ROMANTIC JOURNEYS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1924, Page 4

ROMANTIC JOURNEYS

UX'DKIITAKKX HY GOVKHXOHS. SYDXKY, Sopteiuolir I.

Wanderlust scorns to have .seized hold of Australia’s vicc-rogal personages. \Yliile Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair still eoiiteuts himself with penetrating the far west of his domains in Xcw South Wales and turning till in remote townships where a governor has never been seen before, longer residence has encouraged Victoria's Governor. Lord Stradbroke, to go further afield, and he has just completed an overland journey with the Countess of Stradbroke and a few others through the heart, of the continent from Adelaide to Darwin, whilst the GovernorGeneral, with the spirit of adventure horn of still longer residence here, has none oil' to New Guinea. A nictures(|iic description ol the overland trip, and the experiences with the blacks and others on route, was given by the Countess of Stradbroke on the arrival of the party tit Darwin.

“\Vc have,” she told the interviewer, “very much enjoyed the trip thrnuhg your land of eternal sunshine. We have indeed enjoyed a glorious sunbath after the cold weather experiene ed in the south. I know of lots of women who would enjoy this experience. It is the sort of life 1 love, and t licit your wonderful country is overflowing with real hospitality. We roughed it a bit, slept i n the ground everv night, and rose before sis every morning, zontolinies earlier. I here were Invelv moonlight nights, and we sat tit water-holes at night watching for dingoes and w ild horses. 'I he stillness of the nights was profound, and we could hear the lootstops of horses more than a mile distant, hut the horses ilistinelively avoided its. Not so the dingoes, which fre(|tieutly eaine right up to our camp, and one big fierce animal came up within :t yttrd of ns, hut he did not attack. "I would retommend this journey to the most delicate woman. We had it i cook, lint the pleasure ol the journey made up for this and other little deficiencies. We stayed at Alice Springs a week wailing for the Karl. Despite the absence of telegraph’ communication the people everywhere were <|iiite conversant with our movements h.v mentis of aboriginal smoke signal;!. Karl Stradhroke was not surprised at that, for during the late war lie was in Knst Africa, and the natites told him long before he was advised liy telegram of the defeat of the Germans in West Africa, probably a thousand miles away. Krum Alice Springs north the smoko signals followed regularly, and occasionally aboriginals assembled in force along the mute, gaity decked w ith < ormborcc war paint. Kvideiitlv lie smoke man had given us a good e.iara.ier to bis l.iothcrs aliciel. Coe native sttid he received a message that the *big feller gtibmcnl come along.’ The ronohorec at Alice Springs was a gorgeous suedaeiilar affair, in which a real light took place between two natives. The hospital at Alice Springs is on I v half erected. I think this bttilding should be completed and ceptipped with sing staff and medicines immediafelv.”

“I was astounded to learn that between Alice Springs and Oodnadntla, :t distance of hundreds ol miles. I Imre is no such thing as medical aid, and no means i.f gelling it. There arc a hit of women an 1 children in that vast region. They tire thoroughly happy, and enjoy the best of health, hut picture tile misery of a woman s"iiotislv ill being compelled to travel live I - died miles on the back ol a camel in get medical assistance. IVople them got their s.tne.ilies i.nre a year. 'I lev arc 1 1 i 1I >i>v people, and said they would like to see a railway or some (pucker moans of communication. Inti there was never a grumble heard. I sincerely hope that such line people will immediately receive some substantial i m.outagnumnt to tonlimm their pioneering work. I would like to see a m, ,1,u M.|d, i' inn in Aloe Springs nine a no ill th. with preiel'etiee to women desiring medical aid.”