A DOCTOR'S TRIP HOME

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12443, 5 March 1906, Page 5

A DOCTOR'S TRIP HOME

IMPRESSIONS OF THE BRITISH ISLES." A CHAT WITH DR. MICKLE. Dr. and Mrs Micklo have returned to Christchurch after an absence of some nino months, during whiich they visited England. Scotland, "Wales, nnd Ireland. A reppesentatiro of "The Press" lied an interesting chat with the- doctor, ivho described some of his impressions. "Everything is now* niado comfortable for the traveller both by eea and land," said Dr. Miclde. '"The sea voyage is tcertainly a groat pleasure, and to most a great benefit. By acting as surgeon to the ship both in going and returning, I provided myself with a little congenial work, which helped to pass the time. Wo travelled both ways by the New Zealand Shipping Company's boats, and if the company were in need of a testimonial, I could honestly give them a good one. A long eea voyage is by no means dull; the ever-changing aspect of the sea is a source of great interest, and at timas of very great beauty. The smooth seae, with liardly a ripple todLstiirb the surface, accompanied by bright sunny weather, afford great enjoyment, hut not less so the opposite condition' of wind-tossed and foaming waves; and in the big ships to-day the motion is very little felt.

"Different people," continued the doctor, "approach the ahoros of Britain •with different, feelingfi—tho coloniaL- ! born with curious expectation and wonder, the native vriih a eoft, affectionate regard, and one of gladness to be able once more to see- the land of his birth. The flashlight, off Ufihant is the first Lndioation that ■Wβ a-r© approaching the end of our voyage. The numerouG ships wo now pass is another. On the evening of the next dny the lights on both sides of the Channel, from the lighthouse and alfio the brilliantly-lighted towns on the south coaet of England, •are an inspiring eight. lα,the.early niornirig ive pass up 'the. Thames. The green fields of the land on «ach side,, studded with handeonro trees of that riph green colour seen to ite' greatefit pnrfectiori in. the; Britiiih Inles, remind ono of ,meny a pleasing 'picture of an English laindecape. Finally we find ourselves alongside tho Albert Deck. The Customs officer gives little trouble. Hott much-njore pleassjnt I this* 1 than., the searching inv.eetigation in a protected country. In a fewniinuteswq are eble'to take the train for Londop.! , . ,:. '. '.:

"How,long were you in the-Old Country?" the pressman' asked. ''■::'.'■ *"We landed on., Juno 10th,! , -, replied Dr. Mickle, '/arid,did riot-leave again, until January 2nd. so that we had over cix months at; Homo. Thie time ive divided in seeing as much as -we could of each division of the. United Kingdom. We gave six, ■weeks to Scotland, four to Ireland, .two to Wales, and the rcet of the time we werot in England. As., however, several, weeks were spent quietly at. my 01d... Yorkehiro home, where my mother and some, members of. our family Teeide, we did not devote more .than eight weeks to visiting places of interest in. England, and. four weeks of this, were in London."

"Where did ■ ■ you : find the » beet sceneryP" . . . . "The scenery of Scotland is undoubtedly the grandest in the British Isles. The loohs, riv&re, and mountains,' the extensive and rich woods, or ;bush, as wo i<n New Zealand 6bouid say, which clothe the slopes of so many of the hills, anil the generally pretty ecenery in the country—for nowhere are the; grasses greener, or the treee of richer or more varied tinte—-were a great delight to look upan. Further north, the heather in full bloom was a wonderful sight. These scanee, together with visiting tho old abbeys .1 and carstles, the historic towns, arid sites, fully occupied us during, our sojourn.' there, -which was not one of idleness. I cannot wonder at the great patriotism and love of country manifested by the Scot wherever ho dwells. ,.

Dr. Mickle amd hi* wife had-never been in Ireland before this visit. "We saw much there," said the doctor, '\to disappoint ue, much to make one feel sad and grieved, people m some parts living under conditions of great poverty and wretchednees; but, <m the other hand, I was glad to see signs of improvement in many parte of the country. Tho scenery In Ireland is often beautiful. This is especially bo in, the south-west—Killarney and Glenganff are the two g9me of this district. There is almost every beauty that hills, water, and lovely woods can. make. There is also much wild, grand scenery- ench as that of the Gap of Dwnloe. The banks of the Shannon, Ireland's finest river, from CastJe Corner to Killaloe, are examples of beautiful scenery of another type, more English in appearance. The river iteelf is a broad and lovely 6tr«*m; it i.3 one of the finest of British rivers. The churches and cathedrals m Ireland, both Roman Catholic and Protestant, are often very beautiful buddings, but, with tho exception of St. Patrick's in Dublin, there Is nothing that can equal the cathedrals in England."

"Belfast struck mc a? the most modern and go-ahead town in Ireland, and compares favourably with similar places m England or Scotland. Dublin occupies an unique position. A capital and not a capital—it shows some signs of decay; at any rate the diminishing population, of 'the country must have affected Dublin a groat deal, but we found it a very interesting place. Its two fine Protestant Cathedrals. St. Patricks and Christ Church, are. I believe, the largest and most costly in Ireland. The public buildings are on a fine scale, but still there is a sort of shabby-genteel style about much of Dublin, and there are signs of a. great deal of poverty. The Irish people are quite aware that they possess the 'Blarney Stone.' end r think many of thorn have kissed rt, co that a stra-nger requires to have hii» wits about him. Nevertheless, -we liked the Irish people-very much. ; and met with much kindness and attention in many places. If they woukl give up all agitation for eocalied 'Home Rule,' and welcome Englishmen and Scotchmen, as settlers in, iheir country. English and Scotch capital - would flow into Ireland and wo

should eeo it prosper end regain its lost | population. The Irieh labourer would not bo working for from 8s to lf>s a week, as now, but his wages would equal those of his English and Scotch., brother. "When we crossed over to Wales we could not help noticing a great difference in the two countries. Here everything was bo clean, so neat end orderly, and there was no sign of poverty. The scenery of Wales delighted Uβ. The Welsh hills, rivers and waterfalls, the valleys and the beautiful woods, which, are so abundant; all combine to give us pictures of the meet ■ lovely scenery. Many of the. watering/places by the i>ea are popular with Englisn. visitors. Llandudno is the most important. . It has a handsome esplanade of over two miles in length, and at one end a very handsome promenado pier and concert rooms, wellmarked features of ell the Home watering places and pleasure resorte of any size. j ''The inevitable question, Dr. Mickle," ' tho pressman then mid. "What do the people at Homo think of us?" "It is impossible," replied the doctor, "for any- ; one to have correct- end full Ideas of any | country without visiting it, but I am ; reminded of the reply which Mr W. j Montgomery gavo to this .question many years ago, on his return from England. 'England,' he said, 'is a great nation, having vast interests at Home and in every part of the world, and is very busy in inamtaininc; her position and cannot give much thought to New Zealand. , Neither is it neceesary. Interested she if. but can trust the colonists, to make , , the best of their very'favourable circura- i stances, feeling confident that New Zealand will , continue to occupy a creditable position in the Imperial family. "Although in a-public sense the affairs of New Zealand do not become very j prominent, and occupy but a small and < infrequent epaco in. the English press, \ yet there is in private life a great in- , terest felt in the colony, and one can : converse but few people who,are entirely ignorant of New Zealand affaire; most people are impressed with the fineness of the climate, end believe it to be a country of plenty for all. All New Zealand products stand in high esteem, especially the mutton' and butter. The unique success of the 'All Blacks' has certainly increased , the interest in and knowledge, of the-colony;, ; there is , no bitter • feeling v over these > events—tho* people 'at. Home \ have ac- ■ copted the fact diet for the present.the New Zealandors are the beet exponente of-'Rngby football. After they had "won so frequently; there 'gradually grew a feeling",that they' were, invincible and would return to New , Zealand utKiefeatod, and this wish was frequently oxpwssed." ; -■■;■"'■.