THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1900, 27 March 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1880.

The promised advent of a number of Cook's tourists to Now Zealand shows clearly the rapid strides with which our communications with the outer world have developed. Such an idea as tho flooding of our towns, lakes, and mountains with these festive searchers after novelty would, a short time back, have been held perfectly chimerical. But now we hear of the arrival of an agent for the great entrepreneur and of arrangements being on the tapis by which the pleasure seekers may pass through the land at the least possible expense to themselves and with the greatest possible comfort. The last scheme mooted for the transport of such people in any number to these shores was that which was started some years ago to fit out a vessel on co-operative principles, which was to do the round of the world, New Zealand being included in the programme of the tour. The idea, however, fell through, not being taken up with any degree of warmth by the travelling public. Indeed, so fine an organization is required in any scheme of this description that unless the certainty of a good one be secured, it had far better bo abandoned. Beside tho co - operative yacht was only suited to people of very large means. To Mr. Cook is due the credit of having been the first to turn travelling en masse into a system. With an organising faculty perfectly jaiarvellous, ho developed a system which has made itself felt over the whole of the continent of Europo, and over many parts of Asia, Africa and America. The arrangements he brings into play aro

allowed to bo as perfect as human foresight can make them, for at the minimum of expense they allow to individuals the maximum of individual freedom, compatible with travelling in the same direction with a large body of people. His excursions havo, moreover, filled an acknowledged want. Many persons are unable, without some such arrangement, to penetrate into parts where numbers are the greatest guarantee for safety; unprotected ladies can now enjoy the luxury of travel; and pleasant society can be secured for land journeys and voyages that would otherwise be dull and monotonous. In fact, Mr. Cook may well rank among the distinct benefactors of the modern Saxon. Wo do not mean, of course, to say that there are no drawbacks to journeying under his auspices. Undesirable units will always bo found in the best regulated societies, and the odour in which this class of tourist is held in many parts of the continent is unsatisfactory. Caricatures are numerous of them parad-

ing the streets of continental towns in outrageously coloured garments and ill fitting boots, and with abnormally gigantic front teeth standing out at an angle of 45. But the tourists may well afford to laugh at these sallies, and to reflect on tho descriptive efforts that would await any influx on a large scale of French or German pleasure seekers on English soil. JZcc pede like most proverbs, will not bear much expansion, and the choosing of the lowest type of the English tourist as an example of the whole is an old trick of our vivacious neighbours. But after all, when we see the extent to which Messrs Cooks' operations are carried, we ought, perhaps, rather to wonder we have had none of his numerous constituency out here before. By the last English mail we read that in connection with the proposed Artie Expedition projected by Commander J. P. Cheyne, 8.N., which i 3 for the purpose of reaching the North Pole by travelling the last few hundred miles by sledge and baloon operations combined, there is a scheme of organizing a shooting party in connection with Cook's tour, which party will accompany tho steamer to some of the Arctic bays where there is splendid

wild fowl shooting. When the mystic regions of the extreme north are being invaded by Cook's tourists what wonder that New Zealand will see the light of their countenances. Of one thing we may be sure. The travellers will pass through few lands more worthy of a visit than our adopted home. From the material improvements, made in such a wonderfully short space of time, to bo seen in this island, and from our fiord and mountain scenery, they will pass on to the marvellous natural phenomena of the North, and to the study of the manners and customs of the Maoris. The aboriginal in his native fastnesses will be brought face to face with Bond street and Cheapside, and when the tourist is once more safe in his parlour or his drawing-room, he will have ample food for reflection for many a long day Even when the lapse of time may have wiped out the freshness of his impressions, a something will be left:— A consciousness remains that it has left, Deposited upon the silent shore Of memory, images and precious thoughts CRUati aknll nub Clio and canuub bo dostroyed.