ADMIRATION AND CRITICISM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 24, 29 January 1908, Page 3

ADMIRATION AND CRITICISM.

OUR TOURIST RESORTS. CONVENIENCES AND OTHERWISE. SIR JOHN MADDENS WEWS. ' CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Sir John Madden, the Chief Justice of Victoria, lias many pleasant things to siy in regard to the tourist resorts of the North Island which he has "visited during the last weak or two ; but he has a.lso sonio criticism to offer. "I have nothing but admiration for tho hospitality, kindness, and courtesy of the people I met," he said, when speaking to a representative of The Post this evening. "Rotorua is beautiful, and admirably arrftnged, find the ho l el at which wo stayed there 'was ns good as any I have met in the world. The railway accommodation generally, however, is very bad. Everybody Aid the best they could for us, but the arrangement are not jjood. The train ! always started so carl}' in the morning I that we did not get any breakfast ; the food along the line was not easily get, and was not very attractive- when secured, and the train arrived lite- in the evening, just as dinner was on the table. In some places there was only one bath for fifty ct eixty people, and nobody who wanted any dinner could get a bath. Details of that sort must receive attention if a large tourist traffic is to be developed. Wo were delighted to get to Rotorua, and 1 find that there things were all different. The Government has every reason to bo gratified at the result of State management of the township. The Wanganui River is very beautiful indeed, but the boat in which visitors have to travel the upper ' reaches is quite unw.orthy of tho scenic attractions of the river. The boat makes no provision at all for the convenience of ladies ; there is not oven a sufficient supply of deck | chairs. I don't think the condition of affairs would be alknved in any other country. The steamers used on the river below Pipiriki are much better."