TRAVELLERS’ TALES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16466, 19 June 1919, Page 7

TRAVELLERS’ TALES.

OF “GOD’S OWN COUNTRY.” TOLD BY THE YANKEES. Thp New York Sun publishes the following amusing tale represented to be an interview with a New Zealander : “Here’s the yarn of Walter Norton, 80 something, who claims ho comes from Napier, and assures New York tbathe was the first white child born in New Zealand who wasn’t eaten by the Maoris. • -S , “Mr. Norton told the Sun reporter that he was on his way to see Lloyd George, whom ho knew years ago, to as the Premier’s help in locating his two Anmc sons, Major Sam and Lieut. Harold, from whom he hasn’t had a word for seven months, and who have been in the British Army since the first 1.000 took ship from New Zealand. Ho doesn’t believe they were killed or seriously wounded, otherwise there would have been word from the British Mar Office; but he can’t understand their silence, particularly as ho read, with something of a start, this wedding item in a. copy of the London limes the other day:— „ „ , , “ ‘Nortou-Davidson. —On September 25. at St. Mary’s, West Kensington, Harold Norton to Stella Davidson, daughter of Lieut.-Col. Davidson, A. and S. Highlanders, and Mrs. Davidson.’ . , “The public press has carried no mention whatever of Major Sam, s< ? far as the old gentleman can find, but he is sure Sam is on the top side or luck, for neither son got a scratch in four years of warfare—and both were at Gallipoli. . , , , , . “ ‘But enough of that, remarked Mr. Norton. ‘Let me tell you something about New Zealand, where a man can live on lOdol .a. week and save money; where wo bought tie finest cuts of meat at eight cents the pound right through the war; where eggs never vise to more than three or lour cents a dozen, and where a family ot five can enjov a splendid dinner tor a shilling. If the world finds this out there will be an exodus to Now Zealand, I expect; for dear heaven your prices in America are—oln i nnu no words to describe them 1

IN THE DAYS OF MAORI CANNIBALS.

His parents went to New Zealand in 1837, in the days when the Maoris had a taste for white flesh and had not gained the liking for rabbits which they subsequently formed. He was born a few weeks after his parents landed, and it was touch and go for several years as to whether he would contribute his bit to the vigour of a Maori chief. But the family clung to the coast line, so the Maoris dian t got him. ~ , ~ , “Therefore, I say,” he continued, “though I couldn’t prove it, that I was the first white child born in New Zealand who escaped the Maori pot. At seven my parents sent me to England to school, and at Manchester later, I met Lloyd George. Later still I became a newspaper writer, and that became my life work. In the meantime 1 sowed my 17 years as reporter in the House, succeeding Charles Dickens, whom X knew well, and making the acquaintance and friendship of many of England’s notable men— Mr. Gladstone, John Bright, Sir Mil-' Jiam Harcourt, Joe Chamberlain, Mr. Balfour, James Bryce, and many more, of course.” .... „ But it was on the topic of .New /■ealancl that the father in search of his sous waxed most eloquent.

EVEN THE SANDS ARE PERFECTION.

'“lt is earth’s paradise,” he said, simply. “Nature has made perfect highways of the very sands of the beach, and it is a beach 4000 miles in length. The sand is white and as firm as asphalt,'and the road is: fresh after every tide. There is nothing more glorious than to drive upon these beach roads at early \norning or evening. New Zealand has boon good to me and to my family. Under one of our land holdings, a thousand acres, wo found some years ago a solid bed of asbestos under eight feet of .soil-—stuff so white and soft and light that it is a pleasure to see and to touch. They toll mo it has made mo a millionaire. “Wo'have no politicians in New Zealand,” he continued. ‘Men are elected to office ;vhen the people are satisfied that they are the right men or the right woman, for wc_gave woman her rights long ago. It is a happy land. ’ What a great country wo would have if the last paragraph were true. By the way no woman can yet sit in our Legislature.