From Capetown to New Zealand.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 126, 21 March 1901, Page 3

From Capetown to New Zealand.

By OffA-’Wilson. ( Continued J)-

The geological gardens in Adelaide are very well stocked, and one may see anything, from a tiny snake to a huge elephant, A rhinoceros, tigers, and some lions and animals and birds of all descriptions are kept, everything seemsing to be well cared for. Admission to the gardens costs sixpence, and there are several small shops inside where, profitably, refreshments may be bought. Una may spend a whole day here studying natural history, and would find few specimens missing. Wo returned to town in the evening, having thoroughly enjoyed our day, and then attended a play at night. Ail the troopers were invited. After the play several of

us went behind the scenes to see a Christchurch boy who was with the troupe, and I met a Timaruvian. We were due at the pier on the 1.30 a.m. tram, but we missed id by a few minutes, and thin contentedly sat up till 4 o’clock. At that hour we turned in, just waking in time to hear that the 10 o’clock tram to port had been gone half an hour and that the Persic had steam up. We, however, bad a photographer friend who was just going to drive down to the wharf to take a few snapshots of the troops. He picked us up, and the cabby made record time. We left the cab at the end of the wharf and sprinted bail' a mile, through pouring rain, to where a launch ought to be. But ne’er a launch was there, so twelve of us had to watch the steamer’s preparations for departure while we were stranded high and dry. Punctually at noon 1 she departed, and the pilot launch brought the comforting tidings that twenty men had been “ confined to barracks ” for late arrival, and that severe punishment was in store for those who did not turn up at all. Some of us looked apprehensively at our stripes, others thought of the imprisonment ; but this mood soon passed, and wo thought of the best way of reaching Melbourne. By taking the 4.30 p.m. overland express, we would reach Victoria’s capital at 10.30 next morning. At the Defence Office we had no trouble in getting passes, and at the correct time we glided out of the station towards the east, sans blankets, sans greatcoats, and wet to the skin. It did look like being a joyous trip. I had also in my charge a precocious youth of twelve —the son of one of the passengers on the steamer. Mrs Jones was bringing out a family of five sons and six daughters to meet the head of the house in New South Wales, i'his hopeful had been handed over to me on shore by the sergeant major, who had brought him from the ship to show him round. In view of avoiding future complications with his mamma, I brought him into a half-sized first-class carriage tno other two New Zealanders and myself had occupied. The first thing was to look after the finances, A tarpaulin muster showed 12s GJ to credit, and three men and a boy, cold, wet and to be hungry, on the debit. The swift motion of the train soon induced slumber, and, by judicious packing, ‘the four of us found sleeping room. Fortunately, there was one overcoat cape with us, and this, with the cushions, put the boy into a comfortable sleep. We bad a lovely night. Outside the sleet rattled on the windows, and at each station where refreshments were procurable we made a bee line for coffee hot, even the boat always kept up at refreshment rooms (for purposes of economy) being unable

to daunt us. By and bye the moon peered brokenly thaough the clouds, and we looked out with fleeting interest at the monotonous landscape. Miles of stunted trees succeeded each other on the eucalyptus scrub desert. At the box'hf a station, with the stationmaster’s bouse behind it forming the village of “ One Man Desert,” or some such euphonious title, a lonely dweller from way back would enquire anxiously if we had a paper. Yes, we had, and only too pleased to give it. Once or twice we had the curiosity tc ask, “ What’s grown round here ? ” but the answer was always the same—- “ Grown here ! ” (in a tone of surprise) “ Nothin’ but blanky scruo an’ dingoes an’ a few bloomin’ bullocks.” Then the speaker would sink down on one leg and stare vacantly at us, as if to see if we, were really sane.

(To be continued,)