A FOXTONIAN ABROAD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 473, 28 August 1909, Page 3

A FOXTONIAN ABROAD.

BUDGET FROM MR P. J HENNESSY.

East week we received a further budget of news from our townsman, Mr P. J. Hennessy, who, accompanied by his daughter, is mak-ing a trip of the world. Mr Hennessy snys ;

April 27th. —Arrived off Honolulu at 11.30 a.m. Doctor came on board, and all passed the health test. Anchor was then weighed and we proceeded within the natural coral breakwater. Stepped for the first time on the soil of the Stars and Stripes at 1.30 p.m.. and were it not for the colours flying, one would be inclined to think he was in China or Japan, by reason of the number of Chinese and Japs to be seen everywhere. A white man is a rarity, so much so that I travelled two streets looking for a restaurant owned by one, and failing in my quest, I had to ask a Japanese policeman to direct me. He showed me a place alright, but when I got there I found it was run by one of his own countrymen. Now for Honolulu as a beauty spot: All on board were of the opinion that the place was a veritable Garden of Eden. This refers to the suburbs, which form one continual panorama of botanical gardens, each vieiug with the other for best points in beauty. I cannot even make an attempt to describe it, and now that we have left it behind, I feel as if I had been in dreamland, our visit there was so short. What applies to Suva, applies more so to Honolulu, viz., one would want to spend a month there, and at the end of that I think one would desire to spend another. The palace of the dethroned king and another of the ex-Queen are grand buildings. Two hotels built on the same scale are also to be seen. They cost 1,000,000 doars each to b uild. I must now say good-bye to Honolulu with its lovely avenues of cocoanut and date palms, its plantations of banana trees with their luscious fruit, its rice and pine apple fields, its fairy palaces and dwellings, and last but not least, its wonderful acquarium. I regret very much that my time there was so limited. Eeft tor Vancouver, Victoria B.C. at midnight.

April 28.—Usual routine, April 29. —The weather is now very much colder, rather a sudden change, considering we are just out of the tropics. As the wind is blowing from the north-east, I expect we are getting a touch of the last of the Canadian .winter.

April 30. —The weather is still very cold, and all tropical clothing is now discarded. The cold is a welcome change although we did not suffer much inconvenience in the tropics. Passed the s.s Aorangi bound with Australian mail.s Had great sport in the afternoon at a novel pillow fight, not the kind of fight that takes place in bedrooms. I had to hold my sides with laughing. It is astonishing the number of games they have on a ship of this class, officers and men doing everything possible to make the passengers enjoy themselves. When I arrive back I will be able to show the young ones some tricks, that will help to wear away parts of their clothing, but perhaps it will be better to consult mothers first.

May ist. —Weather continues bitterly cold. Passengers promenading the deck to keep their blood in circulation.

May 2nd.—Weather not so cold. Nice sunshine.

May 3rd. —Entered an arm of the sea at 12.30 p.m. U.S.A. on one side and British Columbia on the other. Hills on both sides covered with snow, and wind very cold, so much so that we had to put on extra clothing. As we approached Victoria, the capital of Vancouver, 8.C., situated on Vancouver Island, we opened up into, an inland sea. It was a splendid sight, and gave us the first idea of the immensity of America. Into this sea the Fraser River discharges its waters, a river on which during the salmon season, thousands of fishing boats are to be seen. The salmon-tinning industry is a. very large concern, Victoria was reached at 5 p.m., when we had to undergo another medical inspection, which detained us until 6 p.m. When we got ashore we made the most of our time. Victoria has magnificent public buildings, and a palatial hotel belonging to the Canadian Pacific Coy. (known here as the C.P.R., or the Ruler of Canada), Had a run on the trams as far as the Gorge. I would not call it a a gorge, as it is only a nice sloping bank rising gently from an arm of the harbour, beautifully wooded with native bush. The sight was well worth the journey. As it was dark and very cold on our return, we went on board the ship. Reft next morning at 6 o’clock for Vancouver, and arrived there at noon. The journey up from Victoria was one to be remembered. We passed through beautiful Archipelago. Boats ply regularly between Vancouver and Victoria. Steamers also are in regular connection with Puget Sound.

Vancouver has the air of a goahead city ; its population is over 80,000. Twenty-three years ago it was a forest. It has many buildings of brick and granite, and some of its private residences would do credit to older cities. Itis modern in every sense of the word. Although the city is enclosed by snow-clad hills, the climate is very mild. It has an extensive Park xi miles round —one of the most delightful of places to walk through. Were I to tarry as long

as I would wish, it would take years to do what I have undertaken to do in nine months.