HARRY'S SOUTHERN TRIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2507, 9 April 1902, Page 67

HARRY'S SOUTHERN TRIP.

Dear Dot, — Now for a description of my adventures, etc., during my holidays. Right to the station my bodyguard or, rather, luggcgecarriers. consisted of Solomon Slow and Bert. I left Dunedin shedding tears— l mean the sky was, for the rain feil full and free. Arnved in Port, I made a desperate dash through the torrents to reach the s.s. Talune, forgetting my portmanteau. I lernembcred that ericumbranco just on stepping on -the beat and hurried back, claimed my bag, and then, putting mv right foot foiemost, once again regained the boat, which cleared the i Port wharf about 4 p.m. We sailed merrily onward with a full complement of passenger-. In due course the dreaded Heads were passed, and we were out on the rolling deep. The weather being calm, we went nhead full sperd. At about 5 p.m. I contracted an intense desire to view tjje machinery that piopelled the ocean monster, so, being courteously granted 1 permission by the chief engineer, I descended. The monotonous swish, swish of the three tremendous pistons, the slight whirr of the electric motor, the sucking noise of the purnp- | ing engine almost deafened me, but I wished to see everything worth seeing. After examining all the machinery, I turned my attention to the boilers and furnaces, but the heat there was to intense that I contracted a headache. I went oa deck and looked eagerly for a g'.anpse of my native town. Great was my disappointment, for our beautiful city seemed like a collection of white toys from the top of the ocean \>ave. The disappointment ,-au-t have caused a lefurn of my headache, for I was forctd io lotire to my bunk, but not to sleep. Oh, dear no' The attentive ycu.:g steward on board soon looked in to see what wa3 wiong with the sisterless boy. and when I told him what was ailing me ho came in with fiuit. and advised mo to eat it. Then he came m with some cooling drinks, aiid, 10, my ailment Foon disappeared under his kind and skilful trsatment. I think if Dr Jim had been on beard he would have been for pitching me overboard for having such a girlish complaint as a sick headache. I at last had a doze, and awoke to find the boat sailing m the smooth waters of Bluff Harbour. I hr.d for a berth companion a clergyman travelling for his health, and on the way up Bluff Karbcar he gave me useful and instructive information concerning his experiences, • and describing ths many different places he had visited. Aftar a hearty bieskfast I reluctantly bade him farewell and God-speed, and made my way through Bluff in search of relatives. Having found them, J got introductions to other relatives whom I had never seen before. After bidding them farewell T steered my bark for the southern city by rai', arriving a stranger in. a strange land. I was very kindly mot en the station by a D.L.F , another of our band. I was kind y assisted by two D.L.F. to find a boarding-hcu^p, so that after that my sailing was on calm, untioubled waters. During the early part of my visit there I had the great pleasure of meeting one of our favourite D.L.F., of North Island fame. To every D.L.F. whom I met on my travels I had to give Dr Jim's and Black Watch's handckisp as well as my own, and as I fulfilled their lcqussts biirely they will be satisfied I spent my first evening with Jim and his sister?, and on letuming late to the boarding-house I found that I was locked out, nad was forced to accept Ji.n's kind invitation to share hi« room. You s.ee. Dot, I was a stranger and was not "in the know " or I could have gained admission through a special entrance. Expcrienc? teaches, etc. Next came the trip in the Theresa Waid to Stewait v Island, accompanied by aunts, uncle, and cousin. And oh! didn't I enjoy that trip. I can safely recommend the s.s. Theresa Ward to everyone who wishes a lively time, and who likes to be " rocked in the cradle of the deep." I saw one of two D.L.F. on board, but we were all too shy to become acquainted. Passing Dog Island and Mutton Bird Island, I caught mv first glimpse of Stewart Island. We anchored in that superb hprbour. Halfmoon Bay, but a3 we had such a short time in port I could not see as much cf the island as I could have wished. The- bush looked so tempting that a large number went to collect ferns, and returned to the boat covered with burrs and bid-a-bids. I felt uncertain whethei they went in search of fern 3or bid-a-bid«, but concluded, by the large numbei of exquibite ferns each brought back, they went in search of the former. Sailing back to Bluff there was v fairly heavy sea on, andjnore than one wave wtis shipped. Few of the passengers were not afflicted with mal-de-mer. I sat on the taffrail and laughed till my sides ached. The waves that came over washed two or three persons each time. I enjoyed the fun, and was sorry when we landed at the Bluff. I missed the last passenger train to Invercargill, end had it not been through the kindne«i ; of one of the station officials, I should have had to return in a goods trpin wh:ch arrived in the city in the wee srna' hoors. As it was, I travelled in a special excursion train which had fulfilled its duty, and on which I was the only passenger bact, as no one else was allowed. Several nights afterwards I accepted an invitation to tea, and after spending a very pleasant evening I lost my way back, and, after a toilsome march, arrived at my lodgings while the midnight hour was striking. My adventures from the same cause were numerous and laughable. I felt so hopelessly lost, as there are no hi'ls from which I could find out my b anng". But stay . There is one tremendous hill in Invercar^ill, and it is about as steep as fiom our G .P.O. to the corner of Stafford <=tieet To see Invercargill you must get to the top of the water tower, and oh, Dot, what a glorious view you obtain on all sides. One of the D.L.F. suggested that we should go up, and having gained permission, she rewarded the keeper with 'one of her sweetest smiles , and what keeper is proof against that' I have oiteu heard it said that Invercargill is devoid of attractions, but to my mind that is not so. The flower gaidens are beautifully laid out, and although I cannot say very much ioi the creek that runs through them, a little expenditure wculd rejiedy that. No «-uch iiower gardens are to !>e found in Dur>edm. Again, the flower gjuVi - m In\ eicurgill are situated almost in tlu i. outre of the city, whereas ours are a mile ol two away. On the whole, I thmk I prefei them as they are m the Southern 'ity. The Invercargill Hospital is a fine, large, loomy building, and compares favourably with the Dunedin on°. The post office and the railway station are at least equal to, if they do not surpass, our own. The post office is not so roomy as ours, but is so much prettier, with its tower, its handsome win»6, and the rotunda in front. The majority of the buildings, though, ire not so fine as those of our own city, but the offices in the Crescent, the Athenasum, the banks, and the shipping offices are worthy of attention. My. holidays fast, too &&1, dzftwius, in a

<-'o3e, I went to Bluff to sperd a day there ere I wended my course to my native city. I went up the hill at Blufi to the signal station, and although the day was shght'y misty I obtained ? gcod view from the sumnfiT. The keeper, a kind and congenial m»n, gave 1113 ii«efu! and instructive information. On the last day of my holiday I was invited to go outside to the Heads m the tug, which was to tow the New Zealand Shipping Company's Ruaprhu. What a midget the t\ig seemed compared with that magnificent yellow-fun-reller. After rather a rough trip I got safely back, and adopted the reccmmcndation of my aunt — to have a bike ride round the point. The track was very rough, and m\ nerves were rsther shaken for riding along a narrow path, not mere than a yard in. width, with cliffs above and clifts be'ow, with the salt spray washing your face, with the frequent slip? over which it was absolutely necessary to ride with the utmost cpution, with the frequent rises, dees not tend to keep you in the best of spirits. The «cenery from round the Point, however, was magnificent, and repaid my efforts. I could see Dog Island, with the lighthouse and the three buildings upon it ; the Ruapehu a speck m the distance, with a column of black smoke rising from it; Stewart Island in front, with Mount Anglem rising above its fellow s ; and innumerable cutters dotting the horizon, some already fishing, and some racing to the grounds. The whole formed a panorama never to be forgotten. My holidays now at nn end, I embarked in the =.s. Mokoia, and we bade farewell to Bluff and "to friends. The voyage was all that could be desired, and quoits was all the rage. I played a game or two, and then watched the different headlands as the boat passed them all at ? good pace. Waipapapa Point and lighthouse passed, I kept a lookout foi the Nugget Point lighthouse, and was fortunate enough to get a glimpse of its bright light ere I Vetircd to my berth. The trip up was all that could be desired, and I left the Mokoia with feelings of profound regret, wishing that I could have gone further in her. I prrived m Port at 5 a in., and, coming to Dunedin by train, I started work for that day, feeling much better for my "first trip. 1 can only mention that the kindness and courtesy of our band of little folk rendered my visit to the soutHern city such an enjoyable one, and my only regret was that I had fcuch a short stay — only 10 days. I wish I could spare the time to give fuller particiilars of my trip, but the space being limited, as well as time, you muat imagine the scenery fioin the dry outlines, and imagine the pleasure and enjoyment I received from everyone with whom I came m contact. And now, witji love to all the little folk and to you also, Dot, I shall conclude, — Yours lu'ly, HARRY.