A TOURIST'S EXPERIENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13392, 22 January 1907, Page 3

A TOURIST'S EXPERIENCE.

Sir, —This colony is extensively advertised in Australia and el where "as Being one to spend a comfortable ami enjoyable holiday in. Indued l>v wueh advertisements many hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of tourists visit New Zealand every year, and amongst others myself. My experience up to the present has been lamentable. I left my hotel at. Rotorua. on Monday, January It. at ten minutes to nine a.m., ami arrived in Auckland on Friday, .January 13, at six in. 1 >r. !.•<•. »ii.(r llotorua it. was mv intention !■> proceed' that day to Taumarumii. Neglecting detail.-, 1 was landed at lluntlv I>v the train on Tuesday morning, and could not obtain any reliable information as to how to profeed. The railway authorities there seemed to gloat ever' my misfortunes. On Thursday, profitting by tin- "push" of someone eUe, 1 was enabled to proceed down | tile river by launch, no effort of any kind, sort, or description lx>itig made by tho railway authorities to forward me, although launches were available. I should probablv have been in Unruly now had 1 relied on their good grace*. From lluntlv L proceeded to Ouiwa by boat, thence tit Waiuku by convey a m and thence by coach to l'ukekohe, all at my own expense I and discomfort. In any other country some I effort would have been forthwith made to j restore the lines <j! communication by boat, and stranded travellers would have received some civilities from the railway of!!rials, inj ftend of in effect being jeered at. The railway carriages were filthy, and the sanitary accommodation at, the country railway sta- ( t.tons an absolute, disgrace -to any civilised* ! community. The conveyance and comfort, . i of tourists, unfortunately stranded, seems | ] to be absolutely neglected, and all this in I 1 the face of tlx- attractive advertisements cf > i the Tourist Departnienr. Admitting that. 1 j circumstances of the last seven days were f | peculiar, yet peculiarity is no excuse for • | inaction, local incivility and filth. My complaint is echoed on every side by other . | unfortunates. 1 read your leader of January •j 9 with interest. I write this letter in tho | hopes that your efforts to secure some de- . | gree of comfort for travellers may Ik l successful. A Tovrist. ! Auckland.