THROUGH AMERICAN EVES

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1929, Page 3

THROUGH AMERICAN EVES

Now Zeala'nders impressed me. ns being the mo.it hospitable group 01 people it has been our luck to moe We had not been in Gisborne mo than eight hours unil the'yacht wr.. just a uoher of New Zealand flowers. A stranger entering the saloon couiii easily mistake it for a bridal suite Not only did flowers pour in, but ais . fruit and vegetables, which were 1110 s welcome after twenty-eight days at sea with very little fresh food. Although I was greatly impressed with the geysers at Rotorua, which ' shall never forget, only one phrase cai '••illy exnmss mv feelings after visiting tlie Waitoino glow-worm caves. ‘*Jt makes you feel that heaven coming down to you.” .1 understand now why the family specially requested us not to overlook the opportunity ol seeing them during our visit to New Zealand, and i feel.if we had not seen anything else it was well worth the time to come just to see tlie caves. From the waterfront Auckland reminded us of New York. Tlie first morning we wont on shore we stood on tlie corner trying to figure om the signals of the traffic “cop” People did not seem to pay much attention to him when crossing the street, so we did the same. ITe watched iis every minute, but we did not know whether it was mere curiosity such as we had met since landing, or whether it was our impudence at taking such liberties. AVo never found out, however, during our slay, as we were never able to figure out the rules and regulations of -traffic, and soon gave it up.

It was indeed }>loasin«r to find tlio lluui'dit extended to working pc;<>pl<> by Elio Now Zealand business man. I tiiink Henry Ford must have originally got liis idea of a five-day week from the New Zealander, except for half a day. The youth of New Zen-' |-nd impressed me very mueli as dean, healthy, high-minded boys a ’’d girls. Instead of swarming to the shows on Saturday afternoon tliev seek higher forms of entertainment, such as tennis, swimming and boating. The people of Russell also showed us the true meaning of the word “hospitality,” and if it is ever the duck of any of our many friends to visit America, I will certainly try to return som'e of it, although 1 am sure it would take a great deal to compete with them in this line. When we sailed from Russell I felt as if 1 was leaving a country in which I had lived for some considerable time, instead of just two months. —EUNICE BTSSELL (Yacht Wanderlust).