COOK'S TOURISTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1214, 10 April 1880, Page 3

COOK'S TOURISTS.

The promised advent of a number of Cook's Tourisits to New Zealand shows clearly the rapid strides with which our communications with the ©uter world have developed. Such an idea as the flooding of our tovras, lakes, and mountains with these festive searchers after novelty would, a short time back, have been held perfectly chimerical. But now we hear of the arrival of an agent for the great entrepreneur and of arrangements being on the tapis by wliich the pleasure seekers may pass through the land at the least possible expense to themselves and with the greatest possible comfort. The last scheme mooted for the transport of such people in any number to these shores was that which was started some years ago to fit out a vessel on co-operative principles, which was to do the round of the world, New Zealand being included in the programme of the tour. The idea however, fell through, not being taken up with any degree of warmth by the travelling public. Indeed, so flue an organization is required in any scheme of this description that unless the certainty of a good one be secured, it had far better be abandoned. Beside the co-operative yacht was only suited to people of very large means. To Mr Cook is due the credit of having been the first to turn travelling" en iikh&c into a system. With an organising faculty perfectly marvellous, he developed a system which has made itself felt over the whole of tlio continent of Europe, and over many parts of .Asia, Africa, aud America. The arrangements he brings into play ure allowed to be as perfect as human foresight can make them, for at the minimum of expense they allow to individuals the the maximum of individual freedom, compatible with travelling in the same direction with a large body of people. His excursions have, moreover, filled an acknowledged want. Many persons are unable, without some such arrangement, to penetrate into parts where numbers are the greatest gaurantee for safety; unprotected ladies can now eujoy £he luxury of travel ; and pleasant society can be secured for land journeys aud voyages th*t would otherwise be dull and monotonous, la fact, Mr. Cook may well rank among the distinot benefactors of the modem Saxon. We do not mean, of course, to say that there are no drawbacks to journeying under his auspices. Undesirable units will always be found in the best regulated societies, and the colour in wliich this class of tourist is held in many parts of the continent is unsatisfactory. Caricatures are numerous of them parading the streets of continental towns in outrageously coloured garments and ill fitting boots, and with abnormally gigantic front teeth standing out at an angle of 45. But the tourists may well afford to laugh at these sallies, and to reflect on the discriptive efforts that would await any influx on a lai^e scale of French or German pleasure seekers on English soil. Ex pede Hvrculem, like most pioverbs, will not bear much expansion, and the choosing of the lowest typo of the English tourists as an example of the whole is an old trick of our vivacious neighbours. But after ail, when we see the extent to which Messrs Cooks' operations are carried, we ought perhaps, rather to wonder we have had none of his numerous constituency out here before. By the last English mail we read that in connneetion. with the proposed Artie expedition projected by Commander J. P. Chejne, R. N., which i.s for the purposo of reaching the Xorth Pole by travelling the ltiut few hundred mileu by sledge ami bnloon apor«

ations combined, there is a connection with Cooks' tour, which party will accompany the steamer to some of the Arctio bays where there is splendid wild fowl shooting 1 . When. the mystio regions of the extreme north are being invaded by Cook's tourists what wonder that New Zealand will see the light of their countenances. Of one thing* we may be sure. The travellers will pass through few lands more worthy of a visit than our adopted home. From the material improvements, made in such a wonderfully short space of time, to be seen in this island, and from our fiord and mountain scenery, they will pass on to the marvellous natural phenomena of the North, and to the study of the manners and customs of the Maoris. The aboriginal in, his native fastness will be brought lace to face with Bond street and Oheap»ide, and when the tourist i 3 once more safe in his parlour or bis drawing-room, he will have ample food for reflection for many a long day. Even when the lapse of time may have wiped out the freshness of his impressions, a something will be left : —

A consciousness remains that it has left, Deposited upon the silent shore Of memory, images and precious thoughts That bhall not die and cannot be destroyed. —Globe.