FROM GISBORNE TO DUNEDIN AND BACK.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 404, 16 January 1890, Page 3

FROM GISBORNE TO DUNEDIN AND BACK.

BY •• PAX,"—(No. I.) Mill people ask the question—' Why is it that Gisborne re so quiet and backward, as ►compared with other towns in New Zealand T Well; I can answer the question, but to do so effectually, it will be necessary to begin With one of oor largest cities—Auckland—thence go right on, calling at every port sb route to Dunedin—which is without doubt the finest city in the eolony, and which I will describe later on. Now, we have a very fine, in fact, I may aay a magnificent, line of Steamers, oalling at every port on the East Coast, from Bussell in the extreme North to Invereargill in the extreme South, and equally as good a landing place as they have at Napier. The steamer on arriving at Auckland from Australia, remains there at least a whole day, and sometimes two, giving passen gers ample time to have a good look around the' city, and in doing so they usually spend kt least a few shillings in going from place to Elace, to witness such sights as the city may I possessed of. The steamer usually leaves Auckland about midday on Thursday, and as a rule arrives at Gisborne on Friday afternoon between the hours of 12,30 and five. (I don’t wish to include boisterous weather.) Many times the last launch is advertised to leave the shore at 5 p.m., so that when the Steamer arrives at 1 p m. at least one hour is gone ere the launch, after having tendered her, returns to the shore, and seeing that the launch goes off again at £ p.m. there is but tarts hoars ; ft to look around. Even so much time is not given to passengers coming from Southward, for as a rule, there is emy one boat leaving the shore for the purpose of tendering the big steamer. Now with such regulations regarding the port of Gisborne, by the Union Company, people have no time to some ashore and m«k« an inspection of Uisporue, ana the surrounding country—for Gisborne, in .nite of ail th, local penimiste, is to a certain extent attraotlve, both in mnery and the general aspect of tin, The attests are all well laid out, an- !o. so short an existence Gisborne possesses zpany Ans buildings, god with a pleasing arch I tec fare. Io what other town in New Zealand, from Auckland to Dunedin, will you find a fatter thoroughfare than Gladstone Boadf Why, it ia a perfect avenue, Then again take Childers Boad-a pleasant shady road in the hot summer weather, and the trees, not being tvargrean, do not obetrgjj tbf rap ?! tbf BUS during (bl Sinter months, but allow the genial sunshine to some onon ns. I hope tha'io’iagoing wTH ’noffa taken Ua digrtSHoa, as I am going to show how it 14 that the calculations of ilw oerly advocate, •I ihf barber are net being realised. II iS Maty U fM, ZoTMtbU •fa—-

this must n<«t be taken &b the general hoar of departure, for the steniner was detained to oblige Mr Dillon and party—and the loud whistle of the Snark is hoard, which ia a signal nf departure. The time at last comes when Captain Neal gives the word “go ahead,” wbsn off struggles the launch with her living freight, and the night being calm, the fine largo steamer Tarawera is reached in a very short time, and the passengers having transhipped the clanking of the huge engines soon indicate that we are on our way to Napier. As the steamer got clear away from the shore she began to heave a little, and some of the passengers were pick. However, after a peaceful night we arrived at Napier about 7 o’clock the next morning (Saturday), and in a very short time the tender comes from the shore for the purpose of conveying passengers to Napier, and as the launch leaves the big steamer • through passengers ’ are told that the ‘ last launch will leave shore for the steamer at 3 p.m.,’ giving at least seven hours for passenger* to look around Napier and the surrounding country. After one has had a • sick ’ on the big steamer, I can safely say that breakfast and dinner on shore become quire a delight, especially when a ride from the Spit up to Napier only costs 6 h It is not absolutely necessary to take a sixpenny ride if you do not choose to do so—you may pay a shil ling if you don’t want to be thought ‘common,’ but I noticed that some of the ‘ swells’ indu’ged in a sixpenny ride. As for myself and three others who were ‘ through passengers,’ we paid one shilling and sixpence, and on asking the reason of the high fare, cabby said, ‘ Weil, gentlemen, you see that someone has broken my window; and someone will have to pay for it 1’ Remonstrance was of no use, and the man would not listen to reason, so concluding we were ‘ had,’ we let cabby go his way in peace, but a sixpenny conveyed us back. Now, one cannot run about Napier for a whole day without feeling the calls from Bacchus. Some will indulge in beer, others in something stronger, others again are content with what is known as a * soft tack/ while some even descend so low as aqua pura. While in Napier you are supposed to call on your friends if you have any there, also to go and see whatever is to be seen. White there I hud a good look at the great sea wail along the Marine Parade, whioh is a substantial looking work, also the - breakwa er,’ which I was informed irate SO feet at low water, but, comparing the work; and the working, to our Gisborne breakwater, ia like comparing • night to morning.’ After going from one place to another, through the narrow streets, which Napier is t unous for, the time came for di-partnre. Now, one gets through a few shillings while at Napier, and provided the weather is fine, the visitor leaves with a tolerably good impression. Saving * done * Napier, another ride (remember for sixpence this time) conveys ua back to the Spit, just in time to catch the hunch leaving for the big steamer. Having embarked once more, away we go for the next port, Wellington, which was reached at about 10 a.m. on the following day (Sunday) after spending Saturday night at sea. Prior to entering Port Nick, the ‘heads* are sighted, and a host of rocks, which in the distance, very much resemble houses, and church steeples. Then the curious begin to enquire ‘ Were yon ever down thia befnre ?/ and ‘ Surely that is not Wellington F’ Some of the mischievously inclined are tempted to prevaricate, and tell the ques tiouer many funny things, which, if believed at all, are only for the moment, for in a very short while the steamer is opposite those very rocks, and then perceiving the 1 have’ no more questions are asked, but the look of those rocks, which are now on both sides, makes one shudder at the very thought of being there in an open boat on a dark night —what would be the result ? However, ere one has any more time left for content? pinion, Seama’s island comes iulo view, and on being told that it is the quarantine station little is said about it.