ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 102, 11 April 1933, Page 8

ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY

MOTOR TRIP TO THAMES HASTINGS RESIDENTS' INSTRUCTIVE TOUR. MANY PLACES OF INTEREST VISITED. This is the age of motor cars and whatever disadvantages the motor car may have, it, at least, has been the means of placing the whole of the North Island at one’s disposal when it comes to holiday time. To-day probably the most popular way of spending a holiday is to go on an extended motor tour of the island and it is surprising what a number of beautiful and interesting places one can see in two weeks when one has a car. Some people’s idea of a holiday motor tour is simply to cover as many miles as they can in the time at tueir disposal; there are others who prefer a careful view of the countryside. The latter possess the power of observation and have the ability of appreciating what they see and hear. Such a motorist is Mr L. J. Harvey, ot Hastings, who, in company with Mrs Harvey has just completed a tour of the central portion of the North Island and when interviewed this morning by a “Tribune’’ reporter he had much of interest to impart as to his impressions of the trip. Mr Harvey found the countryside in the Waikato refreshingly green. Everywhere there was evidence of abundant pasture and the green hillsides looked fine. Stuck appeared in excellent condition and obviously the farmers did not find the question of winter feed a pressing one. BAY OF PLENTY VISITED. After casually visiting Taupo and Rotorua, both places having been visited before by Mr and Mrs Harvey, they made for the coastline and then turned around the attractions offered in the Bay of Plenty. The visitors found The Mount a delightful little place. Here a pretty beach lies at the toot of a high hill shaped like a sugar loaf. The walk round The Mount was a most enjoyable ninety minutes. The coast line in this locality is a splendid sight and from the summit of The Mount a fine view of the off-shore islands is obtained. “When we got to Tauranga we were greatly disappointed,” continued Mr Harvey. “We had been lead to believe that Tauranga was a delightfully picturesque township that made a specialty ot growing tropical shrubs and Howers, but we found that such was not the case. 1 am satisfied that the people there have not used to the best advantage the benefits of their tropical climate ” An interesting find at Tauranga was a sample of black glass which Mr Harvey greatly admired. It appears that in the days long gone by there was a violent eruption in that locality and the sand and soil was subjected to terrific heat. The result was the deposit of huge lumps of jet black glass, which are to be found in considerable quantities on Mayor ilsland. Mr Har, vey said that he was surprised that it had not been put to some use. “I am sure that if it could be manufactured into beautiful and striking objects, it would be most popular,” he said. GOLDFIELDS BEING WORKED. Leaving Tauranga the tourists passed through the goldfields in the vicinity of Vl aihi and found plenty of activity in this locality. AH the six mines were working full time. Unfortunately visitors to the mines were not encouraged and consequently Mr Harvey was unable to satisfy a natural curiosity to have a closer inspection of the mines and, more particularly, the findings. The antithesis to Waihi was the Thames Valley, where the business people complained “Things are very quiet” and Mr Harvey found them so too. Thames, however, was the step-ping-off place for a thoroughly enjoyable trip around the Coromandel Pe» insula. The coast road of 21 miles has picturesque sights opening up at every turn of the road. The majestic, though barren, rocky cliff's bordering the ocean are in marked contrast to the dense bush that covers the more inland hills. The lattei present a pretty picture, the vivid scarlet of the pohutukawas; being intensified by the more sombre background of native trees that include the kauri. BEAUTY OF MERCURY BAY. Leaving the coast the tourists went inland and passed through miles of beautiful bush country before returning once more to the coast in the vicinity of Mercury Bay. Here they found much to interest them. “Wo came across some wonderful rock formations and never shall we forget the magnificent scene that confronted us at sunset on the day of our arrival,” said Mr Harvey. “—the beautiful beach, the rocky islands that abound in the hay, and the last rays of the sun making them stand out in silhouette, and at sunrise it was equally beautiful.” The return journey was made through familiar country, Te Aroha and Arapuni being visited. REMARKABLE COLLECTION OF FERNS. “Though we were disappointed with Tauranga generally 1 must admit that it was there that 1 spent probably the most enjoyable part of my trip,” said Mr Harvey, who, it appears, makes fern-collecting his hobby. “We we'e allowed to inspect a private fernei.y there and saw the most amazing collection of ferns that I have ever seen. There were ferns from all parts of the world and in addition we were shown a collection of cactus plants which ranged in height from a few inches to several feet. A rare variety was one that was ribbed.” Mr Harvey said that while be had made a hobby of collecting ferns he had not thought of making a microscopic study of them until he was given an inkling of the pleasure that was to be derived from that. Nor was he aware until his visit to Tauranga of the Fern Society of New Zealand, the object of which is to encourage the study of ferns. One of the benefits of the society is that the members exchange ferns and information relevant to ferns with one another, and Mr Harvey is looking forward ta deriving immense pleasure from his association with the members.