A WORLD'S TOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81835, 30 August 1906, Page 2

A WORLD'S TOUR.

NEW PLYMOUTH TRAVELLER'S IMPRESSIONS. Mr A. P. O'Lcary, Direclot of the Melbourne Clothing Company, returned to New Plymouth on Tuesday morning from an extended trip to Europe and America. It was not long before a " Daily News " representative sought him out in search of "copy." Mr O'Leary was quite willing to give us a resume of his impressions of the various countries through which he passed since August last, and presently we seemed to accompany him from Wellington, through Sydney, Melbourne, across the Indian Ocean to Marseilles, where we began taking notes, passing over the opening stages of the .journey. The countries visited were France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, England, and the United States of America, and Mr O'Leary says he had a most pleasant sojourn in these many lands.

Marseilles, the first port of call in Europe, struck the traveller as being a very fine port, acommodating the ships and serving' the trade of almost every mercantile nation under the sun, with its fine harbor, docks, and throngs of sea-going- vessels. Not much time was spent in France, whose customs delighted the subject of this narrative, his steps now turning towards Switzerland. Geneva, Zurich, and Lucerne were among the towns visited. The majestic and awe-inspiring Alpine scenery and die bracing climate were the principal noticeable features, the climatic conditions resembling those of our Southern Alps, which, in their way, Mr O'Leary considers are equally grand. It was the industrial side of German life that left the do=pest impression on the visitor's mind, and he considers it an object lesson in many respects. The people arc industrious and hard working, sticking closer to their work than docs the average colonial, and are kindly and genial. But an air of oppression seems, in Mr O'l-eary's opinion, to pervade the working classes. Taxation and oversupply of officialdom had ground the people into a state almost bordering on servility, which seems to be bred in them. . The military spirit is dominant in the country, and the people have not the samc v rights and freedom as are enjoyed under the British Hag. Such things as mass meetings to discuss rights and privileges are '•verboien'' (forbidden), and such gatherings would certainly be dispersed by the troops. At the same time the people are very much advanced in technical education, a very fine business and commercial school being established at Leipzig. Leipzig- suggested music, and Mr O'Leary mentioned that Mrs O'Leary and his family are staying there, the Misses O'Leary studying music under eminent German professors. Leipzig, ( ,f course, is the seat of music in Europe, the great Gewand. bans concerts having made the town world famous. There was not much music to be heard in Holland, which seemed to be making great strides in dairying, with a consequent air of brisk prosperity. Here he visited some of the largest factories engaged in the manufacture of flannelettes and domcttes, favorite materials in the colonies, and made arrangements for receiving his goods direct from the mills, Mr O'Leary remarking that the trip was undertaken more for business than pleasure. Crossing to London, the New Zea. lander made a stay of several months, visiting ail the manufacturing centres and completing his mission—the arrangement for shipments of g-oods direct from the manufacturer, thereby eliminating 'middlemen's profits. Courtesy was the rule everywhere and the words " NewZealand " were quite a talisman. This colony, he said, was very well spoken of in English business circles, and amongst most classes, who regard it as an ideal country. The visit and the achievements of the footbal'crs contributed to this end, the fine stamina and physique of the plavers, their manly conduct both on and off the field inducing the belief that the country which turned out such men must be a rattling- good place. Outside of business., Mr O'Leary found time to visit Kent, Surrey, and Essex. A a lover of Dickcn''s writings, he was especially interested in the old Dickens haunts in Rochester and round about Cobham, and the places mentioned in the wanderings of the Pickwick Club. At Cobham there still remains "Ye old Leather Bottle" inn, where is kept a splendid collection of the Dickens drawings and illustrations. A "Pickwick room" and a "Dickens room" in this old inn are most interesting. Mr O'Leary visited Dickon's old home at Gad's Kill," the building being in splendid repair, and occupied privately, not as a show place. An English Derby, at which his Majesty King- Edward was an interested spectator, and the Oxf >rd and Cambridge boat race crowds were revelations to the colonial sightseer. Many of the famous singers musicians and speakers were listened to at different times, our informant voting- Henry Woods' orchestra at Oueen's Hal), London, equal to many of the finest orchestras mi the Continent, indicating- the vast strides now being made in English music. Mr <> Leary returned via America, leaving t>an Irancisco by the Sonoma, which arrived in Auckland on Sunday, three days late . " '