HERE AND THERE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1240, 22 January 1914, Page 40

HERE AND THERE.

Mr. W. B. Tait, of Auckland, sailed by the Victoria last Monday from Auckland for a trip to the Homeland..

Mrs. W. Fallon, of Auckland, accompanied by her maid, sailed in the Niagara upon her last trip for Honolulu.

Mr. R. Burns, of the firm of Messrs. John Burns and Co., Auckland, proceeded to Sydney by the HuddartParker liner last week.

Mr. H. E. Kavanagh, Ponsonby, Auckland, leaves by the Shaw, Savill Company’s steamer lonic next month on a trip to the Old World

Advices to hand from Ohakune show that, as far as Tongariro Nationa' Park is concerned, the tourist season so far compares very unfavourably with that of last year.

King Alfonso told President Poincare’s shooting party at Rambouillet a story of a trick he had played on one of his Ministers in Spain. The Minister, the King said, was a very bad shot. One day bo saw a little rabbit moving slowly through the grass abbut fifteen yards away. He fired at it with both barrels and missed as usual, but the rabbit still remained in sight. Once more the Minister fired. He fired in all thirty-six cartridges, and at last bowlel the rabbit over. Delighted, the Minister ran and picked un the rabbit, who, however, had tied round its neck a card with the words, '‘Long'life to Senor ./» and then the Minister’s name. It was a stuffed rabbit, which a keepe r had pulled about by a string. “It was a year before my Minister forgave me for the trick played upon him,” the King concluded.

Miss M. Hardy, daughter of Captain Hardy, of Hokianga, Bay of Islands, has booked a passage to England and leaves New Zealand to catch the P. and O. liner Moldavia for the Homeland.

Mr. G. Campbell of the Ladies’ Mile, Remuera, Auckland, has booked a passage by the Orient liner Otranto and leaves next month for London via Sydney.

The Hon. G. St. Vincent Harris, ct Kent, England, accompanied by Mr R. Winch, who have been staying in Auckland, left the city last wee 1 on a tour of the Wanganui River, and then proceeded to Wellington.

Dr. and Mrs. Campbell, Mt. Smart Road, Onehunga, Auckland, have arranged to leave the Dominion on a trip through the Islands and then to England. The tourists will travel by the White Star liner Medic.

Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Cooper, accompanied by three adult sons, wellknown farmers of the Waiuku district. Auckland, left New Zealand last Sa turday by the steamer Niagara for Canada, where they intend to settle at Calgary.

Mr. E. Clifton, director of the Fields and Experimental Farms Division of the Agricultural Department, accompanied by Mrs. Clifton and son, proceeded to Vancouver by the steamer Niagara upon her last trip.

A well-know land owner and pastoralist of Whakapara, North Auckland, Mr. S. J. Corbett, has booked his passage to leave New Zealand and proceed to England by the Omra'i which leaves Australia this month for England.

Miss Troll, of Hangaroa, Gisborne., has been amongst the tourists who visited Auckland recently. She returned to Gisborne by way of the Hot Lakes District, and also include the beaities of the Wanganui in her tour.

Messrs. Beaumont and Winterbotham, English tourists, who have been staying in Auckland, left last week to view the sights of the weird land round .the. hot lakes and the glories of the New Zealand Rhine before proceeding to Wellington to connect with the Sydney steamer.

The tourists which the Exhibition has attracted to Auckland from all over the Dominion do not leave the North Island without seeing some of

its great beauties. A large number of tourists have passed through the Auckland branch of the Tourist De partment, and included both the Waitomo Caves with their weird attractions and the Rotorua hot lakes and boiling springs in their tour before returning home.

Mirs. Lucas and the Misses Colborne, of Castle Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England, reft Auckland last wee/k for a comprehensive tour ot New Zealand. They proceed down the Wanganui River and then on to Wellington, thence they will go through the Otira and Buller Gorges and across the Southern Alps to Christchurch, and the tour will also include Mount Cook and the Cold Lakes District.

Major Jones, an English tourist, who has visited Taumarunui every year regularly for a number of years, is there at present trout fishing. He is accompanied by Mr. Collins, oi Auckland, who is also a constant visitor to those fishing grounds. Neither of these gentlemen has had any special luck so far, Major Jones', attributing this to the great quantity of feed which the trout find in the shape of small snails, etc. adhering to the soft

trailing weeds at the bottom of the river. In spite of the difficulty of catching these trout, they prefer the fishing to that at the Lake.

The laughable jealousy which exists between the two chief cities of the North Island, and which sometimes comes to the surface in conversation, is responsible for two amusing remarks in the visitors’ Wook at the local tourist office. One supercilious visitor grandioquently observes tnat ‘ Auckland’s not so Had, but Wellington’s much better”; while another visitor comments, “Auckland’s too dusty,” a poignant comment from the home of the winds, but so as not to lacerate the feelings of the Queen City too much, another Wellingtonian benignly remarks that this is a splendid district for holiday making, presumably a play-ground for the superior people. ,

The tourist season at Akaroa has started somewhat later than is usual ly the case. Up to Christmas the number of visitors was not large, this being due to the fact that many Christchurch business men and their families were disinclined to start their holidays whi*e the strike was unsettled. Matters have begun to improve now, and goodly numbers are visiting Akaroa. ,

Mr. W. Andresen, a German artist, is at present in New Zealand. He is a i indefatigable globe-trotter. There are few countries of the world he has not visited, and he has been far off the beaten track. His itinerary of travel has included Venezuela, where a Gilbertian system of Government prevails. At the time Mr. Andresen was in Caracas, the President, to recuperate his exchequer, which was always being run dry by revolutions, sold army titles, the sum of £lOO having to be paid for the rank of general. Every man with any money to spare had a violent desire toblossom forth as a “general,” and going down the Plaza Toro one bumped into “generals” right and left. So farcial became the whole business that eventually, while the rank and file numbered 2000, there were fivetimes as many “generals.” It was no uncommon sight to see “generals with bare feet guarding the Persidential Palace. As soon as the President had accumulated -sufficient funds he invariably flitted to Paris, where helived the gay life till his straightened finances compelled him to return anti resume his Presidential responsibilities.

A cartoonist well known to the? Auckland public and at one time engaged in the office of the “Sporting: and Dramttic Review,’’ Mr. Will Hope, has received an appointment on thestaff of the new Christchurch daily,, the “Sun.” The new publication, which will appear at the end of the present month, is issued in the interests of the present Government, and bids fair to be one of the brightest and most original of the newspapers of New Zealand.

Donald Sutherland, who is givingup the duties of tourist guide in the Milford Sound country, is the “oldest identity” of the Fiordland National Park, and ought to know more about the loneliness and the privations of life in that great, wild land than any man living. He has spent nearly forty years on the shores of the Sound, and for several years of that period he lived absolutely alone, seeing no living soul for months at a time. He kept himself in food with his gun and his fishing-line, and theGovernment steamer called in about twice a year with stores. Sutherland has been sailor and soldier in his time. He served in the Armed Constabulary in the Maori War days, and. in 1876 he pitched his lonely tent at. the head of Milford on the spot whereahis comfortable house now stands.

Mr. A. Erskine, of Wellington, has been elected, president of the New Zealand Educational Institute.

Fish are undoubtedly plentiful in the vvangahui river, as many anglers make fair catches, while others get bites without always securing their trout.

Said to be the oldest ship in the Wvxxu m active service, the Copenaat,exx jam Constance has oeen sold to a nsnerman or (Suaw, in Jutland, 'me Constance was bunt 193 years ago, ana in her long lite sue has sailed iiiuo almost every port in the world, ner timbers are still Staunch, and iiwr new owner deciares ne can see no reason wiry she snouid not sail me seas tor a century to come.

A tribute has been paid by a Frenchman to the English traveller. He says he is always happy to find himself in a country that has been “civilised” by Englishmen, who have compelled the hotelkeeper to maintain cleanliness and provide good food. To this he adds that he could cite many towns in France where benencial changes have been made in consequence solely of the demands of English travellers.

* The active volcano, Ngaruhoe, which is such an attraction to visiting tourists, has been living up to its reputation as an energetic-mindeu sight, during the holiday season. For some time on a recent morning the mountain sent up volumes of steam and smoke at intervals, of two cr three minutes, and provided a unique spectacle for the onlookers.

New Zealand draws her tourist traffic from many quarters, and if the wondrous beauties of her scenery were more fully known would make a world-wide appeal. Amongst the tourists who passed through Auckland last week was Senhor Francisco Ragand-Nogueira, of Brazil, who has been paying a short visit to the Queen City of the North and intends to proceed to Tahiti before he returns to Wellington, from which centre he intends to make a comprehensive tour of the Dominion.

It is understood that an officer of the Public Works department will make another attempt to follow the direct track from the head of Lake Wakatipu to Milford Sound discovered by Mr. W. G. Grave and party with a view to testing its suitability as a permanent tourist route. The track was investigated last season at this time of the year, but the matter was Shelved on account of expense. The route would be a great improvement to the Cold Lake trips, as it would obviate the necessity of returning by the same route and would provide a circular track through new and wonderous scenery.

It is reported that on a low estimate 4000 to 5000 trout were killed in the Opihi river alone during the holidays. Nearly all were taken on the “worm,” the water being discoloured by flood, and it proved a certain death dealer. Hundreds of anglers were out, and the pity of the killing was the very large number of small fish that were put into the basket. Some of the heaviest takes were 20 to 40 fish, and the drain on the stock in the xjiver w t as tremendous. If supply is to be kept up, either the use of the worm should be prohibited or baskets limited to a certain number of fish to each rod.

Some fine sport is reported from Canterbury, and anplers fishing at the mouths of the Rangitata and AshWurton Rivers secured over twenty fish, including some weighing 8" 91b, and 101 b, while another also landed a 101 b fish. Good sport was also obtained in the various Ashburton County rivers, one basket of thirty trout being taken by two fishermen in the Upper Ashburton. There has l<een little success so far at tho mouth of the Ashburton River, as the large trout have not made their ap pearanee. However, fair sport has been enjoyed among the herrings and red cod.

Fishing reports from Canterbury

state that the Lower Selwyn is in exceptionally fine form, thanks to the thorough scouring out it his received,

and although the water is Slightly aigner man usual at this time of the

jxdi, it is rapidly returning to its ujouai level. An angler recenly returned from a visit to Lake Rubicon, reports tnat tne trout there are taking ny in preference to an other lures, me rtaKaia nas produced a very large nufnuer of iisn, despite the fact that mere was an exceptionally heavy run or siivenes in the river. a sportsman Killed a 14-pound trout, and the majority of anglers have each caught a urace or two of fish.

An&iers in tne Aucnland province report good sport during the holiday season. From the Maungoakiwa stream, near Te Kuiti, in tne part reserved this year for fly fishing, splendid nsh, up to 71b, have been taaen, anordmg excellent sport. Fairly good fishing has also be(eu found on the Waipa river, and the reports) tn.qm the (Upper Wanganui are encouraging. The Auckland Acclimatisation Society received a most

enthusiastic letter from a gentleman who spent his holidays in the Waitomo district, in wnich he stated tnat he had fine sport in the Hangatiki river. This stream has not previously been regarded as a fishing stream of any importance. During the holidays many sportsmen, including men from overseas, who will later sample the trout fishing, have given their attention to the kingfish, in the Bay of Islands, and splendid sport is reported to have been obtained by them. Kingfishing is rapidly growing in popularity, and other parties, intend spending a few days in the bay during the early part of the New Year.

The servants of a certain London hotel, men who keep alive as perhaps no others can the old traditions of tne toll-gate, have recently been telling a story against themselves. A visitor has got past them scot-free. They do not think any the worse of him for it; they honour the foe that cfimes with fearless eyes. He was a simple old clergyman who took a quiet room on the top floor, “with a view of St. Paul’s, please.” Obviously he was not hotel wise. He had brought no soap with him and ordered a cake of it from the hotel store, as well as a candle, which he said he preferred to electricity for its “wholesome light.” Touching items in his next morning’s bill were, “Soap, 15.,” “Candle, 6d.” The old clergyman looked benignly at the bill, but before leaving his room into his left tail-pocket went the soap, into his right the candle. At the hotel entrance the staff was drawn up in line. The old clergyman approached. From his pockets the clergyman produced the candle and pressed it into the sub-porter’s hand, saying, “Sixpence for you.” Into the great gold-laced functionary's hand went the soap. “A shilling for you, my friend.”

The South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society decided at its last meeting to proceed against a well-known angler for refusing to produce his fishing license when asked to do so by the ranger. It was decided to take proceedings against two men who had no licenses, but who were found with seven trout in their possession. The financial position of the society was considered very good, and it was expected to close the year with a credit balance of a hundred pounds.

J. M. Barrie has stated that the best beloved initials in tht English language are R.L.S., and certainly they are world-famous and greatly beloved. One of the world’s travellers, whose travels are drops of their heart’s blood; Robert Louis Stevenson’s pursuit of health was a sad and weary road only made endurable by his bright and ever joyous spirit. The yacht in which his last great wanderlust took place is at present being fitted up to be exhibited at the San Francisco Exhibition. The Casco is the ship for which Robert Louis Stevenson paid £2OOO in 1888, and sailed on June 28 from San Francisco to the South Seas, with his wife and step-son, Mr. Lloyd Osbourne, his

mother, and a servant named Valentine Roebe. Many of the letters printed “In the South Seas ” were written on board, also part of “The Master of Ballantrae.”, Stevenson called his vessel a small schooner, like many American yachts, on a very dangerous sail plan. It was dismissed to San Francisco after the arrival of the party at Honolulu, at Christmas, 1888. In the schooner Equator they afterwards visited other islands in the South Seas, and landed in Samoa, which was the home of the exile till his death, December 3, 1894. The old salt who showed the Casco to a visitor, said that many tourists and such like people had examined her staterooms, cabins, and saloon, “though,” he added, “for the life of me I cannot see what they find so blame curious about her. She’s been a rare old tub, cost nearly seventy thousand dollars to build, she did, sir, her with nuthin’ bkit mahogany and teak and sichfike in her makeup, and a blame sight better than many a one they builds nowadays. . I

. . There was a litry chap named Stevens, Louis Stevens, if I remember right, as took her down into the South Seas in ’88; wrote books he did—novels, they calls them, and I have heard as he wrote poetry.” And such is fame amidst the masses to the greatest of modern English stylists and sweet master of song.