Worth-While Tour

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 19 November 1927, Page 9

Worth-While Tour

Around the World

Journeys Through Many Countries

Hastings Gentleman’s Impressions

Mr Len Harvey, hardware merchant in Hastings, sailed for England on March 12th this year, and according to the account of his travels presented to a representative of the “Tribune,” made absolutely full use of his time during his absence from this country. Throughout his travels he was accompanied bv Mrs Harvey. The first port of call after leaving these shores was at Fiji, where the passengers went ashore and had a drive around the island. “We were greatly interested,” said Mr Harvey, “in thp native quarter; and in the prolific growths of tropical trees.” “We next called at Honolulu, where we spent a day ashore. What appealed to us there were the beautiful homes of the people, tlie preen lawns and the riot of gorgeouslycoloured flowers. In Honolulu there is a most interesting aquarium, beautifully set out and compartmented, so that one can study the life of the deep sea in a very exhaustive manner. We spent some time in the Royal Hawiian Hotel .overlooking the Waikiki Beach, and our recollections of our stay are reminiscent of gaudilycoloured umbrellas, shady and cool verandas and a delightful climate. CANADA. Next we proceeded to Victoria, in Vancouver Island. British Columbia, in which the Parliament Buildings are situated. We had but a few hours ashore, but what we saw impressed us with the sense cf this tine city’s populousness. popularity and wealth. There are fine buildings there, and good, broad streets, as well as the lovely Victoria Park, with its stately, tall trees, many of which are magnificent in their girth. A remarkable thing about this neighbourhood. we learned, is that bush that is cut . down grows again in a few years’ time. This is vastly different from our experience hero in New Zealand. Another striking feature of this district was the tremendous growth of bush on all the hillsides. It was so rich and plentiful, that one was forced to wonder if there could ever bo a shortage of wood in the world. After a few hours we arrived at Vancouver. ACROSS CANADA. “Continuing, wo started on our trek across Canada, on the C.P.R . and spent the first night at Sicamous and the second at Banff. From here, in the morning, we had a beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains. Tlie. city of Banff. 40C0 feet a’ i-ve sea level, is ideally situated, almost amongst the mountain perpetual snows. It was a memorable sight to observe the snow-laden trees many photographs of which are now our ■ cherished possessions. But chiefly it should be mentioned that, cold as it was (in - April), the journey was most comfortably accomplished in the ingeniously heated train, and we experienced not the slightest discomfort. OVER THE PRAIRIES. “Leaving the Rockies, we passed through Calgarv. and then crossed the prairies eastward, but were disappointed with the rolling, barren country. It was not the season, of course, but there was no sign of growth of any kind, and the houses we did observe seemed poor in the extreme. There were no trees, no fences, no hedges—nothing but more or less empty wilderness. THE UNITED STATES. “After spending two days and nights in the train viewing (at intervals) sucli a monotonous landscape, we pulled into Minneapolis— a wonderful city, very busy, pulsing with life, and thereafter we went on to Chicago, where we saw magnificent business premises, and were particularly struck with the efficiency of the traffic-control service. The huge store owned by Marshall Feild would take a book to describe it—indeed, there is such a book in existence. It has twenty lifts carrying 1000 persons per hour, and in the kitchen, they use 100 pounds of butter and 500 chickens per day! The laundry (again for the service of the staff) employs 50 hands. We were shown all over the building, and then conducted to the Marshal Field 1 Museum, which is one of the finest in the world. “Thence we went on to Detroit, where we had the pleasure of visiting the Dodge Brothers’ motor factqry, and we cannot speak too highly of the courtesv and kindness received from the representatives of that firm. Not only did thev conduct us to and from the factory a comfortable car. but they spared no pains to let us see ail that waq to be seen. “Buffalo was our next call, and there we saw the beginnings of what is reputed to be tlie biggest building in the world. It is to I over 100 stories, chiefly of various company offices. NIAGARA’S CURIOUS SPRING. “It had to be Niagara next, of course, so thither we went. It is of little use to describe the Falls, so many attempts (having already been madg to describe a scene that is really indescribable in its grandeui and beauty. But a most peculiar phenomenon that came under our notice is a queer spring of water called the Indian Fire Spring. This will sound like the typical American tall story, but this is exactly a,s we saw it. The well is not now’ in its original and natural state, having been built up. but its peculiarity is that if a lighted match is dropped into the well, the water bursts into flame just as methylated spirits would. An ordinary water-pipe inserted into the water can similarly be lit at the end like a torch. More peculiar still was tlie experiment we attempted by putting a. handkerchief over tlie moiiili of the pipe, so that the water just trickled through. On applying a light, a bright flame was caused, which kept burning without scorching tlie handkerchief. We put down a dipper into the well and brought up some of the water. On drinking it we were aware of no pt ■ i:; 11 v either of taste or smell.

applied to the water remaining in the dipper had the same effect. The water burst into flame. “There is a tunnel under the Falls of Niagara and the most wonderful rainbow colour effects, especially at night, when the bright lights are seen ■ through the roaring cataract. NEW YORK CITY. •

“We went on to New York, the greatest of all American cities, where the streets are straight and set in squares, and where the traffic is regulated by a system of lights. The din of New York City is appalling, and this is due in large measure to the roar and rattle of the overhead railways. We spent a week there, and saw the famous Liberty Statue, the Woolworth Tower and the usual well-known sight oi that great metropolis. “We left New York on the Berengaria, a 52,000 tons vessel, and a veritable floating palace, with its magnificently upholstered accommodation, its swimming baths—and even its facilities for gulf I And- in event its facilities of golf 1 And in ton.

“it was spring in the Old Country, which is another way of saying that it was paradise after the bleak and barren prairies of our sister Dominion on the American continent. Flowers were just beginning to blootn, and everything was green and fresh. “We went to London, of course, and there we made our headquarters for the touring we afterwards did. After a stay of two weeks in the capita], we went to the ancient city of Chester, where we visited the venerable Cathedral, the Chester Walls, and the country round about, where we saw acre after acre of strawberries.

“Thence we journeyed to Liverpool, and viewed the docks, including the New Gladstone Dock which was completed this year at a cost of £7.500.000 and which was opened by Hi’s Majesty the King and Queen Mary a few weeks later. We also visited Southport, with its shady trees, along the Valley Parade, its magnificent pier, its splendid shops and hotels. OSTEND ROTARY CONVENTION. “Then we returned to Loudon preparatory for a visit to the Rotary Convention at Ostend. We made the trip to the Continent without mishap, and were tremendously interested in the Conference. Ostend was crammed with thousands of people of ail nationalities ironi every part of the globe. Ihe Conference was opened by the King of Belgium, and speeches were delivered by innumerable delegates from au tne various countries of the world. “We went on to Brussels, where again the Rotarians accorded us n .(loyal welcome and gave us a great lime. RHINE TOWNS. “Cologne was our next call; and in that busy Rhine town we lounii things very brisk indeed and the people very happy. There seemed to De plenty of money about. \\ e visited the magnificent Cathedral, and wandered around the town having a most interesting time. On one occasion we took advantage of the opportunity offered by a day-trip up the Rhine to see the various beautiful townships that border the banks ol that great river. ENGLAND AGAIN. “After a time we went back to London, determined to see as much as wo could ot Britain. W e visited Birmingham, and saw the cutlery factories, eve., went to Stoke ami examined the pottery industry, and continued on to Sheineld- in tne line of our own business to make investigations regarding the hardware industry. be spent a month in Yorkshire, visited Bolton Abbey, Fountain’ s Abbey, and stayed for a week in Scarborough. There we were interested in the old castle, and in the marks of the German bombs. Thereafter we visited Whitby, with its magnificent old church on the summit of a steep hill, overlooking the quaint fishing-craft in the harbour below, and then toured by the Falcton Inn, Dick ’Turpin’s famous stopping-place on his ride to York, where the peat-fire is still burning that was lit over 100 years ago. We even sat upon Dick Turpin's stool. In that neighbourhood also, we saw Lord Lascelles’ hounds, on a hunting day. ENGLISH LAKES.

“After that we went northward to the English Lakes, and svisited them all—Windermere, Grasmere, Collision, Ullswater, Derwent-water, and the others. We saw tlie grave of Coleridge in Grasmere, Hie pew where Wordsworth sat in the village church, and “Ruskin's Seat” by the side of the lake. At Bo’ness, halfway up Lake Windermere, we were taken to the Leven’s Gardens, where the trees are cut in the most cunning fashion into all sorts of shapes of animals, birds and other creatures. SCOTLAND. “Still pursuing our way northwaid we went to Edinburgh with its overtowering castle, its majestic Prince’s street (I'here was an east wind, ot course), and its queer, steep, narrow closes. We saw tlolywood Palace and the best war memorial we have ever beheld—the Scottish National War Memorial which is now a part,of Edinburgh Castle. “We’ next visited the Trossachs and the Scottish lochs. Then we looked at Glasgow, a city which is not half so beautiful as Edinburgh hut perhaps twice as wealthy—and went down to Ayr and the Burns Country, where we saw the cottage in which Burns was born in Alloway, tlie two- bridges (the ‘twa brigs,’ 1 lielitve, is the correct term) and the line monument that has been erected to the poet in his native town—

“Auld Ayr. wham ne'er a town surpasses. For honest men and bonny lassies.’’

IRELAND. “We sailed from Adrossan to Belfast, which we found to be a fine city with handsome buildings and splendid public services. We arrived in Dublin the day after de Valera had taken the oath. There was great rejoicing over the fact. Thence we went to Killarney—where we had a true Irish welcome. It would be difficult to say which lakes we liked best—al] were so fine. But perhaps memory will linger over Killarney, with its cobbled streets, narrow and tortuous, and its jostle of donkeycarts and jaunting-cars. SOUTH OF ENGLAND.' “Returning to Dublin, we went then to Holyhead and back to London. from whence we toured the South of England—Bournemouth, Cheddar Caves, and Salisbury Plains (where many of our New Zealand soldiers were encamped) Bath, and Wells with its wonderful clock—such was our itinerary. ISLE OF WIGHT. “Then for eight days we toured in Istle of Wight, and afterwards Teturned to continue oui' explorations of the South of England, especially the New Forest, which was wonderful with its wild rhododendrons and massive trees. In that region we saw some of the oldest inns in the world. THE CONTINENT. “We left London, homeward bound, on the 30th of September, and on the way we visited the battlefields of France, stayed a week in Paris, went to Versailles and viewed Napoleon's tomb, the hospitals, palaces, courts, etc., and then went down to Switzerland. It is a beautiful country, where the peasants must work hard to earn a meagre living. It is, as is well-known, a mountainous country, and the areas given over to cultivation are very small. “We visited Venice next, with its gondolas and canals and lovely blue waters. We saw St. Mark’s Church, and its priceless mosaics and frescoes, and one day we were fortunate enough to see the Doge gldiing slowly post in the Royal gondola. “Rome was next: the Colosseum; St. Peter’s; the Catacombs (where the actual inscriptions written on the rock by the early C/ristians can still be seen), the viaducts; and so on—we saw what tourists have seen and what thousands will yet go to see. “We returned to Nice, and went to Monte Carlo. Thence we passed on to Marseilles and joined the Mooltan, a P. and 0. liner. HOMEWARD BOUND. “Our first call was Port Said, where we were interested in the na-' tives, who were very keen to sell their goods. The Suez Canal, alter that, was very interesting, and we were fortunate to go through it during good weather. We called at Aden and stayed for a short time, but did not go ashore. It looked a poor place, with few houses and next to no vegetation. “We came then to Bombay—a lively and busy city, round which we rode to see the sights. One very interesting sight was that of natives simply laying themselves down on the pavement wherever they happened to be, and going to sleep for the night. “We went ashore at Colombo, and visited the gardens, the native quarters, and a very fine native temple. AUSTRALIA. “Arrived at Australia, we came overland from Fremantle to Adelaide and spent three nights on the train for that journey. The country seemed to be very poor. We were interested to see the aborigines coming Up to the train at various stopping places and begging. They wear their hair long, and pleat it with mud. Even the men do that with their beards. Scarcity of wated is the trouble in some parts of Australia. In Coolgardie, for example, water has to be brought 300 miles in pipes to supply the town. We saw fine wheat crops covering large areas. It has been a good season in Western Australia although poor in other places. What impressed us as much as anything on the whole trip was the beauty and profusion of the wild flowers in Australia. Some are six feet high, and the mass of lovely bloom is in places beyond description. “AND SO HOME.” “We joined the ship at Adelaide and went on to Melbourne. Thence we came overland to Sydney and so home. "No country we passed through, when all Is said and done," said Mr. Harvey in conclusion, "appealed to us as much as our own, when we saw it again." THE WELLS CLOCK. The curious old clock at Wells, refered to by Mr Harvey in our interview, has a dial plate 6 feet 4j inches in diameter, contained in a square frame in the corners of which are angels holding the four winds. The outer circle is divided into 24 parts, intended to represent the 24 hours ot the day: the numbers are in Old English lettering, and mark the hours from 12 at noon to midnight, and thence to 12 at mid-day. A large, gilt star, representing the sun as it moves round the earth, points to the hour. An inner, or second circle, shows the minutes, and a small star moves round the circle every hour. A third circle gives the days of the lunar month: a crescent with a pointer shows the moon’s age. Within the circle is a convex disc ot copjer, painted with clouds and stars, representing the globe of the world; this disc is attached by a rose in the centre, and has on it a figure which remains upright as the disc revolves. Around the figure is the motto, “Sic peragrat Phoebe’’ —“so travels the moon.” A round opening in the disc serves to show the phases of the moon.

Above the dial plate is a panelled tower, around which knights on horseback revolve in opposite directions every hour on the striking of the clock, which revolution is meant to represent a tournament, a popular amusement in the Middle Ages. A figure seated some distance from the clock, at a higher elevation, strikes with its heels every quarter of an hour against bells, two strokes at the first quarter, four strokes at the hallhour, and so forth; it also strikes with a hammer on a bell the number of the hour. Connected with the works of the clock, on the outside of the Cache-

dra| Church, two knights in armour of the fifteenth century strike with battleaxes the quarters on bells. The hour is struck by the great hell < n the outside on the central tower. The works of the clock have been renewed ; the ancient works, which are of iron, are now on loan in the South Kensington Museum, fitted up and kept in motion during the du.v.