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A TRIP ROUND THE WORLD.

[By a Waikato Settler].

( Continued.) The flrat thing to do was to look after my business affairs. After seeing that thoy were proceeding all I had leisure to lo»k around as I before remarked I saw but very little difference in tho old town, but the outskiiti liad cmsidernbly extended. I started by looking up old schoolmates ; some I found in prosperous circumstances, others the reverse and a largo number had been laid in the old churchyard. Peterboro' being purely an agricultural district, I had tlid opportunity of inspecting several farms, and in my opinion wo seem further advanced in farming in Now Zealand than thoy are at Home. We seein to have more energy

and moro go in us than they have in England. I was in an hotel one Saturday evening, and was introduced to some farmers. Au old gentleman asked me whether we had any double-furrow ploughs out my way, on bc-iug answered in the affirmative, his next question was " how many acres can you plough in a day." I remarked from 3 to 4 acres, according to depth and width of furrow, this was followed by a dead silence. The next question was " Have you any reapers and binders." "Yes." "Whit makers?" "English and American." "I suppose you have the Hornsby." "Oh yes." "Now what could you knock down with one of these in a day." " Well, the biggest day's work I have seen done in a moderate light crop, was 16 acres." Well, it was a treat to see that old gentleman's face and hear his remarks. I will not chronicle it here ;

suffice to say his language was not parliamentary. 1 also had a look at some labourers that were working for the municipality. 10 hours per day were their hours, from 6 to 6, two hours for meals. I consider the labourer's lot with his 8 hours and splendid climate is in paradise in New Zealand compared with his follow workman in the old country. Having now got my business well under weigh, I determined" to take a run up to London. In oompany wi'h a friend we took a fast train in the afternoon, and put up at Anderson's Hotel in Fleet Street, and after refreshing the inner M;iu, we ro out sight seeing. I may here remark that I seemed one too many in the London streets ; it took nearly all my time to keep from running foul of the other pas-

sengers. After visiting some of the largest shops, we wended our way to the Leadenhall Street Market, and the frozen meat having just been delivered from 'he Tongariro, some 20,000 careases, I can assure your readers it was a sight worth seeing; wo finished up by going to the gaiety theatre and seeing the opera Carmen. After breakfast the next morning I found such a fog on that I was gjad to beat a retreat ; you could have cut it with a knife. I then took a run down to Southampton, visited the Isle of Wight and all piacea of interest around that quarter. Returning to Peterboro', and finding my business progressing famously, havinar put it in the hands of a first-class firm of solicitors, I determined if possible to catch the return trip of the Tongariro. I may here remark it rather astonished the people at home when they were told that a good cow only cost from £3 to £5, and a hack £6 to £10. In visiting Peterboro' market one Saturday, a a friend of mine boueht a pony about 11 bands high, giving £12 for it. I asked him what he was going to do with it, not ride it certainlv (he was a man of 18 stone), come on he remarked, we will try it in the erig. It would have made the colonial lads stare to see how that pony spun over tho ground with stone behind him. Having now made arrangements to return by the Tongariro, I determined so see some of the lions of the great metropolis, so in company with a friend (a real born Londonor) we started eai'ly in the morning, arriving at King's Cross. The first place we visited was the Tower, to do this properly would take several visits, and our time being limited, we had to skip over many points of interest. I saw the crown jewels, the axe that be-

beaded Lady Jane Grey and other*; the block, the rack, the dungeon that Guy Fawkes was confined in, arms ana armour of ancient days in galore, and other interesting relics too numerous to mention here. The next place we visited was Westminster Abbey, and after seeing I the tombs of the illustrous dead, we made ! for Rotten Row. After parsing Buckingham Palace and Apsley House, the residence of the Duke of Wellington, we emerged on to the Row. It would astonish our colonials to S3e the horseflesh that is driven and ridden there, some of the most magnificent animals I ever saw. The next novelty ray friend took me to see was the underground railway. The carriages are lit with gas, and are not so comfortable as those on the railways above ground, the third class of those being equally as comfortable as our firstclass out here. The doors of the underground are self-closing, and when getting out at a station you have to be very smart, as they only stop an instant and are oft asain. We now made for Madame Taussard's, the famous waxwork show in Baker's Street, this is no doubt a <rrnnd sight; after seeing the marble staircase, the figures of Royalty and other notables we paid another 6d and descended to the Chamber of Horrors, here we saw all the notable murderers from 1840 up to the present time, also the guillotine that was used in the reign of terror. After tea we resolved to finish the trip by going to St. James' Hall, to the Moore and Burgess Minstrels, arriving home at 12.30 o'clock the next morning, _ which finished one of the most enjoyable days I spent in England. My business having been completed, and as all my lugerage had to be onboard the ship at the Royal Albert Docks by Wednesday, 29th April, tho vessel leaving Gravesend the next day, I bade good-'bye to all my friends, and I, in company with two Other old friends, proceeded on iny way to the vessel. The first place we stopped at was a station called Findley Park, —some 600 trains pass through this station daily,—from there we went to Fenchurch Street, changing there for Manor Way Station, During the run from London to the vessel's side in some places we passed over the roofs of the houses, and so near that you could have thrown a stone down the chimney. Having placed my lusfgage on board we made for the Victoria "Street station, where I took train for Plymouth via Southampton, after spending Thursday at Southampton, I proceeded on my way to Plymouth, arriving there on Friday evening, Ist May. After tea I, in company with one of the Channel pilots, visited a great number of places of interest in the town. The next morning I took a run round the Hoe, saw Drake s monument, the spot where tho people were playing cricket when the Spanish Armada hove in sight, and finished up by paying a penny to go on top of the old Eddystone lighthouse, from thire I had a splendid view of the Channel Plymouth and the surrounding country. Of all the towns I visited I must give Plymouth the palm of being the prettiest. Three o'clock in the afternoon and the Tongariro drops anchor in the Sound, and by 4 all the mails and passengers are on board the tender, and we steam out for the ship's side ; here was plenty of bustle but no oonfusion ; the stewards wore there to take our lugfage, and show U3 our berths. I found 80 passengers of all classes on board. At 5 o'clock the tender hauled off, the anchor was weighed, and we were outward bound again. There was nothing of importance for the first day out, except that some of the passengers paid the usual tribute to Neptune, and the ress of us settline ourselves down for tho voyage. On Monday, we had a sad accident on board—a seaman fell from the main top gallant yard arm, a distance of some 60 feet, and was carried to the hospital in a very precarious condition. On Wednesday the 6th a concert was held in the Ist saloon for the benefit of the wife and children of the sailor who fell from the yard arm; it turned out a great suooess, there being some fine singers on board. After a very fine and smart passage wo arrived at Teneriffe on

Thursday, 7th, droppiiiL' nii'-hnr nt !l a.m. I and a few otliei-3 dig:!!". 1 a Ijohl. fmi.i the natives, for which tliov charged U per head, and r.nwd a<o.nre. We then procured a native liiduVi could speak English to show us the lions 01 the town of Santa Cruz. (To hr ruitliiH-il.)

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18921203.2.39.6

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3190, 3 December 1892, Page 6 (Supplement)

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,538

A TRIP ROUND THE WORLD. Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3190, 3 December 1892, Page 6 (Supplement)

A TRIP ROUND THE WORLD. Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3190, 3 December 1892, Page 6 (Supplement)

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