ON THE TRAMP.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 24, 3 May 1916, Page 3

ON THE TRAMP.

Writing to o member of the staff of the Stratford Evening Post, Mr C. D. Sole of Stratford who is away on holiday, says:—There are interesting places outside of Stratford, and also interesting experiences. I put in n day or two at Wellington, and leaving Wellington by the Pntecna, it was soon found that the accommodation was somewhat inferior to the passenger lists. The soldiers had obtained general leave, and of course crowded aboard for home, that is those who resided Nelson-way. It was delightful to see the way the boys settled down ' to shake-downs on the tallies, on the floors, and everywhere where there was room for a weary head. Luckily, the weather was perfect, and right across the Straits and through to Nelson it was charming. Nelson is a delightful town in many ways. One of the principal characteristics of the people is their dont-care-a-damn sort of way! Nbthing matters, as there is always tomorrow to look forward to! Being a good Anglican I naturally visited the Cathedral on Good Friday. It. is a beautiful place inside, but shows signs of decay outside on the roof and walls. Some day they will wake up sudden and put it right, but the time is not yet. Nelson is a great place for pubs. There are 23, and situated in some quaint places; you run against them when you least expect it,and they are not built for the travelling public. Of course, there are 1 about three good ones situated in! the main portion of the town. The new hospital is not vet on the stocks ; there seems some doubt as to the amount available under Cawthorne's bequest, but they are hoping. I left Nelson for the interior on Saturday morning, and took an outside seat to view the country. It is splendid as far as the fruit country is concerned; there must be miles and miles o! ap-

ple trees, and splendid fruit it is, but there are no ships to take it away to the Old Country and South America. People who have invested their capital jn fruit 'farms are now suffering from "cold feet," and are downhearted at the prospect, at least for this year, but I hear that prefer the apples to rot sooner than open up n cheap market for the people. Here is some idea of the apple boom: Land at "Bronte," about, nine years ago could be bought for 30s per acre; to-day they are asking £6O. Nelson bpilt a freezing works, and, like all other' places, soon found it too small, and this year they have had to enlarge; they have space now for about 30,000, sheep; it is a co-operative concern, and is doing good work for the settlers. The back country away into the Bnller River is fairly rough and is very gradually settled. Prices arc not like our Taranaki ones. I saw a .r o od line of 3-year-old steers that were bought at £6 each ; the .same line would easily top £9 in our sale yards. There are no large dairy factories—either butter or cheese, or anything like we are used to. You can buy good weaner pigs for 10s or 12s each, and there are no buyers for baconers or fat pork, that is, no competition for them. To-mororw I am off to the Howard goldfields, where. 1 understand the men are making from CI to £9 a week on placer claims. There is a fine lake in this district called "Rotorua," about 12 miles long and from one to four miles wide. It is of a very even temperature, and some of the old settlers are quite sure there are hot springs in it somewhere. The Bulle'r River is a line one for trout, and all its tributaries are swarming with fine big fellows, j up to 10 and 121bs in weight. The deer | season is about over. They have ceased to roar, and it is a terrible hard

joh to stalk them when'they have done roaring. There is good sport rabbit shooting, and there arc also a few kiwis about and in places crested grebe, wild duck, and a few Paradise ducks.