A TOUR ABROAD.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 251, 23 August 1928, Page 3

A TOUR ABROAD.

MR. J. PGHLEN RETURNS. Soi.ic Inter tillg* G '» dWoaS. Mr. Joseph Pohien has returned to Maiamu„u after a good trip round the world, in course of which he visited England, Scotland, ireianu, Belgium, Germany and Italy. ,Being of an observing nature, and of an age and experience ripe enough to benefit by what he saw and heard, Mr. Pohien has some interesting observations to make.

Being a racing man “ in his own right ” as it were, Mr. Pohien kept his eyes on the gee-gees, and saw the Derby at Epsom (England). He left Fishguard for Waterford, in the South of Ireland, and visited Dublin and Belfast. Also, Mr. Pohien saw the great electrical works on the River Shannon, in regard to which the cables told ns some months ago there was trouble on account of a German firm having got the contract. They are very fine works indeed. Ireland Settling Down.

Speaking of the political and social conditions of Ireland, Mr. Pohien said that the country had settled down right enough, and most of the rough elements had gone off to America, hut it would take many years for those who were left to restore what had been destroyed. Mr. Pohlen’s personal observations under this head sound seriously like many a passage from the pages of history, which is evidently at its old game of repeating itself: the unruly elements ravage and destroy, and the peaceful and law-abiding folk are generally left to clear up the wreckage after the vandals have gone to despoil in some other clime. Keeping Going. Incidentally, Mr. Pohien visited Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Livingstone’s (Matamata) relatives at Home, and travelled in Yorkshire and Staffordshire. He also met a brother of Mr. Syd. Gunn (Matamata), and attended an Empire Day function by the Victoria League, when Mr. F. G. Southon, of Te Poi, was a guest of honour. Mr. Pohien was, willy nilly, obliged to ascend the platform and make a speech too, as a visiting New Zealander. Mr. Southon was very popular in his own district, being very prominent in the Boy Scout movement and highly esteemed. A Flying Trip.

When asked if he crossed the Channel to the Continent, Mr. Pohien said he took a flying trip, which was true in both the actual and the figurative senses, inasmuch as he went by airship and did not remain long away. Mr. Pohien said it was remarkable how air-travel (Imperial Airways, Ltd., in this case) had developed. People just went on board an airship as nonchalantly as they boarded a train or a steamer. The day was fine., and he had a splendid bird’s eye view of the country passed over, which was cultivated to an intensity not familiar to New Zealanders. They stayed at Brussels and Cologne. Mr. Pohien went on to Italy, and was much entertainea by the curious sights there, such as the making of maccaroni. The narrow streets, where everyone washes the family soiled linen and hoists the same up to dry on the balconies, and such like domesticities paraded in public came as an amusing surprise to the New Zealand traveller. Other quainr sights were a cart being drawn by three animals —a bullock, a dor.key and a pony—surely enough to make a colonial roar with laughter. Mr. Pohien said he had heard or read of places where the cow was driven from door to door and milked, but he actually saw that method in operation in Italy. Evidently Mussolini has not got “ Imperial Rome ’ quite slap-bang up to date yet. Ancient glory of the land of the Caesars will never return until Queen Cow is treated more royally than that. • England’s Prosperity. The economic condition of England, Mr. Pohien said, seemed to him to be flourishing. No doubt it was true that there was misery in the mining areas, but everywhere he happened to go he saw fine houses and new buildings of all kinds being erected. Here and there one would see a pov-erty-stricken person, just as one would do in New Zealand, but the people in general were well-dressed and looked prosperous enough. The Traditional Welcome.

Everywhere he went in the United Kingdom, Mr. Pohien met with the greatest politeness and hospitality. The British people with .whom he became acquainted could not do enough for him, and they were all interested in and well-disposed towards New Zealand.

One rather fears that Mr. Pohien has caught the wander-lust, for he says he hopes some day to be able to,make another trip to Great Britain.