"THE FORTUNATE ISLES','

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 188, 8 July 1896, Page 3

"THE FORTUNATE ISLES','

Under this heading Mr W, P. Peeves, the agent - general for the colony, discoursed in a very pleasant manner in London last month on Picturesque New Zealand its beauties and charms. Mr Peeve-, as our American Cousins would say, "is 310 slouch of a poet " and his wordpainting was managed most dexterously. A iter describing Auckland and its environs Air Peeves said : " But push inland. Turn your back if you must on the kauri forests and tho " gum country ' of the far North, Leave behind the giant trees with their pillar-like trunks, patchy foliage, and candelabra-like branches. Leave behind those moorlands and hillsides of barren white ch.y dressed in deceptive green by stunted fern, and htunted manuka, over which wander in thousands the kauri-gum diggers, probing the hard earth with their spears and then painfully digging out the dark lumps of the precious resin. More interesting sights lie southward. The railway is now opened to Potorua, and one long day's ride will take you to the Sanatorium and into the heart of the Thermal Springs district. If you are an invalid you need not m;<ke the journey in one d;>y, but may moke a comfortable halt and have your first taste of hot bathing at Okoroire by the way. Once at, Potorua your movements will be regulated by your health. Charming as Potorua is, lying in a bright circle, a silver setting round green Alokoia, perhaps its sister lakes are more charming still. Who that has glided in a canoe across the green, placid surface of Potoiti and has watched the vapour from some steam jet 011 its beach rising white against a green background of forest will forget that tranquil water? Then when you have duly inspected the foaming geysers, miniature terraces, and boiling pools of arewa and the dark hell-broth, thick and slab, that bubbles and gurgles in the horrid cauldrons of Tikitere it will be time to pursue your journey to Lake Taupo. By no means make the mistake of turning back from Potorua, in the belief that, you have exhausted the Thermal Springs district. Taupothe sea as the Afaoris called the great lake- is one of the finest sights in New Zealand. The air of its uplands is peculiarly tonic and bracing. Away past its south-west corner frown the gieat volcanoes Punpehu, and Ngauruhoe, the steaming cone of Tongariro. 1 he open air bathing in the hot pools at more than one spot is one of the mott delicious things you eon wrsh for. Air Peeves sketched for his audience 11 programme of a delightful tour thiough New Zealand His suggest-

led plan was as follows : ' Keep j October for Auckland. November for l Canterbury., December and January | for Otago, with its lakes and sounds ; | give February to tbe Alps, Westlaud, j and Nelson, and March and April to ' the North Island, especially to the Hot Lakes nnd Tarauaki.' His lecture was full of happy littlo touches of description or humour, and as ho ex-pre.-sly stated that it was his maiden effort as a lecturer, Mr Reeves may fairly bo congratulated on having scored a distinct success. He concluded amid applause. Some excellent limelight views were shown.