THE EMPIRE CRUISE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1925, Page 4

THE EMPIRE CRUISE

•Mr V. C. Scott, ((’Connor is one of lho Uritish journalists who accompanied the !!i it fish Service Squadron on its voyage round the world, and "The Kmpu'e Cruise" contains Ids account oi it. Mr 1.. S. Amcry enntribuies all introduction, in the course ol which lie describes the hook as "a >ea pageant of Fnipirc written in a. spirit and in language worthy of its theme. The variety, the 1 reality, Co immense possibility of the British dominions, and underlying all these the een-ole-s, unflagging vigil of the navy, without which the whole Imperial edifies would dissolve forthwith .

these tilings have impressed themselves deeply on .Mr Scott O'Connor’s mind and live in his pages."

Mr .droit O’Conner's account of the whole ci iiisi■ is very loadable, although, the effect is necessarily rather kaleidoscopic. But. mu iirally, one turns with intense to the (haulers ah mi i 1 ■ visit, to A in,i ralia. The out lew give, us a : -.l •viiiiLt icdvcri iv.'tnen;. itfinds lauil with nothing, and mm a n admire. He is pleased w ith everyliiiig. from tin' contentment ami optimism oi the newly-arrived British settlers in Western Australia to the excellent and inexpensive meals supplied in a Queensland restaurant ear. lie is even amS( inns ei the subtle spell of Ihe great empty plain through which tho traus. eniii ineiual line passes, lie pgys a tribute to "the splendid work that has iiaen ai comp!ishcd by this small population of le-s limn -ix m ill inn

souls. Xu other r,li;is ever >lslplishod mi great feat.” Thu i-ily of \>T!I uni' i“ecthing !>•'• limn magnificent . II is a. great and beautiful city; In bo in<-Iyci'■ 1 nnl Jiy i■■ >iinii: l l nr ]> i i; ! U'f riJ ilj sl.andardi; alone. lull by com!m risiin with the line cities of iia.' world. Its buildings. already massive anil i in; nisi hi;, ace beginning m soar into : 1 1 1 ui-s I America n :i 1 1 i l tides : its lone; visins down ils un'lulni inyr slreclrim lull of light. The I’iver X’:i ii'n Hows through it. mid ono run son that tlio perspectives it offers liavo boon handled l.y |ioi.,olo familial' with, I.nttiliin ami I’aris." 1 ‘ I .noli ino back on the cruise as a whole," lie omnium", ■‘there is no iloubi. that its high-water mark was reached at Melbourne.” Mr Scott O'Connor is not holiindiianil in his appreciation of Sydney, tile says: '•The Greatest moment in the cruise" was when the squadron enforc'd the heads and swept on to its moorin os in stately stride'. lie quotes the words of the Vice-Admiral, who wrole of their rereption : ‘‘The scene of animation amt enthusiasm, ashore and . alloat. surpassed anythin'! in our previous exfiet ienee. and left upon our minds an impression than none ot its 1 will ever forget.” The author notes | that while Australians are British to • the I Hick hone, ill architecture the Ira- | dilioti of following British examples j is dying away, and the architecture of 'tile Coifed States is beginning to esj tal.li.-ii itself in its pla.e. This i- due 1n differences in climate. Sydeny ‘‘is j the most American of the Australian | cities, and the most influenced hy j American ideas of life.” “The connj try is alive to it-, linger tips, with a I marked inclination for art and poel- ( it." Nowhere in its cruise had the ' squadron such a I’ress as it had in Aus--1 tralia.” And seldom has Australia j had such a testimonial ns Air Scott 1 O'Connor gives her. - tfi^ictM!32ii?&raBWU2aCBWIM4BRBSCQ