From Capetown to New Zealand.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 114, 28 February 1901, Page 2

From Capetown to New Zealand.

By C, A. Wilson. * - ‘{.Continued.} Tbe Liverpool White Star Line, comprising the Persic, Runic and - other “heavenly ” names,; are all J third-class boats, that is to say, tin ' accommodation throughout is steerage. The only distinction made is in the number of berths in a ca v n,. some having- two, others as many' >. as twenty-one; and ih the psition, whether well amidships or neir the throbbing, jarring screws; Bach bunk has clean, white bed linen, which is changed weekly, and the vessels' are so large that there is little roll, so after that nothing matters. The fare from Australia ' to England is fourteen guineas, while if you have a cabin to yourself or-with one other occupant it will cost you eighteen guineas. If yon take a return ticket, you can return any time within six months at a total cost of twenty guineas, or, in a cabin with two berths, for twentysixguineas. It is a curious fact that the ordinary fare to the Cape from England or Australia is f there being a difference of only £1 14s for the other 7000 or 8000 miles. The dining saloon is a spacious One, well ventilated and lighted, and the food is plentiful, of good quality and well cooked, of the passengers grumbled, but that is always the way ; some people would grumble if they were going to be shot, and ask if they couldn’t be banged. One irate old : gentleman, I remember, threatened to write to the papers because on several occasions the butter was stronger' than it. need have been, but the grumblers found few sympathisers. Most people enjoyed themselves too well to have time for discontent. With several hundred passengers of both sexes on board, flirting of course was one cf the favourite amusements, only to J-pr-ewmi-ii-paJiing on the devotees of the art ?l a general “swopping “ of partners.-took. place every ftw days. This was, naturally, due io the inconstancy of the ladies, who bad so many partners they didn't know what to do, the eighty-three invalided soldiers more than ailing the required complement o* men. All day long couples promenaded the decks, or in the evenings sat in deck r chairs ip dark corners and listened to the whispering of the wind through the rigging, or, when that palled, to the “ fa’ries ” each could tell the other. It would be interesting ‘to know how many : couples of hearts still beat as one. Alas 1 They probably have forgotten that few week, when, rocked in tbe cradle of the deep or on one deck chair, they swore undying constancy. Like those on shore, it is a case of . out of sight out of mind.

Another and a more invigorating amusement- was playing deck : billiards or quoits" In the former 5 game a chalk circle is drawn and with a flat tipped “ cue” a circle of wood is pushed towards the chalk, whose rings are numbered. •The highest scorer is, of course,the winner. A considerable amoudt of • skill is required to guess the : extent of the vessel’s roil and to ; giiage the direction and strength of the stroke accordingly. Q mks are played with rope rings, a a wooden peg fitted into a block. Many other games also found favour, and, periodically, sports were held bn the forward deck. This provided, on either : side, a “ track ” seventy*five yards long by font yards wide,-whiclvgave ample space lor running, jumping, for egg, spoon and potato races, treacled bun eating, competitions, swinging the pig, etc/, besides affording room for ifie hundred or so' spectators who attended the gathering. Swinging the pig is a ’game that requires -some explanation. "A tope with a loop is hung from a spar, and in this loop,the competitor places bis feet/ With a piece of chalk intone'hand, he crawls as far as the"rope will permit (if he can keep his balance so, far) and makes b|s mark. Then ha must regain the mark whenbe, he started, a far more difficult task/Se who does not , fall ig. the winner. Concerts, lectures: and other occupations/ to" he described latmjon, helped to drive inseparable'froth a long sea ypyage, and; tb ipakq/pur, time on' board a very enjoy (UCa fy&mtimed.)