To Rotorua and Back.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 413, 14 April 1904, Page 5

To Rotorua and Back.

(By « Debdqeb ") (Continued).

The Parliament buildings in Wellington are pleasantly situated in Molesworth Street, and the nice carriage drive to its doors is kept in good order. In front of the building are two guns captured from the Boers and presented to New Zealand in honor of the services rendered by the various contingents. On the lawn is a statue of the Hon John Ballance with the inscription " He was of the people" at the base. The museum was next visited, but this building is so poorly lighted and badly ventilated, that after a cursory examination, one was glad to retire to inhale the fresh air. At the present time the streets along which the electric ears are going to ran, are being torn up to allow the necessary concrete bed for the foundation for the rails to bo laid. As in the case in Dunedin, the municipal authorities own the trams, but the present services, being horse trams, are behind the times altogether. Our next call was Napier, which is 203 miles from Wellington. There is no harbour there, only an open roadstead, with break water. Owing to the heavy swell extra precaution is necessary in tying the vessels to the breakwater, and hawsers about Bin. in diameter are used, as they allow for a vessel to swing a little without fear of the hawser breaking where a steel rope would snap. Napier lies some distance from the breakwater, and the marine parade is one of the special features of this—the prettiest village in New Zealand. It is planted with trees throughout its centre length, and seats are scattered over it for the convenience of the tired ones and those who desire to commune with themselves as they view the mighty Pacific. Napier is credited with having more sunshine than any other town in New Zealand—bar Nelson and Blenheim. All day was spent in the town, viewing most of the principal sights. The streets, both main and side, are asphalted all over, having a high crown in the centre so that the water may drain into the channels. A service of motor cars are established there, and are extensively patronised. The local brass band had entered for the Contest at Rotorua and when they arrived at the wharf the whole town attended to see them off.

Leaving Napier at 8 in the evening, we steamed slowly, as Gisborne was only 83 mi es distant, and nothing in the way of loading or unloading could be done before morning. The Mokoia being too large to come up to the she anchored out in what is called the stream. Of course, our party took voyage in one of the tenders that came out to the steamer, and we were not long ere we set foot in Gis« borne. Races had been held the day previous to our arrival, and evidences of the night's carouse was plainly seen in most .of those that were hanging about at this hour of the morning—-7 o'clock, Gisborne is just the opposite of Napier, being a straggly township with streets badly kept—the only redeeming feature beiog the width of the main street. Here, many Maoris of both sexes were Keen, the races being the cause of many coming to town, although there are numbers of them in and around Gisborne.

Midday saw us leave Gisbonre behind —on our way to Auckland. This is the longest run between posts, being 301 milts from Gisborne, and the distance was covered in 22 hours. Before Auckland is sighted, numerous islai.ds are Been, the largest being Great Barrier and Rangitoto Islands. Vessel* of all Rises ?rsre seen around usaa

Iwe steamed into the harbour. The view entering the wharves eclipses any other in New Zealand, and although I hate always held that Dunedin was the bub ill* New-Zealand, and left that place.biissed in favor it; yei£l had to admit to myself that there was a place, if hot superior, at least on terms of equality|with it. My sea journey for a period was now at an end, and glad was I to walk on terra fiVrak once more. "A, life on the ocean wave " is not a bad song, butlt does not appeal strongly to me, as the slightest motion on board a steamer is not to my liking, and at times when a person has to make a bit of a run to the ship's side and gaze earnestly into the depths below, he wishes that the vessel would go down . and stop on something solid. However, we landed on Sunday morning just as the bells were ringing for church. Being a stranger in a strange land, and not caring to let the fact become known, I gathered up my traps and entered a public hotel called the Waitemata where the booking clerk after perusing his book finds that there is one spare bedroom. This is shown to us and we take possession. After dinner a walk through the town is taken and visits paid to Albert Park and the Domain. Bands were playing in both places, the one in Albert Park regaling the public with solos, duets, and quartettes on the different instruments, this being a public practice before they left to attend the Contest at Wanganui. On Monday morning we left Auckland for Rotorua by train. There being a Carnival on at the latter place, crowds of people took advantage of this to attend and special trains had to be put on to meet the demand. The ride to Rotorua was through an ever changing country, far different to any other railway ride that I have taken. That Auckland is ot Volcanic origin, is plainly manifest when one sees nothing but scoria for miles. Anon we came across splendid fertile lands with smiling homesteads, then past country townships that seem to have an air of prosperity about them. We cross the mighty Waikato, the'largest river in the North Island, then push through a vast tract of land with nothing but stunted manuka on it. In time we come to the heavy native timber on both sides of the line, where settlements in the heart of /the bush are seen* Mamaku is reached, a settlement at the extreme edge of the forest, and noted for it being the highest railway station in New Zealand, the altitude being close on 1800 feet above the sea level. . , To be continued)