A TRAMP ABROAD.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 5, 3 February 1909, Page 28

A TRAMP ABROAD.

NEL-SON

By

A.J.O.R.

OF Nelson. Quern (*ity of the South, what shall I say? Ever since it first began, away back in 1842, poets, painters, artists, writers. and many eminent persons, have sung, daubed. sketched, described. and advertised all its glories; its immense and matchless bays stretching away out to meet the ocean, fifty miles oil', and its waters laving here and there historical rocks, grotesque headlands, ami islands; its solemn mountains (some of them holding dreadful secrets) all around frowning down upon the bays, yet letting in the sun. too, to make the salubrious climate, for which Nelson has always been so famed; its city of beautiful and quaint architecture, noteworthy in its cathedral, the spire of which points grandly upwards through the trees; its kindly lands, and its flowers and fruits, its hops, and its vegetables, nourishing and ripening periodically to the summer suns. And the people ah. the people*, they are as genial as their beautiful city and country. Many visitors sigh regrets over depaitures all too hurried over sojourns all too brief. Nelson, under Royal weather, such as I am enjoying at tim ■ of writing, is simply “scrumptious.” which, by the way. signifies a host of spendiferous -ensations. Away back in 1542. the bays and the mountains were almost alone in their solemn grandeur. Afterwards came the roars and the races of humans, with their land settlements, their councils, devising more and more laws for the greatest good to the less numbers, or the less good to the grsatest. and when the markets ruled exorbitant prices for life* commodities, something like this—Flour. £3O per ton: wheat, 11/ per bu>hel; and barnyard fowls. 22/the pair. When the churches grew up like* mushrooms, and spread gospel lights

to all and sundry; when the newspapers appeared like bolts from tin* blue, and lighted up the dark places, and bespoke lilwrty to the oppressed; when brave volunteers sprang into war-like action for Queen and country, under such distinguished commanders as Captain Travers, Lieutenant Kingdom. Sergt.- Major Alborough. Captain Nathaniel Edwards, Mr John Sharp. Mr Harley ami others; when the colleges grew up and nourished under such dons as Mr Alfred Domett

(famous poet laureate of New Zealand), Ven. Archdeacon Paul, Mr J. D. Greenwood, Mr A. Weyergang, and the principal (the Rev. J. C. Bagshaw), and built up many colonial boys into famous men; when Dr F. Hochstettir, the word’s most noted geologist came and analysed the bowels of the whole Nelson province; when the regattas appeared. ami shot gay boats all over the waters of Nelson's matchless bays; when the building societies sprang into life and helped new arrivals to lands and homes; when Mr von Haast returned from the west coast with pack loads of gold to set all Nelson in a blaze; when in 1863 Nelson, under the leadership of Messrs. Charles Elliott, ami Lewthwaite fiercely denounced the Domett Ministry, because tlrey refused to give Nelson a strip of land to make a railway to the golden coast, where tons of gold wen* being dug up; when the very foundations of Nelson became shaken over the possibility of the commissioners appointed to consider the question of when* the seat of government should be in New Zealand, recommended Nelson as tin* capital city; when the first cable message spoke across the great oceans from the Motherland to Nelson; when horror fdled the atmosphere over the cold-blooded murder of John Kempthorne, Felix Mathieu. Janies Dudley, and James Pontius: when on April 18. 1869, H.R.IL the Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Alfred) arrived in HALS. Galatea, ami enjoyed his three days feasting and general jollification: when 32 years later, not only Nelson, but the whole of the English-speaking nations, were thrown into deepest mourning over the death on January 25, 1901, of their beloved Queen Victoria. Nelson and people are fast and indignantly throwing to the winds the epithet, “Sleepy Hollow.” for her harbour is being vastly improved, safeguarded and deepened for vessels of larger tonnage; her railways are being extended. although somewhat slowly, her waste lands are being opened up bv roads through the back blocks, and good, sturdy settlers have set in in earnest to hew homes and sheep runs out of the fount; while politicians are much more public-spirited than formerly, and have taken to expediting all matters pertaining to the well-being of the city, province, and people.

THE POPULARITY' OF ROD.” .♦To say that Nelsonians are delighted ever the fippuiutiuent of Mr. Roderick McKenzie to the portfolios of Public Works and Mines nearly hits the mark. Quite apart from the fact that Mr. McKenzie —‘‘Rod,” as lie is called by everyone—has long been intimately associated with Public Works as a successful contractor, and Mines as a gold miner on many of our more important goldfields, “Rod” is perhaps one of the most popular of public men in the House and throughout the eountiy. tmd Ulis inclusion in the Cabinet will be universally popular. In this .Sir Joseph Ward showed his foresight. In past times Nelson has been much neglected, but since “Rod’s” elevation to the Benches, Nelson has fallen to making it more set-fair play. ATE HIS OWN PRIZE ROOSTER. He was energetic in duty, popular ■with all classes, prosperous in life, in short a capital chap and an ardent bird fancier. For the whole of one beautiful summer’s day he had ridden to and fro amongst the farms of Taranaki until at length he met his fate on the shape of a very fine bird, which was strutting about the barnyard of the evident admiration of quite a score of White Leghorns of the laying sex, one of which was just then loudly announcing her own accouchinent. “Fine rooster, that, farmer,” exclaimed he, reigning up and pointing out the male Leghorn. “Yes, sir. I imported that theer Leg’orn direct from It'lly. He’s a boncer,” added the farmer with a peculiar twinkle in bis eye.“What’ll you take for him, farmer?” demanded the rider leisurely dismounting. ' "Well, I dunno as I want to sell ’im, ’eept at a price," answered Giles cautiously. “Name it.” ‘•'Five punds.” “I take. Send him to <the White Hart for me.” . And it was done. * * * * * * Later in the day the .'clerk of the hotel crossly demanded, “Who .brought that d . rooster into iliy. office?” “Oh,” said the. boy, “that is for Mr. F “Then, take it into the kitchen. This is no place for roosters.” At Mr. F —■ secured a whole chicken nicely roasted and stuffed to bursting, with all the most wonderful things desirable by cookery of the higher art, and all for himself. He not only broke out into many extravagant praises Of* the landlord, but feelings of sympathy apd.positive benevolence filled his “heart to wards the other less fortunate boarders, whose cups he made to overflew in bumpers of Pol Roger. In the billiard room later he cheerilyasked: “By- the way, landlord, old fellow, d'ye know- if Farmer Giles sent me a prize -Leghorn rooster to-day?” “Fancy so,” replied Bonafaee. t “Just wait a bit.” The landlord’s face going out, and the landlord’s face coming in were two different faces. The last face went over, and whispered something in the ear of Mr. F , •whereat that individual, "electrified, called out: “Good lord! And that was my- own rooster!” It was. He bad eaten it. He told me afterwards that meal bad cost him ■the finest bird lie had ever seen, and .!£ 10 besides.