IMPRESSIONS OF AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1916, Page 7

IMPRESSIONS OF AUSTRALIA.

'" 'AFTER 12 YEARS. (By W. .T. Noilson). Splendid wather across the Tasman Sou, and a marked improvement in the accommodation lor boat travel, make a voyage across the Tasman a pleasure instead of an inconvenience, as in former times, One therefore feels in good heart on entering the world-famed beautiful harbor and able to appreciate the beauties and wonderful improvements visible from the Heads to Circular Quay. The numerous and ever-increasing holiday resorts are in keen competition with each othei. The .Botanical Gardens, Domain, Hyde Park and Centennial Park and the Zoo give the visitor the impression of being in a dream of delight and pleasure. Apart altogether froir the knowledge that can be gained from studying the dill'erent varieties of plant, animal and bird life from practically every part of the world, the collections are very rare, it requiring much skill and patience to acclimatise many of the varieties.

All these public beauty spots are easily readied by the splendid tramway system, which is State-controlled, and has actually been a great factor in developing the city and suburbs. When one realises that the population of this city is nearly as large as the whole population of New Zealand (Sydney 700,000, New Zealand 1,100,000), credit must be given to the controllers ol a system that is capable of handling without undue accident the great mass. The whole system is electric overhead trolley, like New Plymouth's, and the fares are bedrock. A penny section, for example, takes you from Circular Quay to the railway station, 2% miles, or Darling Harbor to Darlinghurst, three miles. Conductors are courteous—remarkably so, considering the nerve strain they are under during extra busy hours at congested points. Passengers board and alight from all trams at all times and on either side, there being no chains on the inner side. •

It is quite certain that the proposed electric tube railway scheme, from Redfern to Macquarie Place, will be gone on with, and it will to a very great extent relieve the excessive street traffic. Taxi-car conveyance is not popular. Four-wheeled cabs have disappeared, but lmnsom cabs are more popular and numerous. The suburban train system and trallie, like the tramways, have increased considerably, necessitating more platforms and accommodation, as well as splendid railway offices and facilities fur tlie staff and the travelling public. The buildings are of a very substantial character, and should serve 'or years to come.

Within Sydney proper there have not been any additions to the high-class hotels, whilst drinking has been largely reduced. On the other hand, amusement facilities have increased, chiefly picture palaces, dancing and cafe music halls, all of a French style. Operas and dramas are fading away. It is noticeable that many rings or monopolies are in existence, especially in the drapery business, city tea shops, brewers urn] butchers. The whole of the cafes are run by foreigners, especially Greeks. The same applies to the fruit trade, tliey having run the Chinaman off, The fish trade is under State contiol, right from the sea to the consumer, and is working well. Broad is 3d to 4d cheaper per 41b loaf in Sydney than in New Plymouth, factory butter is tlic same as in New Plymouth, cheese Is letail meat the same as in Xew Plymouth, vegetables the same, mill; Gd per quart, drapery and boots dearer, general groceries about the same, and fruit slightly cheaper than in New Plymouth.

During my travels I was in slose touch with two Japanese visitors who arc touring Australia and are now in New Zealand. Their journey is not for health or sight-seeing, but they are bent on solid business, and I feel quite certain that whoever has the pleasure of coming into contact with these men will certainly be able to satisfy themselves that Japan is awake and very much alive commercially, and out for business in not only une line' but practically everything this country is in need of, from a toothpick to a Dreadnought. The Japanese fan and fancy flower vase are only small items compared with recent developments in their manufactures. A few are: Motor-cars, motor-car tyres,| silk and cotton fabric, glassware, parchment paper, platcglass, nails, staples, matches, etc. In return, tliey want our Xew Zealand (lax, wool, kauri gum, skim-milk powder, casein, bones in large quantities, frozen beef, New Zealand greenstone and hides, T do not care to give any opinion as to the possibility of Jananese labor in Australasia.

Being directly interested in suburban ■property in New South Wales, it was natural that 1 should look into the rising or falling of values since my last visit. 1 found that since the war the same gradual advance has not been maintained as before the war, but the same does not apply to dairying and grazing lands, which have gone steadily up in price and an still advancing, no doubt owing to high prices for all commodities, and large areas are being cut up into smaller farms. The settlers have improved Iheir methods in the working of their land. As an example of this, T may mention the land occupied by that splendid institution in the Richmond district, the Hawkosbui'y Agricultural College. The same was offered to settlers by the Government for £1 per acre. To-day it is selling for between £43 and £OO per acre. The llawkesmiry College is not an experimental farm as our New Zealand institutions are, but a farm of 401)0 acres, broken in from scrub land, and the whole has been brought into cultivation on scientiiic lines without the aid of extravagant expenditure of Ciovernment money oi iirtiical means. As an example, artificial manures are not used. The whole farm is run on strict business lines and without any fads or hobbies, and has to pay its way, right from the grape seed to the wine or the raisin, from the planting of fruit trees to the botiled preserve or dried fruit, from the bar of iron to the plough, from the cowhide to harness. Every product is utilised from production to the finished article for use on file" farm, and the surplus is sold locally or exported. The whole farm is supplied by electric power, which is used in the various industries. Two hundred students do the entire work on the 4000 acres, and they are. accommodated in the up-to-date model residence, which has a superior sewerage system, much -slu-ad of a town, complete with tillers, etc. Intense rcgetabie culture is carried out on two acres, which supplies more than -00 people can consume, fn every department a highiy-qualilicd ox'pert has control and he is under the direct supervision of Professor Potts, who is superintendent. The institution is, iu my l opinion, the 'Host up-to-dalij.

of its class in Australasia, and, talcing into consideration tli.it no less :i sum than £48,000 lias been spent on equip, iiient ajid buildings within twelve years there must be a reason for its success.