FROM GISBORNE TO MELBOURNE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1058, 6 April 1882, Page 2

FROM GISBORNE TO MELBOURNE.

[Written fob the Poverty Bay Standard. —No. ll.] Among other places I visited was the North Shore, a suburban resort ■which has been obtaining an increasing hold on public favor during the last few years. It abounds in private residences for business men employed in the city, and appears to be a place where social contentment and domestic peace should make a man happy after the toils of the day. A new river boat company has just been floated, and as a consequence the travelling public are the gainers. So as to ensure extra comfort for visitors, two or three enterprising settlers there have entered on the project of opening up what are to be called the “ Victoria Pleasure Gardens,” not on a very large scale, but, nevertheless, one that will make their characteristics specially inviting. The situation of the gardens is near to Niccol’s old slip, to the southward of the Flagstaff Hotel. The ground, in its primitive state looked exceptionally uninviting, and just one of those spots where pleasure, in any shape, could scarcely be expected to exist. But such is the far-seeing endeavor of the promoters, that money and labor will accomplish that which is promised to the holiday folk of Auckland. It is said that the idea is taken from that of Mr. Graham in forming the Ellerslie Gardens, with the difference that the Victoria will be carried out on a more extensive and elaborate plan. The promoters, I understand, hardly expect a profitable return in the immediate future, but they are confident that, ere long, they will reap a good reward for their labors. The local papers promise that the Victoria will be a Westminster Aquarium on a small scale, while (also on a small scale, I suppose) it will possess the attractiveness of Woodward’s Gardens, at ’Frisco, minus their grosser associations. A description of the plan will serve to indicate more clearly the scope and character of the concern. Five acres of land, some hundred yards or so to the west of the nearer wharf, and contiguous to the beach, have been purchased from Mr. Niccol, as the site of what will be known as the Victoria Pleasure Gardens, and they are already enclosed by a concrete wall eight feet high, so that no time has been lost in commencing operations. Ab entrance lodge, having a tower to it, is also approaching completion. On the left of this lodge, which, by the way, will overlook the main entrance, there will be a lawn tennis court, and, on tho other side, two tanks, 60 and 30 feet square respectively, and connected together by a concrete tunnel will be placed for the reception of a number of sea lions, which it is intended to procure for tho purposes of exhibition. This will form part of the aquarium. The tanks will be furnished with or supplemented by “ rockeries,” upon which the amphibious monsters will be enabled to disport themselves for the gratification of curious sightseers. Beyond the tanks, in an angle of the gardens, a 12-horee engine is to be placed to perform a dual office, viz., in the daytime to pump fresh supplies of water into the tanks, the waste water being allowed to run off by a nine-inch main to the sea, and, at night, to work the electric light with which it is purposed to illuminate the whole place. Brush’s, Edison’s, and Swann’s lamps are to be used, the order for them having already been transmitted to England. The Aquarium proper will be 75ft. long, and will comprise two rows of nine tanks each, one lot being filled with fresh water and the other lot with salt water, and they will be so arranged as to form a continuation of the sea-lion tanks. They will all be roofed over and fitted with plate-glass fronts, while the necessary light will be thrown through the water. There will be a main walk going straight through the gardens from the main entrance, with a fresh water fountain erected midway between the two gates. After leaving the seal tanks, the visitors will pass down some terraces to a level place of greensward encircled by a shelled track for bicycles and foot races. The inner area will be available for circus exhibitions. Beyond it a pavillion, 150 ft. by 60ft., will be constructed for dancing purposes, with a stand for an instrumental band. Adjacent to them, another fountain and a small bijou theatre will be placed. Further along still, an aviary will be fitted up, and, opposite it a monkey-house, and at short intervals between them, show-cages for wild animals—such as lions, tigers, bears, buffaloes, and Australian animals, all of which it is intended to import. Indeed, provisional arrangements have already been made in America for a full menagerie of carnivora. Another section of ground, having an area of 160 feet by 130 feet, near Graham-street, will be reserved for picnic parties, for whose accommodation small and tastefully designed arbours will be put up all round the sides, and in order to enhance the appearance of this cosy retreat, a fountain will be placed in the centre of a neat lawn. Here, refreshments of all sorts, excepting intoxicating beverages, will be obtainable at a moderate charge, as well as fruit and other delicacies of tho season. In another pari of the Gardens, tanks will be fixed up for the storage of the water required for the fountains. The gentlemen who have the project in hand propose to spend some £4,000 or £5,000 in carrying it to a successful issue, and they are determined to so manage the affair as to secure and maintain the public confidence. It will be conducted on strict temperance principles, and the proprietors reserve to themselves the right, which will be rigorously exercised, of rejecting or refusing admission to brawlers or persons of ill-repute, tyo unseemly proceedings will be allowed to take place within its precincts, and the utmost care and vigilance will be used to promote the comfort and entertainment of its patrons.

I view this project as one undertaken in the public interest, and, if carried out as above stated, should command public support. I am indebted to the Star for the foregoing description. This is a great age for the formation of Companies. It is only a short time since that Fisher & Co., the celebrated batchers, formed their business into a Company, now I observe that another firm in Auckland supposed to be merchants in a lucrative and large line of business, have got the necessary capital subscribed to erect their firm into a Company, with the ostensible object of “ extending the sphere of their operations,” according to the cant phrase of the day—but, actually, to sell themselves out of a possible mess, and the Bankruptcy Court. Oh ! this is a great era for Companies, and you in New Zealand appear to be not at all behind the age. I had occasion while in Auckland to do some business in the Stamp and Registry Offices, and talk about circumlocution and tedious delay, if there’s any office in the service that earns the reputation it will be those I visited; Heaven protect the poor wight who does not know his way about town. I had but two things to do. Namely, to stamp one deed and register another. I was told that both could be done under one roof, but I found that, unless the canopy of Heaven was meant by the “one roof,” the said roof was a delusion and snare. First, I entered that huge pile of solemnity known m the Supreme Court buildings, where I met Mr. Williamson, the Registrar. He looked awfully awful at first —just as most men do who, having command of the situation, use it to their own advantage, but he thawed somewhat when he learn where I came from, and, in a most genial manner, entered into conversation about Gisborne, and some of its celebrities. That goodnatured “old cuss,” Mr C. D. Berry, of

that ilk, came in for a goodly lot of questioning, and the time passed pleasantly enough. But Mr Williamson kindly reminded me that it was Saturday by the day of the week, and Lenten time by the movable Feasts of the year, during which festive period the public offices were bound by their religious faith, and closed punctually at 12 o’clock, and that as, according to Shakspeare, the hand of the clock was close on to “ the prick of noon,” I had little time to lose. He could do nothing for me until I had got the stamps equivalent to the value of the sum stated in the deed. He had not got them, but I should have to go to the High-street Office, affix the stamp, and then return to him for registration. I proceeded to the Stamp Office ; but it appeared that the stamping officer did not sell stamps, so, after ascending two or three flights of steps, I had to descend them again, after which I was informed that if I went along “ that ere ” passage, turn to the left, go into the second office on the right, and at the third desk at the further end of the office I should find Mr Hughes. 1 found Mr Hughes, got the stamps, and retraced my steps to the second pate back, when I was informed that the official day was in articulo mortis, or something of the kind, and that I must wait till Monday morning. I left my documents, and returned on that day to go through the same work once more, so that, after spoiling two days, I managed to get one document stamped and the other registered. I will say that the officials were polite and obliging, which tended much to appease my wrath, which, with the thermometer at 90 degrees in the shade, was equally warm 1 assure you. That shows the value of courtesy, for had one of them shown his teeth, as some of the ultra-officials do, I should have resented it by reporting him to the head of his department. But these were not young men, and it is the youngsters who are the puppies of the service, and bring reproach on an honorable position ; still I feel that a deal of unnecessary and tedious delay and annoyance are caused to the public through the distant separation of these offices, and circumlocution all round.

On my trip from Gisborne to Auckland I fell into conversation with the Hon. Peter Lalor, Speaker of the Victorian House of Assembly, who, with his wife, was travelling round New Zealand for the benefit of his health, and change af air and scene. I have heard since my arrival in Melbourne that Mr Lalor is so entranced with the beauty of your Colony that he contemplates settling there. I am not surprised at that, for I remember the constant expressions of surprise that escaped him as we talked together while rounding the North Head. It was one of Auckland’s sunniest days, when tho waters of the magnificent Waitemata are lulled in peace, and all Nature is unctuously hoppy. “Ah I” he’exclaimed, “ If Victoria hod your climate and topographical beauty, and you our people and money, Now Zealand would be the grandest spot on earth.” Everyone hero speaks well of dear old New Zealand, and I don’t wonder at it, for, “ with all its faults, I love it still.”