VIA HOLLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1924, Page 4

VIA HOLLAND.

SOUTH AMERICA TO LONDON

'By E. R. Wilts in .Sydney Paper). Bahia, in North Brazil, was under martial law when we left that steaming, negro-inhabited city, and sot sail for England. Las Palmas was touched, 'then Tenerilfe, both Spanish possessions, and parts of the Grand Canary Group. Ours wn.s a Dutch cargo ship, and we varied the flavour of the hides and hoofs cargo front the Argentine hv taking on bananas, parrots, and canaries at the island ports. It was tulip time in Holland, and gorgeously beautiful wore these flowers right through that happy pastoral country, where the Flibstan cattle stand kneep-deep in clover, the rich cheese is wheeled into the market places in piled harrows, and the milk waggons are drawn by big dogs at Rotterdam. Wo saw the cleanest town in the world, and paused awhile nt Yollendam, where, they all dress up like postcards every .Sunday. The ttilially city, Amsterdam, has that famous picture, “The Night Watch,” by Rembrandt, hung in a room till to itself, and at The Hague tire the Royal and Peace Palaces. 1 thought that the windmills were for pieturesqueness and for painters hut was told that Utoy were entirely thole for t!io workings of the canals. Bitterly cold was the crossing from Flushing to Folkestone in England, hut in London we found lilac time; the parks and the trees ia their greenest frocks, and a wealth of flowers everywhere. It is a time for oversea meetings from all over the Empire. At Wembley 1 was charmed to find the Australian court the most complete and finest of all at this wii’A derful exhibition. The panoramic views, with all details so excellently arranged (till hut the hilly-tan on the camp fire, and that was missing). At Vernon House—the Oversea Club—one meets friends from manv far-off lands,

and it is excellently organised. London, at present, is full of crowned heads. Italy’s King, Queen, Prince, and Princess, and the King of Roti-

I'.tailia, with his beautiful Queen, too. The Horse Guards are kept busy with the many processions, whilst the police keep ti wide-awake eye on all sides, but tile pageant of colour is delightful.