IMPRESSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1693, 8 March 1913, Page 6

IMPRESSIONS.

' NEW ZEALAND AS WE SAW IT. IN EIGHT CENTRES. JOTTINGS ON A SPLENDID TRIP. [BY G. H. S. Thott.] (Specially written for Tin: Dominion'.) Although Now Zealanders have not readied the topmost rung of the ladder of cricket, they have shown by their {Treat kindnesses to our team during the tour just over that they have readied the zenith in hospitality and good fellowship. Taking the trip from Auckland right llirougli to Central Otago (Tapanui) and back to Wellington, o'ver a space of six week?, 1 can say that no cricket team that 1 have ever travelled with in my. 30 years of first-class cricket has been treated in the saino right royal manner (in regard to kindness), both on and off the field. At Auckland the Mayor of that fine city welcomed lis before we were lit hours in the city. Cricketers came up, shook ns by showed us'round, and bade us welcome to their great Dominion. We felt at home from the first day of setting our feet on your shores: we , knew that wo were truly amongst brothers and scions of the same grand old families who made England. We had but a sliort stay in Auckland, but what little time wc spent there was taken advantage of by us in seeing us much of the beautiful harbour city ns possible. I had the pleasure, 10 years ago, of touring New Zealand with an Australian Eleven, .and what miglity changes lwve been wrought ill those years! Instead of a quiet city it lias emerged into a beehive of commerce—everything in Auckland seems to be on tho move. What a tine tram service has sprung into existence! What fine buildings have boon piied up, and how the suburbs have gone ahead without their original beauty. Then their harlwur. \Sydney has long been known as tlw "harbour city" of the world, but, take my word for it—-nnd in fact all our boys' words—Auckland harbour is quite as beautiful as Sydney. ■ One thing in Nriw Zealand, however, is behind the march of progress—tlio railways. Prom Auckland to Jlasterton took 18 hours. I will hopo that on my next visit (and I hope to make another) we will not have to sit in the one chair for 18 hours at a stretch, but that the present railway cars will show as much improvement as electricity shows over steam.

Masterton Under Prohibition. It was at Maslertou that our first cricket engagement was booked, and wo had discovered before' we arrived that wo were going "to see life" , for a . few days in a Prohibition town. In our team we had a team of moderate drinkers —I don t; think anyone was a staunch teetotaller. All but three hardly averaged one drink a week of intoxicating liquor, and so wo arrived with unbiased minds. Jjoiore we left Masterton we had mostly conic* to the conclusion that a lino little « 1)eon Ilalf for the lack ot a little something. Why 011 earth cannot a man have a "wee dropie" when he ice s that ho wants it without bavin? the leeling come over him. that 110 is something unlawful I cannot imagine! Well,' we had it, and perhaps had it at tunes more than what we really required or wanted. You could meet a' friend in the street, and after a short conversation ho would ask if you were "dry," and after answering in the affirmative hu would draw., out from his inside coat pocket a flask with a silver cup attachment, and we v;ould do the rest. No, in my humble opinion 110 laws will put down drinking,, but State-controlled houses might mitigate the evil, and at the samo time give., a man better liquor to consume. . We en .iyed Masterton (with all Its drawback.-.), A bettor lot 'of sporlsmen it would be hard to find in any part of New Zealand. AVo enjoyed a lovely motor drive in the early morning, all the cars being driven by private owners, who seemed to enjoy showing us r6und just as much as w'e enjoyed being driven by (Jicm. A fine "smoke night" was also tendered to us. and I might say prohibition look no part at that fesiivo board, for we had as much to drink as wo desired. We were met at Masterton -by two gentlemen from Wellington in Mr. Arthur George and Sir. John Cusack—two of the promoters of our tour—and needless to say they showered upon us every kindness imaginable. Beauty and Potential Resources of Marlborough.

. After leaving Mastorton ive journeyed 011 to Blenheim, via Wellington. We were met by a great number of cricket enthusiasts at the latter city, and driven to tho Town Hall, where we were welcomed by Mr. lAl'Laren,■ the Mayor, It was rather a hurried affair, as we were duo to catch the boat for Picton. Even in that hurried flit . through Wellington, however, I could not help noticing tho great improvement in the buildings in the sixteen years since I had last seen the Empire City.: I could not help wondering where or how many of tne old wooden buildings, had disappeared, and I could hardly recognise' the new city, for truly it is a new city now. Wo crossed the Strait in tho old Pateena, a boat which, years ago, I had often been across to TasmauiaMii. She still seems a fino old warrior, though a w;eo bit on the slow side. What a glorious view we got of New Zealand's superb scenery as we glided quietly up the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. It was well worth coming all tho way from Australia to view- on siieh a beautiful sunny day. Tho hills, wit It sheep grazing quietly upon tlieir steep-to sides, and tho eut-mit track plainly showing the whole way around, evidently for tho use- of tho shepherds, and stray tourists, stood out beautifully in the beautiful light. Picton is a lovely spot, but vh»t struck us most,was the splendid crops that showout on cither side of tho railway lino right through to Blenheim. Why, some of the laiul we passed through must bo worth oCoO to .£IOO an acre so dense were the crops. Blenheim, ns a town, reminds me very forcibly of some of tho old market towns in tho Old Country. It has evidently' been designed mid laid out by a surveyor of old English ideas. It is a prelty placo indeed, mid I can think''of no better place for a qiuet holiday than this fine agricultural town. It is indeed "Sleepy Hollow," and the people hardly seem to have any lifo or go in them, but I suppose money is easily made lliere. Why, therefore, trouble.

We left Blenheim early on the return trip, and had a few lionrs at beautiful Picton.. AVe were kindly taken out by Mr. Kiddall for a fishing excursion in his motor launch, and wo spent a. few hours ill the Rounds very pleasantly hooking the blue cod, which appear to be very plentiful there. Impressions of Wellington. On our return to AVellinglon I had a much better opportunity of viowiii" tlio great capital. Why, it has gone ahead just the same as Auckland—in fact, I thought more so. 31 any of its now call compare with any others in the Dominion, and the view'one gets from the lo[) of the tram ride to Ivolbnrno is something to be remembered. Then, too, the glorious walk through the Botanical Gardens, on top of the hill, that wo tookon our first Sunday morning in Wellington, will not readily be forgotten. (ill Christmas Bay we were taken for an cxhilirating drive round Oriental Bay, on to the Patent Slip, and further on to tho shore of C'oolc Strait. The'view wo got was splendid. The Life-Saving Corps at •Lyall Bay gave us an exhibition. Tho beach where surf-bathing is indulged in is fitted up in a most up-to-date style, liight throughout the drive we were surprised indeed to notico the suburban homes built right on the steep sides of hills. It was a. matter of some wonder to most of us how the builders got the material to build witti up there, and, latterly. how on earth the people got their furniture there. . ('l'o be oonliuued.)