THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1908. A TERRIBLE TRIAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9044, 1 February 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1908. A TERRIBLE TRIAL.

Colonel Hopton, commandant of t u .e British rifle team, has been on a visit to New Zealand, and has gone back to South Australia whence he set out for this country. It might be supposed chat the gallant colonel was a modest man from the fact that his arrival in and departure from, and his doings and sayings in the dominion were not much noticed by the Press; but that notion is dispelled by his criticism upon the dominion, when' interviewed in Adelaide on Thursday last. He told his interviewer a lot uf things not pleasant for a New Zealander Amongst other things he said he would rather live in Australia than in "God's Own Country"— a statement which really borders upon blasphemy. The great trouble the visitor suffered from was his inability to get as much potent liquid refreshment as he desired; and for this he blames the Tourist Departr mtnt» He found it difficult, he said, to get a glass of ale or wine. He also found the accommodation in most instances inferior and the charges high. It is to be assumed that the Colonel had got into prohibited native territory, or some out-of-the-

way localities, to see the sights, and ' was unable to enjoy them without the stimulus of genuine burgandy or j Roderer, and an occasional "British,'' This complaining warrior evidently < belongs to that class of officer who, during the Boer War, made soldiering in South Africa conspicuous by having pianos, champagne, cigars and other luxuries conveyed from camp to camp to make life on the veldt pleasant and appreciable. In the colonel's case, however, he evidently expected the Tourist Department to supply him with these luxuries—an idea inspired, perhaps, by the lavish manner in which our Government usually treats "distinguished guests" from abroad. We feel sorry for a soldier of rank who is unable to appreciate a beautiful countiy because of a little personal discomfort; but doubtless bis complaint will do good for future visitors. Mr Donne will probably see to it, when men of Colonel Hopton's stamD come hereafter to New Zealand, that luxury stations are established along their several lines of route amid the beauties of the wilderness. In one thing the Colonel showed commendable modesty. He did not'care to express any stronger opinion upon New Zealand, because he had left the place and did not mean to revisit it. This is really good of him. It is to be hoped he will keep his word —about his permanent retirement from "God's. Own Country." It would be well for him to remember the sdage "Unbidden guests are often welcomest when they leave."