BUENOS AYRES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10957, 27 April 1907, Page 8 (Supplement)

BUENOS AYRES.

The docks at Buenoß Ay res, into whi.h the steamers all go, are the first tangible proof of the extraordinary wealth and prosperity of Argentina. There are four great docks m Hue parallel with the seafront opening into each other with channels at each end to the open sea. Two, and m some cases three, lines of steamers lie alongside each side of the clocks^ which altogether are., uearly two miles m length, with great warehouses on the quays fitted with all modern appliances for loading and discharging cargo; bi.t these or the dock appliances do not work quick enough, or there would not i>e such a mass of shipping waiting to load or discharge. Driving up from the steamer to the hotel, says Major-Gene-ral Sir A. B. Tulloch, m an interesting article on the Argentine Republic, one gets an idea of what a magnificent city Buenos Ayres, with its million inhabitants, really is, and going out after dinner for a walk down the Calle Florida, m which the hotel was situated, tie (right was simply startling. Not only was the street— as are all those except 'be suburbs — supplied with arc lights on cables across the street, but the shops and shop fronts were also m a blaze with the usual Swan electric lamps, whilst the shops themselves would nave dotttt credit to the Rue de Rivoli. Certain oi the main .streets, all asphalted, are fr<e from the electric tram lines, which form, So to say, a huge network of locoinot'<m over the city and suburbs. Although tho railways m Argentina are EngHsh owned, most- of the tram lines also, tiie electric power is the property of a German syndicate. At Rio an American _y idicute will soon be m a similar position. One of the best proofs of the mental energy and go which exists m Argent ha is that furiiihhed by the newspapers, of which there are two dailies m English and several m .Spanish. The great bank buildings, filled with clerks and streams of customers going m and out, also gave one an idea of the mercantile prosperity of the Republic. The streets were j'ist as crowded as m Loudon. As good a place u.s any to judge of the inhabitants is to take a seat by the drive at Palermo, the Hyde Park and Rotten Row of Buenos Ayres. and watch the stream of carriages passing. The carriages do not return from Palermo to the town until quite late, but as the blaze of electric light m the streets make them ai most as clear- as m the day, one is ->nl.? to appreciate not only the good looks of the ladies, but also their fine dresses nnd jewellery. Judging by these two last, a married man m Buenos Ayres must '':o be a rich one. But the place above a 1 others to get a chance of admiring th?ie dark-eyed Argentine beauties, of whom it may be truly said, see am' die, is the Opera Hou.sc. Not only is the buildi.ig said to be the third best opera house ; n the_\vorld, but the ladies, their perfect Parisian dresses and jewellery, throw into the shade our Covent Garden, even on a Royalty night.