From Capetown to New Zealand.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 127, 23 March 1901, Page 2

From Capetown to New Zealand.

By 0. A. Wilscm. ( Gontinued ) One little town succeeded another on our Adelaide-M dbonr i© trip. We passed Ararat, where the rush was taking place, and learned from a passenger who joined us that the amount of gold was vastly over'eslimated, and that the whole thing was a speculation got up by traders tov foster : business. Yet all the papers “ boomed ” the place. It is but another instance of distance lending enchantment to the view. One desires greatly logo toadismnt place, and feels that if they once reach it they will he satisfie !, Not a bit of it. To every desire there is a horizon, and as one travels on it r< cades, till at the very height of ambition in any direction—even distance travelling, there remains a vast plain of unsatisfied desire, with the misty boundary line still far ahead. In the early-morning light we reached Balia.at (a name irrevocably linked with yold-mui-ing), and looked with much interest at its fine appearance. It is as large as Adelaide, and appears to have many fine public buildings. Everywhere on die outskirts of the town, and even close to the railway station, any be seen numbers of old working.-!. There is little alluvial gold no .v proooured hore r but quartz crushing has taken its place, and the supply? of gold-bearing store is said to be yet enormous. A very few hours then elapsed before we. wr e passing througn the suburbs of Victoria’s capital, .md at 10.30 we drew up at ttie Swansiou street station. Hero an ollicer was awaiting us, and we were taken in cabs to tire barracks, given an advance on our pay, and also the chance of living in barracks until our ship sailed for New Zealand, iu ten days. We elected to shift for ourselves. The Australian who only had to wait a day and a half,, knew the “run of the ropes,”" and were off. We three and the hoy found very comfortable quarters at a restaurant in Spencer street, at a tlm-e----shiliing tariff. We parcelled out ’our money accurately, and, after allowing for board, wo had a little to spend. On tho third day the Persic arrived, and we met the-troops at the railway station. We had a spread and a welcome at the barracks in theafternoon, and were marched to Parliament House. Here we. sat for a little while in the L nver Chamber, in which there was a sitting. I had not seen Parliament sitting before, and was not much edified. It was, as in ail parliaments, I suppose, a case of much cry and little wool. After a little while we were taken to the refectory of the Uppec Chamber, a very fine room, and here a light repast was spread. Of course, speech making was to tho fore, and the returned Australians and New Z -alandeis were, warmly welcomed back. In no place to which we went had the* New Zealanders been forgotten, New Ze, land seemed to be in everyone’s mouth, and there was a very evident desire that this colony should federate. The senior of every detail replied on behalf of his men and their colony, I had to reply, thanking' them on behalf of New and touch©! very briefly "on the subject of Federation. We rose a few minutes after, and I had the honour of being shaken by the hand and congratulated on my little speech by the Speaker of the House and by several members. We had a look round the Parliament buildings ami then departed our several ways, with an invitation to see tli© turn-out of the Metropolitan Fir© Brigade and a number of other places. The managers of th© various theatres were granting free passes to all returned troopers, so that we had plenty‘to occupy our time. There is- really* so much of interest to be told about Melbourne that I would fain devote some space to it, embracing a visit to such places of interest as the Mint, Pentridge Gaol, St. Kildat and the Grand National meeting.

What strikes a visitor chiefly in regard to Melbourne is the easewith which he may find his way about. The founders of the city, evidently taking warning by the crooked, narrow streets of the Continental cities, laid out their city in a manner which would have given Euclid the keenest delight. It is not the slightest trouble to find any given street,, given a certain point like the Swauston street bridge. There is an admirable two-minute tram system, and trams run to the suburbs constantly all day long. In some places Melbourne’s halfmillion people are packed fairly tight, but there is a very perfect system of controlling the street traffic, and there are few* accidents. When on the sidewalk the people going north, for i stance* will keep to their jrigh% against the shops, and those going south; will keep to their, right* agaiiist edge of tho a&ewaik*

so that this may be packed and yet there is absolutely no confusion. You simply join the stream going in the desired direction. The streets are well policed, and any attempt at stopping or jostling in the opposite direction will speedily bring the command to “ move on.” (To he continued,) •