To Rotorua and Back.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 422, 26 May 1904, Page 5

To Rotorua and Back.

(By " Dbbdobb.") (Continued). Having stayed a week at marvellous j Rotorua, a week of wonder seeing, I had perforce to leave, and it was with regret I took train back to Auckland. There are many' places where, having once seen, there is no desire to return. This cannot be said of the Hot Lakes district, and when another opportunity presents itself, I will gladly avail myself of it and revisit once more the wonderland of the word. What I had seen is but a small portion of the Thermal district that is noted for its weird and uncanny sight. Auckland, once more, and for three days, I do my best to see the principal sights in and around the city. In a visit to the Art! Gallery, acknowledged to be the best in N. Z., I get in conversation with the caretaker, a venerable and kindly looking gentleman and causally mention Central Otago. He inquires if I know where the Dunstan is, as he had worked there in the early sixty's. He did not know it by the modern name of Clyde, and calls Alexandra, Manuherikia. I, have, frequently, in my travels, met old identities, who were puzzled by the names now given to the townships that they at one time have worked in, and one in particular who was at one time in Naseby when it was called the Hogburn, did not know where the former place was, and fancied that it must have been another mining town. One of the best views for seeing Auckland and its surroudings, is from the top of Mt Eden, an extinct volcano and whose crater is of large demensions. This hill is about an hour's walk from the city, but the visitor is amply repaid for his labour, at seeing the magnificient view that is before him. It was a Sunday morning, and the Bay was .full of crafts of all descriptions, from 'all canoe to the ocean liner. iL-MZk in NZ -» can *» found so

rmmy boats as can be seen in Auckland harbour, and every Sunday, full advantage is taken by the owners for a days outing. There are many small townships across the harbour where the ferry boats take passengers who care to spend an hour or two away from the city, also the numerous islands in the Hauraki Gulf, are attractions for many. Large picnicing parties for a Sunday's outing is not a | rare occurence here, and no doubt it ! would shock the good old Presbyterians of Dunedin if such a thing happened in that town, but, there is a vast ference between the two places. The French assert that the * British take their pleasures sadly;' if that assertion is tone, the same cannot be said of the colonials, and more especially of those in the north part of the colony. The electric cars pay very well on Sundays, as crowds avail themselves of this mode of leaving the town, and journey down to Onehnnga, Newmarket, Pavnell and other numerous suburbs. During church service, both in the morning ( and at evening, the cars do not run. A plebiscete was taken on this matter some time ago, and those antagonistic against running all day on Sundays, lost by a few votes, The weather all this time had been nice and warm, a degree of heat that would not inc«avenienoe anyone from Central Ofcago, and one day which was the hottest we experienced, was not equal to what I have felt on the Goldflelds.

Having gone up the East Coast, ] there was no desire to return that ! way, so I decided to see the other coast, and took the tram for Onehunga. Th» part is nine miles from Auckland, and is connected with the latter place by beth tram and train. As the tiam runs more frequently, and the fare only sixpence, it stands to reason it is the more desirable way of reaching One. hunga. The harbour is a large and commodious one, but there is not suf« ficient depth of water at low tide to enable large steamers to make this a port of call.

The vessel that was to convey us to Wellington was the Union Oo.'s s. s. Rotoiti, a general cargo boat, and one not especially adapted for passengers. Two hours was spent travelling halfspeed down the Manukan harbour, and we were then once more in the open. Hot a breath of wind was felt, nor was there a ripple on the surface of the ocean, save that made by the sea birds, - It looked like one immense sheet of glass, or as an illiterate passenger said, li By gum, ain't this ere sea pretty, its just like a * milk' pond, ain't it ." Not haviDg seen a i milk' pond, I could not acquiese in his statement. The run to New Plymouth, a distance of 135 miles, was the most enjoyable time we spent on the water, and took about 13 hours to cover that distance. Taranaki is noted for its butter and cheese -actories, being the province par exellence "for dairying, c As the Rotoiti was to take in cargo of dairy produce for transhipment for the Old Country, we decided to see the town and were conveyed thither by bus, as there was no use of waiting for the train, Three miles from the breakwater, through rich grazing land, with comfortable cottages attached to the fields, and then New Plymouth is reached. He we took leave of some of the passengers that came by the steamer, and a motley crowd they were, consisting of Maoris, Volunteers, Tourists and a Chinamen. (To be continued)