that his platform was the same as it had always been, leaving it to the Government to sty wether there was alteration or not. He had then been asked if he required assistance, to which he replied he would wait till he had consulted his constituents. The Government at once took to mean that he was no supporter of theirs, and they put Mr Shaw into the field against him. He had no confidence in the present Government, and would go to Wellington as a supporter of the Opposition. He then proceeded to explain his political opinions in detail.