A TRIP UP NORTH.
SOME OBSERVATIONS. It is now possible to travel by train from Wellington away to the Far North. The line is now completed—although a portion is still eontroled by the P.W. Department on the Helensville-Whangarei route. Sleeping ears are available on the Main Trunk line which affords travellers the opportunity of stretching their legs and resting. The extra cost is 12/G per passenger and two and four berth compartments are available. The privacy and comfort thus afforded is cheap at the price —despite growls in some quarters to the contrary. Anyhow book well ahead if you want sleeping berths. Our representative had a look at Hamilton —a very busy centre. The municipality is laying down concrete roads in marked contrast to the alleged highways a few miles out. Hamilton is richly endowed with parks and playing areas and the Waikato river flowing between precipitous and -richly edad banks, is an added asset. Shopping is done in one main thorough fare, which gives it a very animated appearance, although the side streets possess a number of business houses. Claudelands, across the river, possesses some delightfull residences in jbeauiltful/surroundings. The absence of old-fash-ioned fences dividing such properties makes for neighbourly competition in general effect. The Government experimental farm, adjacent to the town, is of great educational value to the farming community. From what we could gather, the land is not so productive as the rich pastures of the Manawatu and the soil needs to he top-dressed annually to get the host results. There are no large holdings and we were informed that fifty acres of scientifically treated holdings return a good living. The value of the nearby holdings averaged £SO per acre. In conversation with an ex-Eangiotu farmer, we were informed that he preferred the Manawatu and Kairanga to anything in that district. “I intend to come back when I can quit here,” he remarked. Hamilton possesses some excellent primary and secondary schools and other public institutions, the inspection of which was full of interest. We also dropped across a number of people from those parts and to sum up, their opinion was “there is only one Manawatu, but holdings are too large and therefore production is less. The fringe of productivity in the Manawatu and Kairanga has only keen touched r) on and when the land is closely settled a great era of progress will set in.” Auckland is booming. Buildings are going up in all directions and the city is expanding. We siient several hours in company with the chairman of the Auckland Hospital'Board (Mr Wallace) and medical superintendent (Dr. Maguire) in looking over this great institution for the treatment of the sick. The ' hospital contains seven hundred beds and numbers are on the waimglist. A new ward is nearing completion at a cost of £70,000, and will include the bacteriological and Xray departments. A new nurses’ home is almost ready for occupation, where every comfort is provided for the nursing staff —including a tepid bath, tennis court on the roof which overlooks the city, and sun room. Further properties have been acquired by the Board for future extensions. In the children’s ward two school teachers are employed and the kiddies are well catered for. The unfortunate little ones have a great affection for the genial superintendent and their faces brighten up as he chats and jokes with them. The infirmary (late Costlev Home) for the aged, is pleasantly situated and splendidly appointed. Space will not permit details. All the old people are well t a red for. One old chap who will touch the century mark next month, offered us n seat on his bed and chatted cheerily. “This young gentleman,” said the resident doctor, as lie placed bis hand behind the old fellow's head, “is our show'inmate. When he entered the home, we had auother patient a few months younger. Ills admittance so affected the younger man that he died shortly after our friend’s admittance.” The through railway traffic from Auckland to Whangaroi has interfered with the steamer traffic. Still many people prefer the night steamer run between the two ports. Wlmngarei is progressing and possesses many natural attractions from a residential point of view. Within easy distance is the famous Kamo springs and the climate is delighfful. The borough is controlled by enterprising men of vision and they are pushing-the town and district ahead. There is an absence of the penny wise and pound foolish policy in their undertakings, and their town is splendidly equipped with public conveniences. The chairman of tlie County, by the way, is an ex-Rongotea resident, in the person of Mr Jones, who is also an enthusiastic member of the Hospital Board. Under his guidance we saw .much of the town and district. We were not very favourably impressed with some of the farm lands, but of course, there were exceptions. The gum lands hereabout arevery poor. As for roads —we complain in this district —but there is no comparison with those of the north. Quite a number of ex-residents of this district are settled about AVhangarei and are quite contented. By the way we dropped across Mr A. W. Bradley, late of Foxton, who conducts a thriving tailoring 1 establishment in the town. The Harbour Board has completed a fine wharf and is dredging and improving the port. Prom AVhangarei the railway runs up to
Kawakawa and historic Russell may be visited without much exertion, or across the island to Dargaville. Hotel accommodation throughout is good and the charges moderate. For any one who contemplates a holiday during the summer, a trip up north should not he missed.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2818, 2 December 1924, Page 2
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939A TRIP UP NORTH. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2818, 2 December 1924, Page 2
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