SYDNEY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 47, 13 July 1912, Page 8

SYDNEY.

1 IMPRESSIONS OF A RECENT VISITOR. TARANAKI UNKNOWN. Gauged from the remarks of a (recent visitor to Sydney, Taranaki is as little known in the New Zealand Government Agency Office in George street, of that city, as the latest fashions of Paris are to the Eskimos in the Polar regions. In company with a friend—also a New Zealander—he visited the office and sought information as to Taranaki, but all in vain. He could not' find the slightest reference whatever to the district generally, or either New Plymouth, or Wanganui. There were no statistics —not even a photograph—and inquiries as to the resources and price of land in the district were fruitless. In fact, it was almost open to doubt whether the office knew that such a place as Taranaki and the towns of New Plymouth and' Wanganui existed. Such surprising ilack of information was certainly not, he remarked to a News reporter, calculated to entice immigrants, or in my way advance the district. So concerned lis he at this lamentable state of affairs, I that he is not going to let the matter I rest as it stands. I Of his impressions of Sydney itself, 'our informant, who re-visited the city ! after an absence of eight years, speaks in the highest terms of praise. On all [sides he found a very marked improve[ment. The type of buildings in the city jhad greatly improved, and there were some magnificent structures. Suburbanwards Sydney had taken immense strides since his last visit. Business appeared to be very buoyant. In fact, success seemed to be written throughout the length and breadth of the metropolis. He could not find terms to adequately [describe the huge traffic on George street, which was as congested as that of New York, and many of the streetslia London.

I Sydney's tramway system? Well, to his mind it was second to none in the world. Its cheapness was well nigh astounding, and its every minute service to all parts of Sydney were the last word in transit facilities. But with all this huge traffic there was little disorder, it being conducted most admirably by the Sydney police. Likewise, the visitor went into raptures over the harbor ferry service, with its fine boats, and exceedingly cheap tariff. In the last respect he considered the service was equal to any other in the world. Continuing, he said that one thing that he was impressed with was the widespread feeling in Sydney that it was "infra dig" for that city" to hare to take I its departmental instructions from Melbourne,, which was the headouarters of the Federal Government. Sydney, he observed, was extremely dissatisfied at having to play second fiddle to Melbourne. In short, they objected to Sydney being "worked" from' Melbourne. ,' Interesting also was the remark of ! the returned traveller that the business people of the New South Wales capital .were full of complaints as to the management of the public affairs and public | works, notably the railways and the telegraphs department. The height of their displeasure was, however, reached .when the telephone service was mentioned. From the visitor's own observations this appeared to be "all at sixes and sevens." As a matter of fact, it was not a patch on the New Plymouth seTviee. ' i

I "Not the least pleasing feature of my [stay in Sydney," proceeded our informant, "was the fact that wherever I

went I found New Zealanders remarkably highly spoken of. ' Incidentally, l the prevailing wish of the people over ■ the other side seems to be for the Do- ! minion to federate with their State." I All things considered, he was of the I opinion that, for New Zealanders. Sydney was an ideal place to spend a holi- | day. It had many and beautiful attrne- t tions, -which could be reached at the' lowest cost. Nothing' could be more j delightful than a week's sojourn at the Blue Mountains, with their magnificent [ Jenolan Oaves, at which th.ere was a \ splendidly appointed tourist hotel. j