AN AUSTRALIAN TOURIST ON NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5496, 28 June 1879, Page 6

AN AUSTRALIAN TOURIST ON NEW ZEALAND.

On May 29, the Hon. R. A. Tarlton, of South Australia, delivered a lecture in Adelaide—His Worehip the Mayor of Adelaide, (Mr. "W. C. Buik, J.P.), in the chair—entitled " Nctes of a Recent Trip to NewZealand." ! Mr. Tarlton commenced by stating that hit chose the voyage from Sydney to the Nt.irth Island in preference to the route from'. Melbourne to Otago, as the former v,W more likely to.be of a pleasant character. He had a pleasant voyage from Sydney to Auckland in ore of the Pacific Steamtihip Navigation Company's mail boats. He described the coast of the North Island of New Zealand as being ver/ rongh, rngged, and inhospitable as a rule. Auckland was a pleasantly-situated city, and a visitor from Australia was struck at once with the difference between the vegetable products of New Zealand and the Sonthern Continent, and also with the general appearance oE the country. It was all hilla there, and plains here. The general aspect oE the place was such as to forcibly remind him of England and its climate. There were two ways of seeing the North Island — psrsons might travel round the coast, or overland, ak will. The latter route was vastly more difficult, laborious, and expensive than the former, but was more calculated to reward the traveller for his paiu?. As one of hie greatest objects was to see the geysers in the centre of the islands, he travelled inland. His journey for a long distance, by rail, was through tracts of rich agricultural lands, divided into much smaller blocks than the selections of South Australia. Then they entered upon the beautiful fern lands of the Waikato River, which had been still preserved by the Maoris. He gave a lengthy and interesting description of the geysers, mentioning that tho waters were resorted to by persons who were suffering from sciatica, rheumatism, and gout, very often with the deeired effect. Passing from the more ordinary geysers, he went on to speak of the Lakes Rotomabaoa and Kotorua, and spoKe in glowing terms of the wonderful terraces of Uotomahana. He described the sight of. the terraces as ono of the most intonsely beantiful aud extremely wonderful that he had ever seen. When speaking further of the lakes and mountains of the centre of the island, he said thero were probably few sights more grand thau that of Mount Tongariro as seen from Lake Taupo. He expressed himself as very much delighted with the observations he was enabled to make during his travels through the fertile agricultural and paetoral district of Wanganui, and mentioned as an instance of the rare quality of the lon'l, and the suitability of the climate for grazing, that a farm of 4000 acres carried 23,000 Lincoln sheep, besides horses and cattle, and yielded the proprietor an income of about £10,000 a-year. The carrying capabilities of this 4000 acres -was nearly equal to 500, square miles of South Australian land. Tne natural resources of New Zealand were being rapidly developed. The whole island was being covered with a network of railways, which were highly necessary in a mountainous country. He understood from a statement in the papers that the Government was oontemplating another loan of £10,000,000, although they owed £30,000,000 already. Their resources were, however, so marvellous, that they need not fear to bear the burden. New Zealand differed wonderfully from Australia. It was weli watered, and had a climate which favoured its producing qualities. It had been said that the wealth of timber alone in the hands Of the Government would liquidate their debt, besides which they had abundance of coal in both the North and South Islands. It was not surprising, with the resources they had, that the people were not afraid to go into debt. 'Je knew of an instance in which a farmer reaped the almost incredibly large amount of 1047 bushels of wheat from 12 acres of land, or an average of 87 bushels to the .-.ere. This was exceptional, but it was not uncommon to calculate on getting from 40 to GO bushels per acre. He thought he was safe in predicting for New Zealand a grand future. Hβ concluded by advising anybody who had the means, and who was desirous of recruiting his or her health, to take a trip to New Zealand. _______—.