FROM COAST TO COAST.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18070, 7 January 1921, Page 4

FROM COAST TO COAST.

ON TOUR WITH THE WANGANUI CRICKETERS. A MEMORABLE 600-MILE MOTOR TRIP. Looking as brown as berries after their three-days’ game in the blazing heat at Gisborne, the members of the Wanganui lepresentative cricket team arrived back home snortly boiore <i I o’clock last evening. A .small crowd i of cricket enthusiasts, including Mr J. Hayhow, hon. secretary of tile Wanganui Cricket Association, and Mr E. J. Burton, one of the selectors, were waiting to welcome the team, and gave a hearty cheer as they alighted from their COO-mile motor journey. The members of the team, though somewhat dusty and not a little •tired, were delighted witii the trip, which was macfr in two cars belonging to tne Wanganui llotor Company—a 12-cyiin-der Pack’hard and a Super-six Hudson. These two cars, driven respectively by Messrs Tom Crocker and Fred. Hawkins, despite the severe test they were put to in negotiating the stiff hill country between Napier and Gisborne, behaved themselves splendidly, and practically made non-stop rims botn going and coming. The motor trip across the island and back again served to give the Wanganui men some idea of the wonderiul resources and vast potentialities of the tight little island in which they live. The trip was made at the best season of the year, and beautiful weather prevailed throughout. From Wanganui to Napier, barring the passage of the Manawatu Gorge, the run was made through rich agricultural and pastoral lands, which, when closer settlement has been effected, will carry a very large population. Frequently along the route the cars sped past fields of golden grain, and the hum of the reaper anil binder could be heard on every hand. The stocks in the distant fields had the appearance of tented camps, and the crops, with few exceptions, were heavy and prolific. The country on the eastern side of the Manawatu Gorge was much browner than that on this side, which was verdant by comparison. The tourists were enchanted with the country round about Hastings, which is without question the garden of New Zealand. Many rich crops of wheat, oats, barley, and maize here gave tho countryside a wonderfully prosperous aspect, while the numerous orchards hereabouts seemed “fair as a garden of the Lord” to the eyes of the West Coasters, who are not accustomed to miles of apple, peach, pear, and plum trees.

The country between Napier and Wairoa is of a very different character, being very hilly and rugged, and the sod for the most part of poor quality, though here and there in the Alpine valleys were richer patches where the grass was greener, permitting cultivation. The manner in which the country is stood on its edge along the East Coast was an eye-opener to the Wanganui boys, and it is reported that more than one of tlrem prayed out loud as tho cars crept along narrow roadways round sharp bends, with a precipice above them, and a yawning abyss below. Many times the tourists believed they had reached “the roof of the world,” only to discover that they had a higher and stiffer climb before them. The Waikare Hill is a fearsome obstacle, and its ascent was rendered all the more dillicult by the heavy nature of the road, which had been affected by rain a few days previously. The monotony of this portion of the journey was relieved by many bursts of magnificent native bush and river scenery, which makes New Zealand the most beautiful country in the world. Here and there, too, glorious glimpses of the coast line were obtained, and the party gazed down

upon some exquisite seascapes frog an eminence of 2000 ft.

Mohaka, with its pretty river, its bold biuifs, and its fertile valley, made a pleasing break. In a little bend of the river here the natives have gone in lor intensive farming, and the large var.ety of root crops and cereals cultivated within a small area reminded one of Southern France.

The roads were much better between Mohaka and Wairoa. The run down the noble river upon which the latter town stands was a rare treat. The river is fringed with weeping willows, and winds through rich agricultural lands, which when New Zealand comes into its own will carry a large population. Wairoa, like Wanganui, is finding it a diiiicult matter to make a harbour at tin, mouth of a river, and after spending many tens of thousands of pounds, has abandoned the project and has now determined to do its shipping at Waikokopu, a natural harbour some 18 miles further north. The railway line to the new harbour is in course of formation, and gangs of contractors are at work with plough, dray,*and scoop levelling a pathway lor the iron track. The crops and pastures around Watroa, Nukaka, and Morere were looking extremely well, and the sheej and cattle on a thousand hills were looking sleek and prime. Half of the party had the pleasure of a bath on the journey over at the Morere Hot Springs, whose medicinal properties attract patients from all parts of the world. These thermal baths are situated in as beautiful a reserve of native bush as is to be found anywhere in New Zealand. Such a valuable asset to the country is not being made as much of as it should be by the Government. It is time that these baths were placed under control of a Government official, who would keep them in something like sanitary order. At present the licensee of the hotel collects the revenue for the baths. 7d ( being charged for the issue of each towel. Naturally the publican ihas enough to do in running his own business, and cannot give the baths I the attention they should receive. Three bath houses are in commission, but more are required to accomodate the crowds who visit the Springs during holiday seasons. Such ia valuable health resort should be jdeveloped to its fullest extent, and the appointment of a Government, caretaker should be the first step taken in this direction. This is no [reflection upon Mr Wilkinson, the licensee of the Morere Hot Springs I Hotel, who is an ideal publican, and runs an excellent, house.

The Wanganui party had a unique experience when traversing the long Wharerata HU, which is over 20 miles in extent. Darkness came on shortly after passing Tarewa, and the cars ran into dense fog on the top of the Wharerata Hill. So dense was the fog that it was impossible to see more than a yard or so beyond the wind screen, and the cars had to crawl round fearsome precipices for miles, with the drivers absolutely feeling their way thrdMh the murky gloom. Here again numbers of the party were heard muttering prayers which many had not repeated since childhood’s days. Thanks to tho prayers of the righteous. which availeth much, and the very skilful driving of Mr Tom Crocker, who was at the wheel of the leading car, the 13-miles of the steep descent was safely accomplished. and once the flat was reached the |3O-mile run to Gisborne did not take long.

The town which marks the spot first sighted by Captain Cook on his memorable voyage, which gave to England "The Britain of tho South” was found to be in a flourishing slate, despite the fact that some small boys wore reported to have walked across the river at the entrance to the harbour tho day before. Poverty Bay is one of the most prosperous pastoral districts in tho Dominion, and airecr'v has four freez-

orks in operation, with a fifth in course ol erection at Hicks Bay, near the East Cape. All the town, which has some 12.000 inhabitants, lacks is communication will} Ute outside world. About 'a million and a ■lf has been expended in an effort to make an inner harbour, but this has boon money thrown away, as the harbour facilities are worse 10-day than at any time during the past twenty years. A scheme for an cuter harbour has been propounded. t but the trouble is that the landed ■’ gentry, upon whom the bulk of the rates for an outer harbour would fall, are quite content to send their wool cut to the ocean liners by lighters, and prefer to let posterity shoulder the burden of a three million harbour scheme. The Napier to Gisborne railway is being pushed on from each end but it will be manv years before tne iron rails can be laid over the hilly country between the two .centres.

Gisborne is proverbially the most hospitable town in New Z-aland, and the Wanganui men we>e treated right royally during their stay. The visitors were made visiting members of both the Poverty t'.av and Gisborne Clubs, and wore enteHaincd by Mr W. F. Coderwall, president of the Poverty Bay Cricket Association, and Airs Cederwall at th-Mr residence at Wainui Beach, and also by Mr V. R. C. Mitford at his Home in Russell Street.

The trip was highly enjoyable In every way, and as tho run home vas made in perfect weather, the 1921 crusade to rescue the Hawke Cup ill he pleasurably remembered for all time by the Wanga I i challcn* rs who made the journey.