RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS OF A RAMBLER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3415, 20 February 1920, Page 6

RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS OF A RAMBLER.

(By IJfl Kosach.)

Being prostrated the reSult of the elections, and feeling sadly in need of recuperation, the writer decided to take a holiday, and these notes thereon may prove qf interest to your readers. Leaving Taihape on tho day after the “fateful seventeenth. ’ one found that naturally tthe elections formed the chief topic of conversation, and the outstanding feature was the absence of regret at the defeat of the Liberal Leader. It may seem uncharitable to say so, but the fact remains. Such is the fickleness of human nature. Hamilton was niy first stopping place; the city of the Waikato is a pleasant place in which to spend a holiday. The stranger on the express would not think that a town of Hamilton's size and beauty, was only a mile distant from Frankton, for the acres of gorse that adorn (?) th gateway to Hamilton are certainly not conducive to a . favourable impression, and Hamilton is the coming inland town of the

North Island. While not so large as.’ Palmerston North it is rapidly clv.-11-lenging Manawa.tu’s chief town. ‘At! present there are over £300,000 worth of bildi-ngs being erected in Hamil-l

ton, and glaxo and dried milk ~. factories are springing up all varounfi, so that it is not to be wondered at that there is a rosy future before it. ‘.\".'*.ile the visitor finds much to admire in

ithe ‘natural beauty of the town one cannot understand Why more use is not made of the Waikato River, but in the days of expansion that lie ahead the river must play an important part. ‘

’ Pukekohe was my next objective. On passing through Huntly on Xmas Day I could not help being struck by the large number of children to be seen in that coalmining town, for on every doorstep 'appeared juveniles from two to nine per step, a sight to gladden the heart of every apostle of that. grand old enunciator of the slogan, “Keep the cradles full,” and Huntleyites seem to do Ftliat even if; they fail to keep the coal bins full. Pukekohe, as efery well-informed New Zealander knows, is famous for two things, firstly and most‘ important, itis the stronghold of that Eminent Statesman (capital letters, Mr Pl‘l.]lCl‘,J please). the Right Hon. \V. F. M'n.<sey, Prime I‘.linistel'_, and secondly, it}; is here on the Pukekohe Hill, three‘ crops of potatoes are grown annually. Holdings in three and five acre lots‘ are in great demand at £2oo} per acre, but new potatoes at £25 toi £3O per ton, with 3 yield of 7 to 8 tons to ‘the acre, followed by two‘ other crops, seem to be :2 paying proposition, even at thzxt high price.

Onions and carrots are also grown extensively. The View from the }’u‘u2kohe Hill is a most eliarming one. and returned soldiers say that it reminds them of the Old Land. I said Pukekohe had two claims to distinction, but another noteworthy fact is that there are no Chinamcn in business in Pukekohe, W'hether Pukekoheites are such staunch supporters of the White New Zealand policy, or whether Mr Massey has a law hidden away in the Statute Book forbidding Chinam-en to start business in his own home town, I know not, but there are few-towns of 1500 population that can say they have no Chinanisn in -them. A visit to recreation ground revealed a ‘Memorial Lamp to the memory of the late Mr Seddon; it was lying dismantled, a pathetic reminder of that great and true Liberal.. The lamp was previously erected in the» street, but was removed on- the ground that is was a source of danger. Liberalism is indeed dead in the Frankton Electorate when that memorial is allowed to remain in sections. ' “He wrought the peoplg lasting good” is

the inscription on the base of the lamp. an(l_filc people forget the giver of the good. Oh! the Heartache of such ingratitude. L. A. run around the country side discloses some beautiful farm lands, especially in the fafttening valley of Ake Ake, while a. visit to the beach at Wi'alla Pa gave one a hearty appetite. Al'l’Pukekohe and its wife go to Ellerslie on Boxing Day “to spend some of their potatoe ‘money,’’ as one man put it, and I Went also. The fifty Odd thousand gaily dressed women and smartly tailored men. would seem to give the lie direct to the wall 05 the burden of -the cost ,-of ‘living. While the Sum Of over one hundred fll°llSand Pounds sterling would seem t 0 iHdiCate pgverty is an .u"_ known quantity in God_;S Own COun_ firy. I didn’t -get the chance of See_ ing the famous “Ostrich lFarnl.n but I believe it has ‘passed out of the Prime Miuister’s hands.

I reached Te Aroha on New Yoqarrs Day and this usuallY’- quiet little health resort was enlivened by some six thousand visitors, a bowling tournament being the chief attraction. It ‘would seem thait “die day has gone by when bowls was considered a. game fit for elderly gentlemen only, for :1

large percentage of players at Te Aroha. were comparatively young men. The Domain, in which are situated the baths and springs, is prettily -nestled under Mount Te Arohha, or “Mount of Love,” and witlwits batth houses, ilawns, tea kiosk, and other buildings, against which is a belt of pinus insignfius, reminds one of a Swiss village scene, especially at night, when the grounds are lit up with electric lights. To the visitor in seiarch of health, the baths and mineral springs are the chief attraction. There are:

over a dozen springs, each containiiig practically the Same mineral properties, such as bieal‘bonat~es, in various ‘forms chloride of potassium, silica, |etc., but ‘the temperatul'es vary from .tepicl to 135de_g.JFa.hi1'. It is from Spring N 0 15 that the drinking wa.tel' at Rotorua is taken froin. Milk cans full are sent over to Rotorua each week. The taste for Te Aroha waster has to be acquired, as at first they taste unpalatable, but the water from Spring 22, if mixed with the juice of a lemon, forms a fine drink. There are bathing houses for men only and‘ women only, and on New Year’s Day} close on a. thousand men passecli through the men ’s bath, while the" Caclman private baths and women’s‘ baths were also largely patl'olliSCd. As each bather is supplied with a, towel. the number of ‘Q-cwcls used

weekly run into something over >3 thousand. To cope with ‘the was=lling.. a laundry f_ol~ms part Cf the equipment necessary to run the Domain. The’ Cadman private bath bullding coxl.*ain.=,| 19 fine bath cubicles, each fitted w-ma

'§a,porcelain bath, shower. '.;c., and [the spotless cloanlifzfiss of them: baths calls for the admiration of all who 'use them, and the visitors’ book con-‘ tains nunieroéus tributes to the kind- ‘ I_v bath 'at’tanc‘lants, both of whom are‘

lladies. The writer adds ‘his public, tribufe to their novel‘-failing (>mn'r(-s_\," “and kindness. The ‘visitors’ book 01“ “Titbits and 'l‘wadClle," as one at; tondant called it. contains namlr-‘s of: visitors from ‘all p3'l"t>: of ‘-11.3 \"\'or.l(_l,: it is the “1‘0ma1'l~:s"’ that make tllm book worth scanning over. Ono viéitor from “the most distrossful .»miii_’-‘J try,” ever loyal to his beloved Ef'l§lj" remarks “it is not as good as 1110 hogs,” while two people u‘nblushingly declare to the readers, “thaf this ‘is our honeymoon trip.” Old Bills.i l “If you know of a, better 010, find it.” finds 21 lvlzzco -.1130. and Om‘ girl foolingly remarked tlm.-t “ghc would like it better if a boy sha.l'od with hol'.”' ‘~.\‘an(l flies are nuxnmous at T 0 .»\r0l1:1.l las the visitors’ book makes clear. for > one person writes, “The chief products I

of Te Aroha are szuid flies and mineral water.” The sanil‘(_lies have a sense iof courtesy, for they pay partit.-nlzir ‘ attention ‘to visitors. This f‘.=u:t iuaj: be due. ho\\'evel', to their liking a (-.li:‘mg'e‘ of diet. .\l'ount Te Arelia, 3,126 feet, gives scope for e.\‘el'eise. and the climb which tool: me 2:} liours, is a most pleasant one, the bush scenery be_i;ig,.. magnificent, while the View from Vtlie” top comprises \Va.ihi. White Island, and Taul'anga. The (lov;n\\'2l';l trip can be done in an hour. Heels of ladies’ shoes mark the track, thus showing that the} fair sex have sealed the heights. A! branch office of the Tourist. Depart‘ ment is woefully out of date as re-‘ gards literature, and Te Al-oha gener-I ally suffers from lack of 'Governnientfi attention. This is a pity, for the mineral waters are of medicinal" value,i especially in cases of digestive trouble,‘ and who has a good digestion in these 5 modern «lays? The Government. (le-3 vote all their attention to Rotorua. but ' despite this iwattention, Te .-\roh:l is becoming increasingly popular. It isl an ideal place for '3, quiet holiday, and just quietly, it is the place to spend tli-at best of all Inoon‘s—the honey-. moon. No "account 0” holiday could be!

complete withoutl reference to our up-to-date (?) railways. I travelled a good deal on what are called “slang trains,” to distinguish them from mail and express trains, and they fully justify their name.. It was in athe train [north of Franktou that one man said :he was glad the New Ze kaland Railways were mentioned in the Bible, and he quoted: “The Lord made all creeping things,” in support. 01‘ his contention. The “go Slow” policy is seen at its best in The railway sysrem. A; night in the express is of 'illfol‘(‘Sf t 0" the student of human nature. especially if there are any “spoouy couples,” to use :1 mthei‘ slaiigy expression, and it is the writer’s luck to tl‘aVCl Will}. such companions. If they enjoy themselves they certainly afl'ord amusement I to their fellow tl'avellei‘s. ,

Wherever one goes one finds that “the movies” are a eonstnnrt source of pleasure, and in this respect Taihape picture houses hold ‘their own. 1*: was in - That I went to the pic/cures, and the ‘:orchestra,’’ evidently desirous of p'Tui-aying appropl-ia—.to nivsic, managed all right until there appeined on fhe screen a. View of a man being prepared to pay the supreme penalfy for murder ~22. ratller gruesome soene—-but when the pianist launche'd forth into “When you come to the. End of ‘EL Per.t‘eeYt Day” the tension was relieved. . _ k

Everything 00111‘: to :11. .-nd——evn;n a holiday and these notes.