TOO NEW.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 758, 5 March 1910, Page 6

TOO NEW.

TRAVELLER ON NEW ZEALAND. HE PREFERS EUROPE. . GERMANY'S NAVAL PROGRAMME. "How do you like New Zealand?" A Dominion interviewer who put the familiar question yesterday to Mr. C. A. Weber, the travelling companion of Count Bismarck, received a surprise that was almost a shock. The traveller's eye did rot flash with a new brightness, he gave no sign that ho intended to break forth in the accustomed rhapsody of praise. The Germans are a phlegmatic people, but this German was not phlegmatic. He was amused. He shrugged, and smiled— a smile that was only eloquent of ..restraint. And then he made this curious reply: "Wo think that we have como too early. About 'five hundred years too early."

Where had the strangers been? They had been all over the world. Last of all they had spent 35 daj's in coming to New Zealand. Thirty-five days to reach this country, 35 days to return, and six weeks for their sojourn. Seventy days afloat in order to see—what?

Yes, they had seen Wakatipu—lnvercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch, the West Coast Road, the Otira and Buller Gorges, ,Nelson, and Wellington. That had been their itinerary thus far. Yes, Wakatipu was beautiful. But it could not compare with Switzerland, seventeen hours by train from Berlin, and such a difference in trains! "You call your trains expresses, but—a grimace, and shrug expressed far more than words. Certainly there was scenery in New Zealand, but fancy spending seventy days at sea, and Switzerland so near. Switzerland!—the stranger rattled off a dozen of its glories for. confusion of poor Waka-' tipu. And in Europe the hotels, the theatres, the opera, the life and luxury! Yes, Otira was worth seeing. But how much easier to see Norway! The visiton would go next week up the Wanganui River and to Rotorua. Doubtless the Wanganui would be very fine, but "tha New Zealand Rhine!" It could not possibly be that. Mr. Weber expatiated on the . comforts, the refinements ,of Rhine travelling. "Perhaps in 500 years you will be like Europe." • - The traveller admitted that it would be unreasonable to expect New Zealand to become like Europe in sixty . years. He was surprised to think that so much had been done in a !short time. It was a promising country; the Count and he had never beheld finer stock. No, they, were not disappointed, because they had not expected very much, even though they, had been told that they would see a country with attractions beyond any other. That, they thought, was an exaggeration. They would not quickly give second place to the wonders of the Yellowstone Park. The interviewer gathered that to this type of traveller—the city type—travel in New < Zealand was', attractive perhaps, in patches, but for the most part- rather tedious, dull, and most uncomfortable. German naval development. was a very different ■ topic touched upon. Mr. Weber saw no designs against Great Britain in the growth of German armaments. "Suppose I buy three shirts and you buy five. Is it a cause for quarrel?" Germany had the finest axmy in the . world, she had riches, she had population; it was'natural that she would waht'a navy. Germans did not aslc the reason for additions to Great Britain's navy. Britain might decide to establish a great ' army, and Germany would-not ask questions. Lord Kitchener had advised an army of 85,000 men for this little country of a million, souls. Mr. Weber" thought it-was absurd. What need was there for. such an army, in New Zealand? Great.. Britain had Nothing to' fear from the increase of the German navy. That was his opinion. ..