AUSTRALIAN TOUR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 47, 20 February 1912, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN TOUR.

MR. F. W. WAKE GIVES SOME OF HIS IMPRESSIONS. AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. Some interesting observations on New South Wales’ capital, the huh of the Australian universe, were given a “Stratford Evening Post” reporter by Mr F. IV. Wake yesterday. Mr Wake has just returned from a visit to Sydney and it is five years since ho has seen that city. Its prosperity impressed him greatly. In the five years great'strides had been made towards improving the architectural outlook of the city. Old Sydney was disappearing. ( In Pitt Street and George Street whole blocks of buildings had been put up, cadi building running into eight or nine storeys. House-breakers., were at work demolishing the old and unsightly premises. In the slums, in the neighbpurhobci of Pyrjhont, tjie Government

had acquired property and they wore cutting new streets through the solid rock. This was a huge undertaking. ’ Referring to the congestion of traffic Dir Wake said that towards Circular Quay he had seen nothing like it even •in London. The difficulty was that all the great streets emerged on the Quay and the problem that presented itself was how to get away the countless numbers of pleasure-seekers. The difficulty is' minimised to a great extent by the excellence of the tram system. Mr Wake explained that in Sydney there were few restrictions as to “strap-hangers” and the like. If yon could hold on to the car you wore alright. The city was a net-work of lines. A unique, side of the system was the fact that the lines so frequently intersected one another, necessitating the employment of many men in sentry boxes controlling the running of the cars.

Another, point was the splendid accommodation available everywhere for visitors. The standard of living evorywhere was very high. The houses were up-to-date, and were almost superior to anything he had seen in London. In Darlinghurst, for instance, one of the residential quarters, there were rows of fine residences, all private, hut now let as boardinghouses. Most of them wore three or four storeys high. They had but little ground, of course, for land there was worth money. The streets fronting them were well lighted, and the pavement splendidly formed. One point that struck him was that in the ma r Jonty of these houses no provision Was made for escape in case of fire. Local visitors to Sydney have all been very enthusiastic over the manlier in which the New South Wales Government caters for its visitors. Mr Wake mentioned the fact that the t ourist Bureau runs special trips i ound to the countless bays and also motor trips round the city. “It seems to mo,” he said, “that this energy on the part of the Government is the great cause of the success of Sydney and its immense popularity; it must have a great effect on its progress.” Comparing the city for a moment with Melbourne, Mr Wake said that the two places would not stand a comparison. Sydney was the only centre—for pleasure-seekers at least. Melbourne had no harbour, and the -Sydney harbour is quite unique of its kind. Mr Wake mentioned that he had travelled all over Europe but had seen nothing to compare with it. The train service, which is run by Commissioners, seemed very efficient and very cheap. Yet he had noticed that continual complaints had been made to the effect that there were not sufficient trains. People in the hack country could not get their produce away, and thousands of sacks of wheat and produce wore stuck up. Mr Wake had some flattering remarks to say for the Zoological Gardens, which would not suffer greatly in comparison to the great London Zoo. He mentioned the fact that the authorities when extending the present gardens will adopt a now German scheme, by which the animals will ho shown in their natural habitat. Tin's is accomplished by digging a big pit round the animals too deep and too broad to allow of them leaving their

enclosures. Visitors walking along tee paths will find it quite an uncanny experience to see wild beasts apparently on the loose.

While in Sydney Mr Wake saw “The Quarter Girl,” in which Miss Blanche Browne, who created such a favourable impression here as Nancy Gibbs in “Our Xliss Gibbs,” and “The Cingaloe,” in which Miss Sybil Arundale and Florence Young are the principals. The Plimmer-Denniston Co. were playing “A Woman oi No Importance” and “Nobody’s- Daughter,'’ Miss Beatrice Day and Mrs Brough

appearing in the loading roles. -Mr Wake was much impressed with Mr J. C. Williamson’s new productions and considers the “Tudor G:rl” quite the equal of “Our Xiiss Gibbs,” though the music might not ho as catchy. The three theatres at which these Productions were being given were all crowded. Picture shows were everywhere. West’s Pictures run the biggest show, the Glaciarum seating three thousand people.. They charge Is, 6cl, and 3d, and the hall, though plain and unfurnished, is splendidly ventilated.

Everyone has heard of the Blue Mountains but few people who have not visited them realise their attractions. Mr Wake stated that he would like to have stayed there for weeks. The railway runs right to the summit, so there is no climbing to bo done. There are nnmei'ons resorts, and at one there are the famous Jenolan Caves. But at the majority the canyons are the attractions. At Wentworth there is one which reaches the appalling depth of over two thousand foot. Stone steps have been .cut down the precipitous face, and these are railed in and provided with wire netting so that visitors can climb down a certain distance of the way. The canyons are noted for their • echoes, and while Mr Wake was there a thunderstorm came on, the reverberations being magnificent. Although the conntry around is all rocky there is plenty of vegetation, the bluegnms and other trees appearing to thrive well on this peculiar soil.