"ATALE OF TWO CITIES."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 616, 20 September 1909, Page 11

"ATALE OF TWO CITIES."

■ ; i- :i ART|ATHLETICS,;;AND ARCHITECTURE. .'■:.' .V :, ;-' : '\i-');.''i"-' 'J' : '' : ' '■•■ '"'-'" ';•'"'"I-""-'- ;'. ■'.'■'.'■ ; ' ■.■.'■■ ■' '0: ; ■■: ;■ CB3BEFUL;'CHRISTCnUECH-WOEFUL '' v^^Slr-^P™! 1, <■' :'■;:'■ ■:V'rH.|!',V'- ; '^r-:.'flßT/MB.S'i-V»BB.) : ''.'- ■'. ■'.-.■ :'■:. : ' ■:. ,; I'an't;think,:whjv.tho pater invited.young . fronvChristchwoh to spend tho ;• : I thought, when I heard £ • '"M^fi^sti* that-perhaps with : Tapkin major; v- :.and ; pmythie minor'.wo Blight , h'avo 6omd sport,. 5;.: in' dudg«on-fts ; aUoiv v. :heliJ4y ( >;pnghtito be—l'eonld show hiin , round \; thp^verlous-tnck-shops,,'. 'Whon'l had theso f: : brigit; I did not know itorckester, howi •«tefei'l;wetrhira-at -the Maori-I.'sny, "why boats got in.ata civilised hour, a V bit up shortly after midnight 5 :-Taid;l;:(JuioEly picked him oiit. He's in- tho ; Siih.fttiMs: oolleso; and/ with 'his.list. 71b.,> ■ J-aß'-not surprised that he is a decent forward ; I always like to . bqbml' to: people, and after- a ,'glanoe at'his ;. siK-Isdeoided tobo,civil to Dorohoster. , ' ■;.l gribbed: some of his : ■'grips;- : rand- wp~st,irtcd ' .pffi:!{j;^i; ; :'; ;-■':;■;■ ■;■'..'• .- -■:■■;■, ■"■ .-■-."., :.'.;. -. . f- ~. pism.alJookiriß :pl.aoo: this Wellingtoni" was f hu/first' outright -statement. '■': ■ ••' '•. [■- know, Wellington -does' not im- ■ . piess ■ onp. as' a' summer iesort. if you striko it )_;' oiJvAijniorrjing'when n; gusty '.-southerly is in F-. ;vi»s!!essi6nV'- - and jheots ■ of .rain aro' sweeping -* gently, replied thatI ■ •uv^ertalnly , , was .rather (depressing, but , I .; ; ;.ieihwdsjont ithat -the^; misty.. hilltops.: had. a - : -.;'; frandeur, all their own,' outtir'alliirg Wn'f the , . '.•■-.Jral?'llonntains in; : Switzerland. (JXy.geogia- .,'■ ph'ioali'knowkdgo was top much for ; hiin, as ha' ;>'..-.,aidcneltj ! di6nnte.'the-point.).:-. ■ ,' .-.,'.-. i!'.'■ 'i-"W|'.y?"'had,:lovely summer;•:weather in :. /Cffirjstetturch • for months past, really l too hot,' •ji■■.'' yon^kiJpw-rin.faot,: the'climate".thero-is' per-,-.':.;.-fe6tf;«),:enU[|ble.'," ' ;.. -; v;; , -.-';-:-. , ;'■';':.. . ...-. -. ::;- - been '.to'Christchurch. -1 went "\: th(ire..:;Oi|iCe.witlntho cadets, and. miserable was ■ >::.. no;fntaai for.ithe w'eather'r'about ;te'n'ißampl«s" ,:-;_•': aidayTffrost.^fog,,bright sunshine; cold winds, V- .■ xaiftivßot winds, :hdil, eleet.'.and snow. , - Really ,:;-thfcttghJi'it's. a.good,thingVfor-the people there ',->;■■ th'at'/th6.'weatneT is iso-variable, as. it gives .::;. '..them'iiomething to talk about,'otherwise .they. •-.- wqaljljand' things rather', dull ■ botween tho' .■-,'•■'.•' timesv-pf-.Tommy Taylor's; denunciations uf ■:; • eyerything.and.:.anything, , .:, equ&hbles ovor the canal scheme,,and.'tho'tun- ;:;■ neh'rates,. 6r thodisoussion of''that burning , .topic-fthe size of .cornsaeks.' -But—. ■ ■ : ' . '■NY-, , -.;S.W,ha{'. do'you call': this-canon?" :Vfo had i \.turn^d^into.Willis Street, when my train of ■:■ thoilgatiwas interrupted.- ~i- i .'.'..' ; , : :. '/•:':■ ' I-exAliined.that; the gulch-like appearance of -'-~'. tMZ street r.would' shortly . disipptor, . as the : ; :i .oounoiKwere-negotiating to widen it, and as' . a- , DoWyster was Tolnbly discoursing on the fine ;■;■ ■ and;avenues,of Christchnroh,onr /•'•-,'.■:-ciir';Jc»m«-:;alpng;^ ; We. live .at: Island .::.;;' Wellington's' popular"-seaside•fespi't"--1 <x-. v;': ; ;;plSm^tlw;hta. , -N-.QuicUT\lldiscoTered---that.oup' c ;r:';trSmcMs'V.,dld.',not.:, please .';Dorchester—they, (they, do-;sombwhatr you ■;',-;;.kftow)/rttheir'-colour: ; ,soheme...was .bad.• (in .: :yChr^tclinrch : ihe'.ears are "pioked out beauti%.:;'fulljv;jjC'g«en -and gold , '—and, -I suppose, the , '.'..triiiKj-is-payed with.diamonds); the steps were, ;-.-;i■•-. tp6l high ;bff.:theVgroniid, and-they- are not '■■\ !■ :■;kept!generally: as■ spick' and : sp?.n as the: cars ;..;;afe¥ln: ; ,-.Utopia-rother'wi9e'Christchurch. -•■-, -~: - . '■ ■'.';"'.'l'rtHWgat. to stem my new friend's jjessimism '':]% (whtp'h'-'.J generously'.'ascribed -:t6' the first'stages .-■.. i :; iby.y; tipping ' the' .guard ;.- ; : ! a';''bendir,"f and a-Uruguay stamps that.l had ~:!.•. -lirh'ad.Mn my-pockot,- -ito'ask : Soro>>vter. kindly '• "■"::.;'iibbnt^ih«'old folks 'at home and the name of ■oi'his'listti'eohPbl priie,' butj-the conductor said, light' of f ßoetila.tion. 10,721, -and a •'v ,'i rec6nt!;''proseoutioii,v h» •, had • to: 'stand on tho ;.•;.; V-baeir.jila.tfOrm, or ho would bp only . too pleased 1 : ? : rt6?oblig« me.?.'. ld relieve tho, tension, 1 I'-tried , :■' "DoroKster as"to ■ a calculation, of.the. Cribbage : : ts.ib'f/ouri-ticket "numbers, ;butshe subdned ■■'i'meliby/Jitayitt? that fetich ; old-fashioned 'games .:. ..-■we're J 4M?ned,T)ad:fqrm in Christohurch, where : ::'fi''bHdge".-al«ne .was' played..'.,' Did '.they- play \f: ';;,:;::,; '" ■ I '-.-■ -.'..'• ,-,.: j. ,, K'*iHi'pass 'hurriedly'.over ; our .-'arrival : in y '.-■',rlslalid '<#&s■'■' Arrive "; tnete'you'rself,:; seasoned ■s,k-\ tho'iigKypu ;be,.'bn a ''Eo'utherly". day y/.ittt, tho' -.' '•:. mist j-att'd .epumo ■ from■' seawards:'flyiiig. < oYpr,:::;:hea'd,';and' you'll.quickly seek'the protection of :;.;:.the/.fieSj; tram,outward.,bound,-es you would ,:. .•-■the:,adnce-.Of.you'r.cloiest'friend in a.timp .of •■;■ ■'.-.- did -'then' Sympathise with Dorchester, ■-.- ? : hardenod as I heard about the ■-'.//;.|.sp'lendia;-::ninet«en'r : miles;'of,ibeach ; at ; - New/ :( ■ j'::.Brjgh'ttin,':-:.where.the ' sea .rollers ever lazily. :,.-':'; creep ;;ini withVcalmest of mption.'their-cresta ■,r•;evte,jilinting : with glorious''sunshine..'or the '■' ■':■':■ Bbftißracriour.of the moon. ..-And also that other ~;''! which combined. theimeritSi ;,.; : : ' of jaUjthe seasidb resorts :of note,- and to which :-:/■- thplisands ',-of. people'■■;traveled'/:from ' nliles' - ,: I arotind—frpmV I'apanui, West Meltbmv and the .-■: ~distdnt); : diiiy. --heights of ; the.Port Hills. :"■ ';: '■• '-'.,': It.-ithe :-'boSomt"pf.J::bur'sifamilyv Dorchester' I ;-.Bhbwed;.knovfledge of:other subjects of conver;.■'....eation.Yand,.for .a? Christchurch person,,'■ te- ;, -ihavedjauite nicely..l He's a-bit-of.-a musician, i' - ;talke;.-about -Beethoven's, : Sonata," ~',/: thiilkSi;<}'The' Storm" ;a-fine' composition, ond : .' -has aUjCpinion on.all the trifles of 1 grand opera : ■?;,;'.'aa'dVoipeW ■ bqvffe.':. SoJ, while' ho '.was discours- '■' '•■v^eSHw.'.the'girls, an'erigagement to','! ;:•■;-. .-go-fishirjß at ,the"Red f ßocks, and escaped.- -I.' major and-: Smythie minor,'' and' ■■:. ': • \,xoM% a opined : ; that , ,. they ''.wauld; like: ■'. to - meet : .'■j.Dofchesteriwhen he.had/cooled'off a ,bit; b» : ! J./^ChriSt^rchi^l^V^^.V-s:-::'.'*'-;^:^;.!.,'-' . ;, : -? v■;^tftflext. 'dayihas ■;implanted : a nightmare :• : of ,a;,kinematograph: film on .my ■ membrv. :■ Dbr ! - ; ':;,; wehesteri;and.r took.iion;;. carly.;car-to: m- tho , V.?lghW;):ot;:'WeUinrfen,::i«id,:.t that;) , ! 1 ■■ ( \ a Mj^f^^ m <' ■■Uißhtihg v '-at"'Lainl)t.6n ■■■:,■ •--tjtitlon.-iwe"were in"fans'to see'the Napier 6i- ;:;■ ■:?prpte;d*part.''-'Dorchester: asked whereiwora i ■j;. .'the. , station •'buildings, , , and whati was the train :■•;.■ :,:doirj«;]3Ulled .up a row. of him* :;i>,:coo|Wike;: lamprobms'ibr? v-Why,, at. a 'little . b '"■ 'P'aoer-hke. Kaiapoi, /"near,Christchurch,", they :-i. .--had-Va^tatipn-house.arid:yarding accommoda-' ■":,::;, w °uld : raako- the ;Welhn(rtpn"iportors {; ,!'and;.,6nnnters.'shriek .with envy. V:Hβ. informed ■■': x tho,. Hon, D. Buddo /.was ::. : "',;s>eaib«jfor.Kaiapoi.-so -I,thought there might-. ";.'• >.. Misomething in what he said,'but ":I toldhim .;-.:':,that-?; r thb.:,Government': had'- recently.-. acquired ;;,, ,;tho';,Mdnftwo,tu/railway..and'intehde'd to amal-' :;/; ; K»fflat?i theijhrostation yards, and erect fitting i '-■.■ edifices:.(l l; rathor':like that-word)- :■ at- -a total ■■\ :.-Cost.6f s sd..'.'.He;asked-me not,to' ; ' :; -iifSftS 4 npV,. : could .'one "station serve ■;l:°°th,sthe, Cities of -Wellington and Manawatu?, i-..";.':.'; 1 • tnpnl.saw that. reprisals were. hopoless,' :: and I ::!,dijression;up b'.Kelburno'.•'■. - -.// C- •!' : The.'.view;from-.,the' kiosk : , was : allowed-to be . :; ; /.,?ood;;«pr ,whiPh ; :l.'was :told Wellington, city ■ ; :f^V a t/responsiblo, .Nnture : certainly needed to. ..-.-.-/ be kindjto the Empire City in sonie way to make ,-: \;Jipijf<it-'.Ue w dr»-i7backß.,' Aftor a'•-'comprehensive. ,;, .."ilookff/Srftund,; -Dorchester showed-./« .'further ... : .cne^rM'/streakin.hi? ; disposition.by '.ominously: not sui-prise him if ,it a/fact; that/Wellington /was .built "at :.;■ ■;.;~iVo4:'ihegd: of >a Tolcanio. chasm. Probably (he :.,--w-oaldjfiiot.bo.'surp-.pf '. this',though,-mind : you), U^. ■' : f i T/i :T i s' c MPes.etraying might now: •-..•■ :'ue<exnnot r "have siinfe , '. into ihnbeuons desue- : : '- ■ v:•• raa"''' ish o -expressed •' it j'r in': his he ■.V'iad : aiscovered .that Auckland waa.bnilt on the 1 extinct volcano, and doubtless Wei-' .:::/..■:lingtonv,was: in: similar/ case. : Such amaiing '/■. ■ ecioritifio ..profundity-wheh;and -where.' is ,that '■ ■■•':■. .•Neboli-prize-given-out?- >.-;: i; ■"//• .--:■>.:•■. ■-■:;■":.■/: ■•■ A.;.,' : ::™ h^ b ,-::\":» , f .: ..as.-,lar(Susing; Dorchester's interest was': ■■'. con- .■■-"' P o "?™v':His ."heart;;bl«d,",-.he.said, for the i-■-■■'.'■■.S^vjTnp.had-.to .do patrol, in such dismal sur- ■/-: l o ?Jv's|s. i . ; thrP 11 Ka. weary.: diurnal and noc-ll«:!w«'*es.-'.Such.:a necessity'could - be ~-; '■' noozed ; and laid.lpw by erebting an earthquake--V::\V- building after the pat- :'.::■:. '■ ' skyscrapers-'.in'-Christohurch; a ; '/' : P'fffii-.W' lO T"" 11^ ; 18 ->s /easily-procured and •'••'•'■ ■■'" ?f" •!«,■ promisoupuslj;' lavisKed around-'- as 'are /■:'...ther annpuncementspf (Sir. Joseph's 'loans/;-/ Wb .strblled;alon? t the 'water-front. and ( '-gti. ■:V ingest: the, slight jobble'in. the: harbour, - Dor::.j, cheaters compassion .was/«cited for Welline-. ■r :•;■;-■ men v :."lf. you-- fellows had a river the ■•Avoh,:-rye'.nb: doubt •'■'■■-•,^<3^-':Wrn-out''a,--fe)'-'g«id.mßh;:.aUh6uKh- :,;. ; can-never.aspire , to producing an -■■■;^ v -^ s M-'W h y,Hu)y.;petsist'.m.-'rotring;champion. '..,:'. rtlpsi.bn the Wanganui-when thero is such a ■-.X- fine-eenrser-perhaps 'a bit "short-as "can be ■■■; .K«fe< i n' :t ' le 'Ayon»'«.nd insuoh a city, I don't : .'->-.;-.--.aad«wlaiid.--'- : >':'-.-" ; '- , ;-, : .'. , -: , -;. , -,,.':-.---:- .-. .; -:•.- •■>. *>:■■ '■ •■;,ONo-irjjw r said before, ;i w« i n . Christohurch ..:';. eie«( with the cadets,' , and , the , : Avon struck: me :;/-\-.as.;».)Kirt. : of Vsidwjhsnnel—intact, I think'l : -;i',''»ttpppd;&ctoes it. vn ; one or two places, to save : ■.- . / foing/TOiind by . the/.bndges,, for whiohl 'did ,: ; , : .'.'.-:aot;see»; the: ■ myself, ':,■.. though,?and ssid-the Avon:was but' a creek to . /, ,;. the/Kjuwarra stream/close lip:•'Wellington,.-but : ir thie ;;!OTeano, on account of, the Tugged and ;..,-, Swiiaj-Alps-like' pountry through which it ran .•!>;■;■ was'.'protect*d.by.:tho Scenery .Preservation and . . , the 'Acolimatisttion .Societies, so the rowers - ;. ,had;'.tjO7. : ataad off.-'.: , ?'"'■-,.::. .;,:..'-.'•:•..■'■.:.■■' :..i: ,!:'''Soine'\-splehdid'.trout ,are. ;, caught .in tho ■ :■ : ,:':--;--- "/ : '/• . .',..!;.; /../"Talking, about trout,", ohipped in Dorchos- ■ ':■ : ; : ter,';:,"tw«nty-pound«rsare common pluy. in. tho : ,: ;/Avon:":K(Ohl for, the,sublimity., of suoh a de- '•'■ ■':■ Eoendiiit of -MunehtnsDn,- tt-decent-slwd 'trout ' ■'-..:.:■■.-:coiUdl'-not■ turn rbund/in euch a. side channel, ■/,--.'let'.alpnfl .would'a-respectable fish be seen in •\.-;.--."-eucfc'a'iriTfllet.); , f- ; '.v:/''/.!•::::'■ ''■-.;. . : ■■■>-:•' ■'.';.• Af tot- an.-- interval:/ for',.luncheon, .during :: ■: ■which, trencher: play.'gave mo a ;/; Blight respite, we inspected' the Basin Reserve, :, ::. the : Athletioifaik, - and ■ Mitamar, and the :"•/:: etorm buret upon my head .as toChristchnrch's :.'-:-wplaying-artas.. V.s ! > :'■-•■■ '■'■:•'•;■:•'.v'.■[■:■ •'..:;• '■' -.;.• / '- ;/,:., "I/now. understand j" said the-'; "Person from :"■ - tho Plains," "why Wellington/is behind the : . fair;in .field 'sports. .You have not got the

cricket and football grounds at hand. Now, ono of our.parks in the city of-C'hristchurch is over 800 aoros in extent, ami all your grounds could bo tucked away in one cornel ot it. And" —this! mngnilqqiientlj—"there. aro others— many 'others,"-' . - ' ■■-..,.- ■I began to feel dizzy, overborne with faintnessi; nnd suggested a return home. During the journey tho tide of eloquonco on Christohiirch ebbed and flqwod, but tho apacsthetjo had been well administered, nnd a kindly languor dulled, my senses. Within tho domestic portals once more, I; plonded n headache, and retired, slhmbering off ns Dorchester com? monced City.". '

I hare incurred tho.displeasure- of Tapkin major and Smythio .minor-by. waylaying:-thorn into :an introduction to. Dorchester, who regaled' them with complete -historical and, Geographical information about Ohristbhurch, during an*afternoon , !).fishing in a small boat oil Evans Bay. .They nro-how aware,that Christ- , ohurohhas .tho best museum ■ south .of _ the Line; possesses the Okarito w.hale, the biggest mammal specimen in the world; and, has an ideal Art Gallery.. Dorchcstor wanted to know where the Wellington Art Gallery was, but Tapkin major and' Smythie minor were nonplussed by the question. I don't know ruyself.: Do you? ' : :'.'■/: ■■ " ' , Tho'giria took , up Dorohestcr daring the remainder of his stay, and I' heard him tell Chrysosotom that he thought .that lie ought to speak to the pater. \ I'll see to that, .though; Dorchester roturned to his beloved Christchurch tho night of tho North v. South isMud match; and, I saw him' off. Ho blocked the gangway whbnloaning over to toll mo that he felt sorry.for North Islatid football—the inclusion of,a player or two from Somes Island 'might prove, advantageops in future teams. He alsvvho said,-felt a ieot pity for tho Wellington team, -then. 60 soon fated to meet Canterbury..:' ■'',:■■'::■-■:■:•■: ..' '■•",, ■: '■ .■ '■- * '--I have,sent Dorchester three post-cards since the 'Wellington-Canterbury matoh, 1 asking him if 'the -scores', telegraphed here—and I printed them in large figures—weio, correct, butlhave received no roply. " ;. - : , ''<■ .