MEMORIES OF HOME.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13463, 9 December 1907, Page 2

MEMORIES OF HOME.

MR K. W. SIMPSON'S HUP

Mr E. W. Simpson, who for a long time, has been a. resident of Tiniaru, returned from a holiday abroad on Thursday last . _ Leaving Wellington on March 2Ah, Mr Simpson travelled by ■ the s.s. lonic to England, via, Monte Video, llio and Teneriffe, arriving at Plymouth on ; May ICth. With the exception* of some rough weather between Monte Video and Rio the"'voyage was a, pleasant one-, and not at alf so monotonous as t-ome people would imagine, for plenty of amusements iii the slnipe of. concerts" and deck games were provided. On arrival at Plymouth, after being so long on the water the traveller was struck by the beautiful green field.and flowers,. which were so "restful to the eyes after seeing ah endleas expanse of ocean for so long It was summer time then, but unfortunately it ■was the Worst summer experienced for 30 or 40 years, but not too bad to prevent Mr Simpson enjoying himself. He visited the Lake District in the north-west of England—for Jong the horne r of .the. poets, Wordsworth,' Coleridge and Shelley—and he saw where. Wordsworth lies interred. The lakes, besides being beautiful in themselves, call u,p many recollections-of the poets and for that reason are visited yearly by thousands of tourists. In Scotland Mr Simpson journeyed, up to the east coast as far as Inverness, and then to Glasgow, via the Caledonian Canal, which, winding through various lochs makes one of the most interesting and delightful pieces of scenery in the British Isles, antl further there are many pjoints made famous by Scott which readers of this great author should not fail to visit. For instance there is the Bailie Nicol Jarvie hotel at Aberfoyle and others tuo numerous to mention. While, in Scotland the traveller took particular, noticx of tile tenement system, and he was by no means in love with' it. There is no privacy in these houses", and generally it ia not a, cheap way of living. Four rooms in a tenement house' cost 6s- 6d a week, a high price when one has no, garden and no privacy. At Newcastle also the sys-tem-is in vogue, because, owing to .the, fact that the- Duke of Newcastle owns most of the land.,house-building does not pay. ~""'''

Some three weeks were then spent in London, where Mr Simpson noticed some, great ■ improvements, particularly in the Strand, King's Highway and Aldwich. The Royal Albert Hall was. visited for the purpose of hearing the famous singer, Clara, Butt. This hall is large enough to seat BCCO persons, yet the acoustic projjerties are &o perfect that the softest passages can be heard in any part. Various churches, were .also visited. At St. Paul's the service was most impressive, and the- singing was, a typo: of what church music should be. While-on the subject of churches Mr Simpson' mentioned, that for picturesquenesjs and architecture Durham Cathedral was undoubtedly the best. It has square towers (without spires) and its cloister ancient roofs, choir stalls, chapel and triforium are works of art; but harmony is somewhat spoilt by the new organ, which is rather gaudy and not in keeping with'the building. York Minster is another .fine pile, but having taken three or four hundred years to build the architecture has lapsed into too many styles.; In the case of Durham Cathedral the speaker could welt understand the saying that the" people had their hearts in their hands when they built the place. After seeing many otheir ancient and modern churches Mr Simpson is of opinion that St. Mary's when completed, will, for its size compare very favourably with most others built in late years. • , ■

Then Mr Simpson Lad something to say about Druidkin. When he-left New Zealand he was furnished with credentials from the Grand Ma'ster of the Canterbury Druids, and 'ivas well received at Home by;;the leaders of the Order, and was made an honorary member of one of the largest lodges. He was struck by the fact that most of the lodges meet in inns, the reason being the difficulty of getting suitable rooms at low rentals, but, previous-to returning to the colony he was gratified to know that his remarks against the practice were bearing fruit, and that several lodges were taking steps to make a desirable change. One lodge, he mentioned, has met in an inn at Leeds since it was founded, 75 years ago. Wherever he went Mr Simpson was well received by .Druids, the Board, of Directors of U.A.0.D., and the Mayor of-Hull specially entertaining him..- Mr Simpson was present at the meeting; of the Grand Lodge held at Chatham in June, and was, well received by the Mayors of, Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham. The Grand Lodge paid him the compliment-of asking him to address the meeting, when the question 'of old age .pensions was under discussion, and his remarks were listened to mast attentively.. They also honoured him in another way—by. inserting his photograph and a sketch of-his; career in the Druids' magazine. Opportunity was also taken to visit the Chatham dockyards, Rochester castle and cathedra], and many places associated with 'Dickens, particularly the famous Leather Bottle. Inn, mentioned: in. the —'Pickwick Papers." The visitor took occasion to witness the first football match played by the New Zealand professionals at Bramley, near Leeds. It was very evident, he says, that : the. colonials' ;were ; strangers to the Northern Rugby Union rules, for many penalties were inflicted, but they won by a. comfortable margin. . Then in company with Mr Ramsey WiJisbn,' formerly of Timaru, Mr Simpson, had a trip to Paris. He was most firmly impressed by the magnificent Arc de Triomphe, the National iOpera House, and the Palace and Park of Wareeilles. Then, going back to England, visits were paid to Canterbury Cathedral, containing the shrine of Thomas A'Beckett ; Windsor Castle, Avith its famous Van Dyck room full of priceless paintings, and uhe guardroom, containing hags and trophic®; then to Eton College and Runymede, where- King John signed the Magna Carta. Then by the couiitcs3 r of the. High : Commissioner permission was obtained to visit the House •of ..Commons- and Woolwich Arsenal and while in the House he heaJ'd a. discussion on Canterbury lamb. Mr Simpson's last few-day's, in England were mmae memorable by his visait to , the Leeds Musical Festival, which was a great -success, the chorus and- orchestra bel;ng particularly fine, 'llia soloists, too, were good. Mivs Ada Ciossley, the lAustralaau contralto, took a prominent part, as also did Mr-Percy G-rangsr, who is notunknown in Timaru. The last named singer, owing to his rendering of one, of Greig's concertos way accorded .a splendid reception. Greut enthusiasm was also shown when Plunketb Green vsang. live sangs of Stanton's composition. Touching trade matters. Mr -Simpson found the- condition of-trade' to be poor. Many towns have a surfeit of empty houses and shops, Leeds alone" having 8000 of iHliem to let. Rates- weie also high, close on 9s in the £ being paid in. Leeds. A good' deal of interest was being manifested in' Mi-' Chamberlain's protection scheme, but the free-traders were too powerful,. they' being . influenced. more by the fear of increased cost of living tfhan by -to., -obtain "work. • Another matter affecting the trade of England was the emigration of .the" flower of; the land to ' the colonies and .the immigration - of aliens. The .labour party were taking, a very 'strong ' interest in* socialism/ which

was.making great headway in many large towns. It. was one of the niost important questions* to be. faced during the next few vea-rs. Uihe Riders we:e generally men-of high ideaJs but a big proportion of the rank and tile were men who did as little work as • possible. As they were being constantly reminded that capitalists were men who "toil not neithe.r do they .spin " the fear was being expressed that the leaders would be unable to control the rank and rile. The working classes weire exceptionally well off in the larger towns in the way of parks, public baths and wa'hhouses.

Concerning the pushing of trade in Eng'aind by /tils colonies Air Simpson said that r .he Canadian Government was very enterprising, having in every town of consequence air office for .the cfeseminaitio'n of : nfomiation arid for the exhibition of products. At the Imperial Institute in Lonlon the Canadians- have a very fine display and New Zealand is also well repre'ented there; although it munfc be confessed that the information given there is not always correct. For instance there is t. placard there announcing that "New is now the chief wool exporting British colony. Large quantities are ilso- exported to'the United Kingdom •loin from New South Wales, Victoria, stc."—a statement which rather puts Aus-'a-atta into the background. An exhibit-->f'.a kauri table is credited to have been mule from, a single leg-obtained in the 'South Island." At the Crystal Palace is another fine exhibit of New.. Zealand -produce and photos of catches of trout ■jbtained in the vicinity of Timaru bear '.he likenesses of some well-known residents of this district. Another «photo >hows the Smilth field freezing works. Mr Simpson says New Zealand mutton and 'amb are now very .-popular in -England. He tac-ted some and found that, when properly cooked it is not distinguishable ritm Home: bred.

Efforts having been made during the jjaot few:years to pw'h trade, between isTew'Zea.ia.iid and the West Coast ports )f England it 'is fittinn; to say a few cordis about the Manchester ship canal. Tiimaru people will "be surprised to know hat the largest boa* to go up this canal ■s the':. Morayshire. She is- 69 fee I ', wide mil the"canal locks are only 65 feet, >iinu,s 18 inches on. egthsr side for fenders, further the water isjonly 27 feet deep, Vhich is -noit deep; enough for the MorayVhire when fully loaded. Tlie ai-range-'risnttis for handling cargo are, most comilete, there being, sheds .and stores close o the vessels. To prevent siLt'dng up' lredgang operations have to be constantly carried on.

Mr Simpson ; was sorry to isee so much 1 linking and gambling going oh among •he worldmg-olaiises.' It was a common thing to «e3 women in public-houses and In some towns depravity and immorality rere very prevalent.. It was a common thing • o find ■' women parading the streets and ; .hildren of both sexes were to be .seen about■ll 11 or 12 p.m., life in the large manulaoturing, towns was .yery depressing among the working '■': classes..' The s-arronudings were often dingy and the houses so begrimed ithai.t the very bricks were being 1 ijateai aw.ji-y—altogether a iriosb unedifying peetacle. He was astonished also to find hops open on Sundays. ■ Tr-TJn travelling, in. England also caiughit Mr .Simpson's attenfilpn 'and his praise. Sufc not so tlie French trains, which were bad. Travelling' in ; England was most uxuTtous,; tihe reason being that owing to. -'he keen competition between the different companies each line txiedl to beat the Each day a non-stop train runs between London arid Leeds, doing ■_ the 103 miles in 3 hours 25 minutes. London o Edinburgh 400 miles, is done lund.er -•ighfc hours, with four stoppages on the road. . / -'\ '/ ... -■ . ■ ■

Among lire people Mr Simpson met during Iris 'travels Avho are well-known in Lamß.ni-were Messrs U-; Hogbsm, W. J. Kent, W. Dandy, M. Ooh«.ri, R. Wilson. John Fodem and Mr 'Hall-Jones -..and Mr G. Schmidt wrote to- hiittj the former . wish:ing to be.rentembei?e{d to ln:s friend;* here and E'aying- he was now very much improved in health.' Mr C N. Macintosh was also in London <tt tliio time buti Mr Simpson, had not .an : opportunity of seeing him: Thi3 return dicme by ihe lonic via Capetown.andlioba.rt-, with. 825 souls on board n r as uneventful but two tilings require -to. be said about the trip. The first is that Mr Simpson,.is of opinion that shipping live stock bjr. passenger steamers' should be stopped, on account of the objecitionJable' smiell.;.and the lieistriction of deck space; tile, second complaint is about the medical inspection of passengers, whachi is a, 'mere ..farce/-in fact it is no inspection at all, for the passengers .have merely .to walk past the doctor.'in single file and no more, 'rhei is that two of the Tonic's, passengers who were consumptive were refused permission to land at Wellingtori.y, - - "•■'"--".'• '