A NEW ZEALAND CHAPLAIN IN FRANCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 15, 16 August 1916, Page 8

A NEW ZEALAND CHAPLAIN IN FRANCE.

A NEW WORLD. Willi limited opportunities for sight-seeing amid Liu- never-ending movement ol one's self and In’s follows, only slight impressions of the beauty and grandeur of any •country can strike oil!.', aid yet perhaps, these lew impressions, duly recorded, may be acceptable to the readers of our papers. A filmy, chalky “something” becomes observable to the eye of Hie searcher, for land—that which is most interesting and looked for on hoard ship—which an hour later takes I definite shape, and shows out as in. hospitable and barren headlands—the country adjacent to Marseilles. Picture to yourself the house-skirted share in shape of a crescent, the country rising in more or less noticeable tiers, a formation arranged by tbe ceaseless tiller of the soil, developing at times into hills and dales, over rising or receding, until eventually the sky-line becomes but treetopped, and you may have a general impression of the first view of the entrance to the city known, but by repute only, in many cases. One cannot speak in glowing terms of the harbour, for there is little to charm, except, perhaps, the ceaseless movement of the steam tugs, of which there are any number, and whose assistance is called for at all times to berth vessels in harbour. Two or three of these “mosquito” vessels are always necessary, on account of the very limited space available for a vessel to “swing” preparatory to getting into position. The largo wharves arc able to accommodate many tons of merchandise and tlie provision made by the harbour authorities reflects credit upon 'them. ' Most magnificent views can bo seen in and around the city, notably the spired and Angel-Tipped church of Xotro Dame, The Fontaine Canting, [and the Place de la Bourse. I Leaving Marseilles we find ourselves upon a train toiling upon a severe “up grade,” and after allowing one a hasty view of the terra cotta roof’s of the straggling part of the city, also the many pottery and tile manufactories, one enters an immense tunnel, which occupies fully ten minutes of our time in passing. Emerging from the darkness and smoke-laden atmosphere wc observe beautiful inlets and charming bays on the left, while on the right may bo found old ruins, reminding one of feudal days.

The surrounding''country, hilly and vine-covered, reminds one of the many miles of such land in South Australia, through the Clarendon and Wiilunga districts. For a period we pass through a fine country, hut eventually we note the country at this point is composed mostly of limestone, with a covering of light low bush and scrub. Here and there one sees a dash of colour, for the fields, in small areas, are now showing red clover in flower, and wheat in the car, which have been sown together. Again one has another pleasing contrast before him, as the very white roads intersecting the green fields and grass land are brought into view. The interest of the traveller is further aroused when he sees the small villages, mostly, it would appear, built upon the top of the rising hills. The houses, rising tier above tier, form a distinct contrast in design and build from those which have greeted us in Egypt. Further tile manui'acturies, olive oil refineries and wine cellars in profusion, of modern erection are mot with, the imagination being taken back hundreds of years as we pass an old aqueduct. And now the country shows to greater advantage, and heavy timber is met with in places, until eventually long avenues oi trees appear in the distance; and the mind will travel to distant New Zealand, as for the first time for some mouths we view Macrocarpa, fig and plane trees, oaks, acacias, pines and poplars. Few animals are soon; perhaps the French peasant considers it to advantage to hand feed his ani--1 maks, instead of allowing them to roam at pleasure through the pasture land. The first- thought of sparse population in the country, is dispelled, for houses in wonderful prolusion appear before us, and continuous villages of (seemingly) miles in extent are passed. Our dyes feast Upon the great lands, for never before in history had we colonials seen such areas of prolific-hearing soil. Reapers were in evidence, and the green crops were being harvested m places. Fancy a hay shod built of stone with a. tiled roof; stone bridges, houses, trees, all echoed stability combined 'with picturesque arohitec- ! ture. Hero undulating country again, and an old wall, reminds one of ancient Rome, while the tiny cemeteries will intrude upon one’s vision. Steel bridges, wonder)ul rivers, miles of cultivated land, we find exipressioii iu the words ol count i\men: “This country is worth fighting for.”