OUR LONDON LETTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8376, 9 March 1907, Page 3

OUR LONDON LETTER.

(From Our Own Correspondent,

LONDON, January 25, 1907. Mr H. W. Jolly, late head of the firm of Jolly and Co., real estate agents, of Wellington, and well-known in the Wairarapa and Forty-mile Bush, is here. My chat with him" was very interesting, and I give it at some length. Mr Jolly has resided twice in New Zealand, and twice in Buenos \ Ayres. Leaving London, his birthplace, in 1888, when 20 years of age, he joined his uncle, Mr ,E. W. Gotch, at Wellington. After a visit to Christchurch and Dunedin, he entered the firm of Messrs W. G. Turnbull and Co. Staying in the colony for less than two years he embarked for Buenos Ayres, where lie landed in March, 1890, three months prior to the great revolution and bombardment of the city by the Argentine fleet in revolt. He there entered the service of the Highland Scot Canning Company, Ltd., as stores clerk, time-keeper and paymaster, and at the close was promoted to assistant secretary of what was at that time one of the largest meat preserving factories in the world. He was then transferred to the firm of Gibson Bros., in conjunction with and under the orders of Mr John C. Gibson, to wind up the affairs of the Highland Scot Canning Co. In Buenos Ayres Mr Jolly prospered and married into a very old Argentine family, viz., to Miss Sarah Yates, of Quilmes and Berazategui, and after three years further stay, Mr and Mrs Jolly and one child started per R.M. Clyde, in March, 1894, on a voyage to New Zealand via England. After six weeks' stay in Londoii they proceeded per Orient S.S. Ophir, via Suez Canal, to Sydney. Mrs Jolly was delighted with all she saw, and Wellington was finally reached in July in the Wakatipu, and the final des- 1 tination, Newman, Forty-mile Bush, shortly afterwards. Mr Jolly wandered to Wellington, and entered the services of Messrs Harcourt and Co., land agents, and within one and ahalf year's service became principal property salesman for the firm. After about three years with'them he cojnmenced business on "his own account, trading under the style of "Jolly and Co." He admitted Mr Wintle and his brother, Mr Charles Jolly, partners, and the firm did cine of the largest businesses in the .sales of Wellington city and suburban properties. After about two years he bought out the other two partners, and then, after five years' successful business, Mrs Jolly induced him to return to her home in the Argentine. . Mr Jolly, at last, although with great reluctance, sold the goodwill of his business, and another voyage was undertaken to the Argentine. The steamer was the Papanui. The voyage ended abruptly at Monte Video, and Mrs ( Jolly now sees the town from a I colonial aspect, and hates the sight \ of the narrow streets, cobble stones, / and the troups of beggars pestering | her. They arrived there on May 25th, 1904, Argentine Independence Day. ] The country was in the throes of a revolution. They watched the Papanui disappear with tears in their eyes, conveying away the comforts and pleasantness of colonial life. In Montevideo all is luxury and show, devoid of anything in the shape of comfort. The voyage from Monte Video to -Buenos Ayres, about 80 sea miles, on the Eolo, took place at 6 o'clock at night,, a sunset soon shut out the smilifig view of Monte Video, as the steamer sped on her way up river. The dinner, all set out in glorious luxury, as course after course came, seemed never to end. The languages spoken were Spanish, and Italian in several forms, French and German, and all was talk of Buenos Ayres and the revolution at . Monte Video —some escaping from Uruguay to avoid service. Buenos Ayres is magnificent along Avenida de Mayo, and Florida, Callas, and one or two other streets —Monte Video ; seems a shabby place in comparison. They found Quilmes and Berazategui not advanced one iota after their absence of nine years. La Plata had remained thoroughly stagnant, grass growing in the streets. It was peculiar to travel to Mercedes and other towns south and west of Buenos Ayres, which appear large on the map, but in reality are like deserts. Once they went to Mercedes and wandered all over the town, but could hardly get anything decent .to eat. The town of Feilding or Masterton, from a business point of view, has the vitality of a hundred Mercedes. Mr Jolly resided in Bahia Blanca, 20,000 inhabitants, which is the principal town after La Plata in the province of Buenos Ayres. At , the Hotel de Londres, the very best ! hotel in the place, they met Mr Cutler, a gentleman from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa—wellknown in insurance circles, especially . the North Mutual Life Association of Australasia. The hotel has no . fire place, nor smoke, nor commercial room. There is a luxurious club, but comfort is not studied. Everything is to please the eye, such as paintings, balconies, and although it v.-as very win&y, dusty and frosty (in the middle of July), people shivered with overcoats donned in their bed rooms. Mr Jolly returned to London, leaving Mrs Jolly and children in Buenos Ayres, last July, per R.M.S. Amazon, and visiting Santos, where the steamer now goes alongside the wharf, was charmed , with its beauty, and amazed at the wonderful progress there. It is now a healthy town and some years ago it was the vilest spot on earth for yel-

low fever. But there is no city on earth, he thinks, that can beat the wonderful change that has taken place in the appearance of the main thoroughfare of Rio de Janeiro. That avenue of artistic buildings, so pleasing and delightful to the eye, is a revelation far surpassing anything he has ever seen, and the long electric tram route the bay intensifies the impression. Madeira, which they pass on the way, reminds them very much of New Zealand, the views from the vessel and the flowers and fruits seem very familiar to them.

On arriving at Lisbon, one feels that one is again in Europe, and something of poverty begins to creep about which has never left them since Europe was reached. It is too palpable everywhere. At Southampton they are impressed by the upturned faces of men out of work their countenances betraying the

Here they saw immediately letition everywhere—they know

they are once again in England. TheLondon County Council have made gigantic strides with lavatories, trams, model mansions, etc., and in- 1 surance companies have followed with , newer buildings, but in comparison, private progress, he thinks, cannot compare with New Zealand, Buenos Ayres or Rio de Janeiro. Mr Gordon Mcßeth, of Christchurch, son of the Chief Postmaster there, expects to remain here until j early in 1908. He left New Zealand j in April last year in order to study music at Leipsic, under Herr Leieh- , muller, a well-known teacher in the : Conservatorium of Music. I Mr George Thomson, formerly of Oamaru, will leave London this month for Northern Mexico, where he will superintend the installation of a plant in the San Francisco del Oro mine, on behalf of the, Minerals Separation Company. - I