BACK FROM THE OLD COUNTRY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9669, 17 December 1909, Page 5

BACK FROM THE OLD COUNTRY.

MR AND MRS J. M. CORADINE RETURN TO MASTERTON.

Mr J. M. Coradine, ex-Mayor of Masterton, who, accompanied by Mrs Coradine, tajs been on an extended visit to dwOld Country for the past returned to evening. The many friends of Mr'and Mrs Coradine will be pleas<drti to |earn that they are both in excellent- liealth, and have benefited by their trip, which they have thoroughly enjoyed. "I've had a glorioua trip, and its been a real eye-opener," said Mr Coradine, who although fujly occupied receiving the felicitations of his many friends last evening, very courteously found time to have a few minutes chat with a reporter of the Wairarapa Age. "From Australia," continued Mr Coradine, we went to Manila, where we spent three very pleasant days, and thence to JaDan, an exceedingly interesting country, and especially to Britishers. Japanese study Englishmen to a wonderful degree, and the imitatory characteristic of the people is particularly noticeable. Tneir beau ideal is a Britisher, and even the rickshaw men apologise for not being conversant with the English language. They are, however, makiug efforts to improve their knowledge; and the whole spirit of the nation is progress. Japan, however, is not a country to be disposed cf evert in description in a few words; to be understood even to a limited oxtent it should be visited." "What after Japan, Mr Coradine?" "At Vancouver we spent several days. It is a place that has a great future ahead of it. It has practically, only been established for about twenty years, but it has nevertheless a population of about 80,000 people. The Canadian-Pacific railway has much to do with the progress that is being made. The timber industry is intensely interesting to those who have a knowledge of timber.milling in this country. Unless sfien one could hardly realise the wonder&il nature of the machinery used, the object being to produce what any community my need." ! "New York," said Mr Coradine, "is a- wonderful city, but we had heard so much about it that we were sjmewhat prepared for it., New York is greatly talked of, and I was not! surprised at the city. We'arrived in England at the end of May, and there we visited many relatives and friends." "Is trade at Home very dull," asked the reporter. "Yes, it is dull, but not nearly,so bad as when the depression was at its height. Dullness is most apparent in shipbuilding:, iron and cotton trades."

"I suppose the Budget was the political question when you left. England," surmised the reporter. "Yes, the very greatest interest is being displayed in the Budget, and even the working classes are aroused. I think the Liberals will win, although there is no doubt that the fight is going to be a stern one." "Was there any marked change in English life that specially appealed to you?" was the next question that the reporter asked. "Yes, there was," said Mr Coradine with emphasis. "There is a wave of what I call educationalism sweeping the country. It is a wave that is going to leave a great mark in the future. Technical schools, embracing every course of study, and especially those tending to the development of industry, are being rapidly established all over the country, and the benefits of the schools are appreciated by the masse*. In Lancashire a school cost* ing £60,000 is being erected This gives you, as a single instance, some idea of the strides that are being made with technieal education." "Does one hear much of New Zealand in England" Mr Coradine answered with a smile, "England is a big place, and one does riot hear a great deal of New Zealand in England. "There was, of course,"' continued Mr Coradine, "a very great deal that interested us in England, but I do not think that there is anything particularly new that I can tell you. I made a great many notes during the course of my travels, and I hope that some of them will be beneficial to Masterton, while I need hardly say "that I have derived great pleasure and advantage from the trip made."