FROM AUSTRALIA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 January 1925, Page 7

FROM AUSTRALIA.

A FEW I2IPRESSIONS. Mr and 2lrs P. O’Dea, who have been away,on a trip to Australia, returned to Hawera last night. They have been away about five weeks, and had a most enjoyable trip. To a Star reporter, 21 r O’Dea said that a tour of Australia was a very common occurrence, but this being liis first, his impressions were naturally of interest, more especially referring to subjects in which he was deeply interested. Of the observatories to be seen, 2:1 r O’Dea was impressed with that at Ballarat, where there is a 26-inch telescope, which he believed is the finest in the Southern Hemisphere. At Sydney lie met 2tr Gale, the director, a gentleman who incidentally holds a leading position in commercial circles, and had the privilege of seeing a fine collection of astronomical instruments. The telescope in that city is an 18-inch one. (if the many trips taken while in Victoria and New South Wales, two of the. most characteristic were those to Bulii and to the Blue 2lountains. The route of the former trip ran along the coast, on cliffs 1500 feet high, looking over the ocean, a gorgeous panorama. While at the mountains 2tr O’Dea did the Jenolan Caves. Although they are no finer, if as impressive, as Waitomo, he was struck immensely with the manner in which the beauties of the caves were brought out. For instance, he said a huge stalactite, not by any means an unusual sight, was lighted up from all sides so as to make it really brilliant. He was very much impressed generally with the work of the Tourist Department, and considered New Zealand could take a lesson from it. The State’s tourist resorts

were advertised everywhere, and in addition they had notices all over the district urging people to support Australian industries and manufactures.

With the country Mr O’Dea was not particularly impressed. A lot of it appeared poor—lo miles on the way to the mountain and only one house with a garage seemed typical—and to support but little stock. Blit, he said, of course there is any amount of good country. What he saw did not impress him, and only one piece, near a place called Bacchus Marsh, reminded him of Taranaki. Mr O’Dea saw the famous Eureka Stockade, where miners on an historic occasion defied the authorities. On the monument commemorating the event is an inscription something to this effect: “To the pioneers who died in the cause of liberty; to the soldiers who died in doing their duty.” A trip through the grape country, Mildura and to the north, was of interest. He did not see much of the vineyards, but learnt that the industry was not flourishing, and actually the grapes were in some districts rotting on the vines, because there was no demand for them. In the sugar industry he was given to understand there was great prosperity.

The visit to Australia has impressed Mr O’Dea more than ever with the many attractions New Zealand has to offer and what a wonderful country this little Dominion is.