A TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2784, 24 July 1907, Page 83

A TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND.

Bt Daisy Pbimhosb.

(Continued.)

During' the days that followed I saw much of the D.L.F. and my chum Roby almost every day to say nothing of our generous Dot, * who made it her business to do all in her power to make us enjoy our stay in Dunedin. I attended two meetings of the club, and was greatly impressed by the ability of some of the speakers present, not least among the number being Emerald and T.D.A. Their debate oa "Does Matrimony Improve a Man," or eomethina to that effect, waa exceptionally well rendered, only they were inclined to regard each other as enemies at times. I suppose that was due to the heat of their argument getting the better of them. While in Dunedin I met Cluaran, another loyal member, who is somewhat addioted to shyness, and keeps in khe background, but 19 nevertheless a noble specimen of what a D.L.F. should be. Your far-famed writer Laddie also made himself known to me while in Dunedin, and went far to provide me some extra amusement. I was struck to find one so young full of enterprise and energy, for the present-day man is too fond of sleeping over his work and throwing his brain power to the winds. Success to Laddie, I say, and may he live to accomplish great things yet. "While in Dunedin I paid a. visit to the cricket ground, and saw a match between England and New Zealand. I also went to see Madame Blanche Arral at His Majesty's Theatre, and "The Little Stranger" and "Jo," as played by Holloway's company. With my friends I paid a. visit to almost every suburb, attended every tea party going, and I am very much afraid I kept rather late houTS all the time I was there. I had promised when leaving home that I would not stay up later than 10, but I found it quite impossible to get to bed before midnight, consequently I did not make the progress towards good health that I expected. However, I made up for it on the return journey, for I did nothing but sleep and eat. There was nothing else to do on board.

Before leaving Dunedin, at the kind invitation of Harry and Vera Lilias Roby and I spent a very pleasant evening at the home of the latter m Mosgiel. I guess Roby will never forget how I made her run that night to catch the train, and thus . prevent ua disappointing Harry. It took us about two

minutes to run from Hanover street — after a heavy tea, too — to the station, find Harry, get tickets, and board the train. I don't know how we did it, but we did. Arrived at Mosgiel, we had to / walk about half a mile to the home of Vera Lilias, and there, after a second 'meal (forgive me, Roby, but I know you didn't eat much), we made the acquaintance of the whole family — a clever seven. During the evening another gentleman made his appearance, and was introduced as "Tatts." I regret to have to state that I was rude enough to rename him "Tattersalls," and the party were cruel enough to follow my example, and call him by that name. I was quite" charmed with the family, to say nothing of brother Jack's beautiful painting and piano-p'»yings Louie's singing, Lord Darlington's violin . playing, and baby's chatter. I have forgotten the names of most of the others ;_ I only remember that each one made me feel very happy while I listened to them, and I am sure Roby and Harry" were as much impressed. Mrs H. was as merry as tie rest, and deserves a word of praise, but I'm afraid she will be angry with me if I tell all the secrets of that night; suffice it to say we had plenty of fun, plenty of supper, music, reciting, singing, fortune-telling, and cracking jokes, the principal person in the latter art being "Tattersalls." At a quarter past midnight we disbanded— that is, Harry, Roby, and I went back to Dunedin, and bade farewell to laughter and jest.- Would that we might continue thus forever, we mutually agreed, but that was out of the question, so we had to be content. ■ Two days after Roby returned to her home in Mataura, after spending a fortnight in Dunedin, most of which time was spent in my company. It was with the deepest regret I saw the train move out with my dear chum on board, for how could I tell that we would ever meet again and who take her place in the travel that lay before me? No one. I said farewell and turned away prepared to leave Dunedin at any time', for it afforded me no pleasure without my chum.

After having made the acquaintance- of the' editor (Mr Fraser), Mr Geo. Fenwick, and others in the dear old Witness office, I said good-bye to Dunedin, and! made my way up to Timaru. It was a lovely morning, even if it was a cold aatf and I felt my senses tingling as I waved a good-bye to Harry and my native town while the train steamed out. I did not know thai I would see it so soon again, and I was somewhat surprised at the parting causing me so little sorrow; but "coming events cast their shadows before them" evidently, for it was not a parting for very long. At Studholme Junction I got out and went to Waimate, where I had some friends to see, after which I returned and oaught the second express to Timaru. Here Laddie received me at the station, and escorted me to the house where I was to stay — a lovely little home built high up on the bank that overlooked the sea. How well I remember wondering at* that regular rhythmical swish, B wish against the rocks below as I slept that night, and in/the morning as I looked out of the window I saw the beautiful sea, and knew that the sound I heard waß the regular beating of the waves against the shore. Timaru struck me as being a delightfully pretty place, but it was there that the dreadful news rf my mother* illness was cabled to me, and I was compelled to make every haste to Christchurch to catch the first boat bound for Australia.

I was horibly upset at having to cut my trip short, but more sorry for the cause which necessitated it. Several invitations from different D.L.F. in both islands had reached me from time to time, and were in most cases accepted; now they bad to be cancelled, and all thought of pleasure thrown aside. Up to Christchurch I went, sad and dejected; and as there was no time to attend to business at that hour of night I seized the opportunity of seeing the Exhibition. Perhaps I ought not to have done so under the existing circumstances, but I knew that I should not have another chance, and I did not care to go back to Australia and tell my friends 1 nau beeu -*. the Exhibition City and never seen the Exhibition itself. And I was glad I went, for what I saw chere repaid me for all the disappointments I was to feel as the result of my hasty return. I am not going to try to describe it, for you all know more about it -than I do, and have doubtless had more time to devote to it; and those who have not been fortunate enough to ccc it have read) reports of ifc from abler pens than mine. I heard the Besses o' th' Barn Band while there, and enjoyed their music very much.

In tha s.s. Warrimoo I travelled from Lyttelton to Dunedin, and thence to the Bluff and across to Hobart and Melbourne. I didn't care much about the long tunnel from Christchurch to Lyttelton, but I suppose one gets used to it. The harbour was beautiful, and although I was dreadfully upset at having- to leave it I found time to admire it. We remained three days in Dunedin, where I had another good time with the D.L.F., and then — good-bye! My heart went down to the depths of Borrow indeed as we steamed out past the Heads, and I could not do more than go down to my cabin and bury my tear-stained eyes in my pillow. At the Bluff we were given enough time to go up to Ihvercargill for a few hours, and you may "be sure I seized the oporttinity and went. When I came back I felt that I could not bear to watch the last of my dear land recede from sight as the steamer rent out, so I went below ifter the people on the wharf began to disperse It wa3 really good-bye at last. I had rather a. fair passage from. Hobart to Melbourne, although not from the Bluff to Hobart ; but everyone exepcta a bad time there. I dropped across a number of former phipmates, and we joined together in making things lively the rest of the journey. At Melbourne I was compelled to wait a. couple of days for the mail steamer Mongolia, and then I started for home in real earnest. Cables were striking me at every poit, so that you can imagine me feeling pretty anxious to get back. I had a perfect trij from Melbourne to West Australia, and made myself aa much at home in what Max O'Kell terms undressing for dinner as m dressing for breakfast. The Mongolia is one of the finest vessels afloat on the Australian service, and one could not help feeling comfortable in her. It was almost with a sigh of regret that I said good-bye to her and went back to my home in Perth, accompanied by my mother and friends up the River Swan in the ferry steamer Zephyr. Mother had recovered, and I was back in--Westralia considerably fatter, and much improved after my trip to New Zealand.