Round about Auckland

Levin Daily Chronicle, 22 February 1917, Page 4

Round about Auckland

WITH NOTES ON ROTORU A

Mr Marco Fosella supplies us with the following notes on his decent trip to Auckland"Since March, '1870, wheii I and Mrs Fosella landed in New Zealand, 'this is the first good holiday we have been able to indulge in. The train journey was long and the night very tedious. We arrived in Auckland at 7.30 a.in. To reach our destination, 801 l road, Remuera, we had three sections tram and a half mile walk on hilly roads. No sooner were we in the house than the rain came down in torrents, and we were lucky to escape the landslip that occurred that week on the railway, which ■made things very unpleasant to later travellers w r ho had to paddle in slush and mud to catch the rescue train sent from Auckland. Houses to let are very scarce near the town, and nearly every body lives in the suburbs, where the elevated situation promotes health, and the climate is temperate. It is a pleasure to see the numberless large villas of a varied architecture, and surrounded by large gardens and lawns, and hedges trimmed to perfection. There one sees bananas, fan palms, and other tropical trees growing luxuriantly, and the flora there is simply magnificent. On our first visit to the town proper we ■alighted in Queen-street', and were 'inpressed by the heiavy traffic and the thronged footpaths. Amongst the beautiful shops I noticed a spacious marble bar fitted up in continental style with numerous tables and electric fans, where one could have icecream and iced-fruit drinks and rejoice in a very pleasant and refreshing rest.

In the public library we were glad to find amongst the many other papers, our Levin Chronicle. Beforegoing home we entered a fruit shop and asked for a dozen 'bananas; the girl, smiling, told me that tliey were sold at 4d a lb. Looking round I noticed that peaches were marked at 2s per dozen, but I could not help ask. ing if plums were sold by the yard. After a good laugh, we bough 31bs of bananas and left. The following day we visited the Art Gallery, in which is the Miackelvie collection of painting: unique in New Zealand. The museum with the Maori carvings, war implements, war canoes. numberless mlineral and a.njmal .specimens, is

exceeding interesting. Of the numerous parks one can only say they are all beautiful. I mention in particular Myers' Park, because I was fortunate to see it in the evening, during the carnival in aid of the Children's Hospital. with multi-colored, electric globes distributed in profusion, which gave it the appearance of a fair land. Games of every description provided great merriment to 'thousands of children, who, with their merry laugh and joyous exclamations, filled one's hearts with joy. Such an evening is never to be. forgotten.

One day, while walking lasily in Queenstreet, I was surprised at the number of "doubles" I met ; some of a 'striking resemblance to familiar friends. One in particular was so much like me that I was on the point of Baying "Halloa Foselk!" when I realized that I was the .real Fosella. I met Dr Mackenzie, formerly of Levin, who invited me to tea and to a motor drive to the summit of Mount Eden. Being dark the lights gave nie an idea of the vast extent of the town; it was a splendid sight.

To describe Grafton Bridge, the 'Supreme Court Building, iclmrolieS. etc., it would take volumes. Beautiful is the harbor and all-its popular resorts. The ferry steamers' frequent services and moderate charges provide pleasure, amusement and health to visitors and inhabitants. Mixed bathing is indulged in at all the bays, by-laws prescribe Canadian bathing costumes or "better. An. Jipology for them is worn by bathers ; it is amusing to see the lean, the fat, the gone-to-seed, and the passed-through-the mangle, all keeping to the water as Dluoh as possible; only those gifted with shapely forms promenade or lie on the warm sand. At the invitation of Mrs Dr Mackenzie we paid a visit to Wragge Institute at (Birkenhead. We spent an eminently instructive and pleasant afternoon. We also climbed Bangitoto, an extinct volcano 1000 feet high. From its summit the panoramic view is worthy of the arduous ascent.

Sunday is for Auoklandere a day of real recreation: all ferry-boats overcrowded, the bay full of yachts, sailing boats and the streets are all crowded with people, all bent on pleasure-seeking. I conclude in saying that Auckland is an ideal place for anyone to spend in happiness the remainder of his days. AT ROTORITA. Rotorua is a place of wonderful wonders; the town is well laid broad streets all ornamented by rows of well-grown trees; in the Sanatorium Park there are fountains, rockeries.

lakes and 'ponds, small geysers, bowling greens, croquet and tennis lawns, and anything and everything one can desire. The sanatorium and new batli buildings stand alone in the world. Town affairs, and in fact j everything, are under Government management and control: ergo, perfection. The man who invented hell must have visited first the ißotorua

volcanic regions; and Dante, with his

i wonderful imagination, described fits frightfulness. The first find most interesting place wo visited was Whaka, one and a half miles from the town. There one can see the great and Wairoa geysers, pools of boiling mud. small hot lakes, steam and grunts emit from numerous crevices; and so many other natural phenomena that pen enn hardly describe them. The atmosphere is impregnated with sulphuric fumes that silver coins change color in your pockets. Worthy of j notice is the round trip. A ifive- ; horse drag leaves Roto'.'ua at 8 a.m. : for Te Wairoa. During the ten miles | ride we passed through the Tikitapu ■bush, the blue and green lakes shores, ( all affording beautiful sights. Of the i buried village of Te Wairoa very few •* relics remain visible as evidence of the

destruction caused by. the Tarawern e j'iption of 1886, which transformed solid land into a lake with a depth of

otver 50 fathoms. A .Government motor launch brought us across it. After landing we walked nearly at mile on pretty irough tracks and r<*nched Lake Rotomahann ; there again a launch was awaiting u.s and we were greatly interested in crossing boiling: water near the steaming hills and the site of the lost white and pink terraces. After crossing Rotomahana another long and arduous walk awaited us; at last we reached the Waimangu basin and Frying-pan Flat. Here oiir guide (MoCormack) gave us very instructive and interesting demonstiations. A lighted match near the grounds we were walking on caused an explosion of gases; then eold water poured on the same ground started to bo.il at once. Our feet began to feel pretty warm, so we moved towards the Waimangu geyser, whose eruptions have ceased; but it is,

nevertheless, attracting attention, having en-used the dentil- of four persons when in action. . The Waimangu accommodation house was reached ; it is a splendid spot for a pnnoramic view and for a refreshing cup of tea. On our return journey (14 miles bv coach) we admired the work of the Government in the form of many hundreds of acres of afforestation. All the pines and 'gums are showing a splendid growth. We reached Rotorua at o p.m. with our brains j ill and our bodies tired. Someone said "See Apples and Die," "See Napier and Spit," and I say "See Rotorua and think."

On our return wo 'broke the journey, at 'Hamilton. It is a well-plan-ned town, with lai'ge streets and roads. Tile Beautifying Society lias made great improvements along the Wai'kato river banks, in the shape of a long 'track shaded by acacia trees; seats in great numbers afford pleasant and cooling rest in the hot summer days. There' is also a fine little lake a few minutes' walk from the town, which is well patronised. Every available space has been planted with flowers and shrubs; in fact the society is making groat efforts to make the town as attractive as possible. To avoid most of the tedirjis night travel we took the midnight train at Fraiikton. At daylight we saw the Spiral and Mt R napehu; finally we readied Levin at 3 p.m.. well satisfied with our holiday.