THE TOURIST and TRAVELLER

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1351, 16 March 1916, Page 40

THE TOURIST and TRAVELLER

HERE AND THERE.

Mr. E. Geach, the well-known theatrical manager, has returned to Sydney after a trip to New Zealand.

The Hon. Sir Francis Bell paid a visit to Whangarei last week.

Mr. W. N. Mulville has returned to Wellington after a residence of nearly two years in Australia.

Captain A. J. Cross, of the Wellington College staff, who was invalided from Gallipoli, has left for Egypt to resume duty.

“Travel in the younger sort,” wrote Francis Bacon, “is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience.” .

Mr. David A. Craig, New Zealand manager for Clarton, Hodgson and Co., Ltd., has returned from a business trip to America.

His Honor the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), accompanied by Lady Stout, is at Kaitaia, north of Auckland. He is due back in Wellington in a few days.

Those whose business' or pleasure takes them out to Otahuhu should not omit a call at the Criterion Hotel, where Mr. W. J. Williams will be found a most popular host. A Sunbeam five-seater motor car is for hire, and affords a pleasant run round the district.

’ Mrs. R. J. Seddon and Miss Mary Seddon, of Wellington, are spending a holiday in Auckland.

Mr. S. E. Fraser, the well-known consulting engineer of Auckland, left for Melbourne last week, en route for South Australia.

Mrs. T. Duncan, of the Cook Islands, who is on a health trip to New Zealand, is staying with her brother, Mr. Stanley Rankin, in Christchurch.

Mr. M. J. Manson, New Zealand Commissioner at Melbourne, and Mrs. Manson, arrived in Wellington from Sydney the other day. • * * *

Mr. Hallward, a director of the British Empire Trading Company, London, arrived in Wellington from Sydney by the Moeraki last week.

Mr. John Cran, a prominent business man in Cape Town, who has been touring New Zealand, left last week for Sydney. He purposes visiting the Far East before returning to South Africa.

Mr. Arthur H. Sellon, well known on the goldfields, died at Samoa last month. At the time of his death he was Chinese Commissioner for Samoa. He was formerly mine manager at the Jubilee Mine, Waitekauri, and enlisted for Samoa 12 months ago.

Dr. McAlpine, who has been medical officer on the Makura for two years, left the vessel at Vancouver to join the forces there. He has been succeeded on the Makura by Dr. A. E. Porter.

Mr. F. G. Matthews, private secretary to the Hon. James Allen, Minister of Defence, and formerly assistant private secretary to the late Mr. R. J. Seddon and also to bir Joseph Ward, has enlisted, and enters camp in the non-commissioned officers’ class preparatory to being attached to the 16th Reinforcements. * * * *

Mr A E. D’Arcy, the Sydney manager ’of ’ the New Zealand Insurance Company, has returned to Australia after a holiday in New Zealand.

A statement has been issued by the Rhodes Trust that most of the colonial scholars who have enl.sted have been giiven permission to resume their scholarships after the war.

A passenger by the Makura from Vancouver, which arrived at Auckland recently, was Mr. H. A. van Torchiana, junr., son of the Commission-er-General for the Netherlands at the San Francisco Exposition and president of the Foreign Commissioners’ Association. Mr. Torchiana has come to New Zealand on the advice of the New Zealand Commissioner to the Exposition. “If all that Mr. Clifton has told us proves to be correct,” he said to an interviewer, “I believe I have found the Promised Land.”

The Gisborne “Times” states that the local council’s beach, caretaker, Mr. Thomas Hanlon, although 63

years of age, has been sent for by the War Office, and he will proceed shortly to London to take up a position on the recruiting staff for the English Expeditionary Forces. Mr. Hanlon spent 27 years in the Imperial Army, and took his discharge at Calcutta with the rank of sergeant-in-structor. Referring to his age, he said that age did not count now; it was a man’s service papers that were responsible for an appointment, for a position could be found for every competent Imperial man. The War Office had sent Mr. Hanlon £lOO to pay the passage money of himself and his wife Home.

Regarding the recent report from Fiji of a strange steamer, painted dark grey, with three funnels, and built like • a man-o’-war, having been seen off the coast of Kadavu Island, the “Fiji Tinies” says:—“The truth

of this rumour could perhaps be ascertained by the authorities from Mr. Zumfeld, a German resident, who lives in the vicinity, and who may have seen the strange craft. Mr. Zumfeld bought, spot cash, the estate he now holds on the side of the harbour of Korilevu, one of the fin est harbours in the group, on March 30, 1914 —four months before the outbreak of war. He has the appearance of a much-travelled man, and speaks English fluently. He is well liked, and is naturalised.”

A remarkable record in journalism has been achieved by Mr. George R. Sims, whose two-thousandth consecutive “Mustard and Cress” article appeared in the “Referee” in December last. Mr. Sims, therefore, has writ-

ten this article for 38. t years without a break. In an interview with a “Daily Graphic” representative Mr. Sims confessed that he had often been tempted to take a week off, “but I never gave into it. Sometimes I have been seriously ill. I have been through almost every variety of operation and trouble, but I have always managed to get three columns of ‘Mustard and Cress’ into Fleet Street every Saturday. I have written it in storm at sea, among the Kabyle mountains, in the desert of the great Sahara under a palm treet, among the Spanish gipsies in Naples — in nearly every big city of the United Kingdom, and in almost every part of Europe. Never in Holloway (touch wood). It is no credit to me (he continued); it is my constitution which I inherited —vitality and powers of recuperation, so that you can be carved up by a surgeon on Friday and on Saturday write your three

columns and send it down by a special messenger. But I attribute my ability to do my work—-plays, pantomime, stories, poems, I have done almost everything except a five-act blank-verse tragedy—not so much to robust health; which I have, as to the faculty of dismissing my work from my mind the moment the allotted amount is done.”

The following guests were staying at the Star Hotel, Auckland, last week: —-Captain and Mrs. Kennedy, Waiheke; Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, Rawene; Mrs. Ross, Sydney; Mrs. Hemming, Sydney; Mr. and Mrs. Parker, Gisborne; Mr. and Mrs. Blyth, Sydney; Mr. and Mrs. Toplis, Sydney; Mr. J. Hislop, Wellington; Mr. C. E. Hooton, Auckland; Mr.’ Standish, Taumarunui; Miss V. Pierce, Sydney; Mr. J. Bennie, Wellington; Mrs. Bolton, Wellington; Mr. J. Kelly, Wellington; Mr. F. Hand, Cambridge; Mr. and Miss Rostrall, Pahiatua; Mr. E. W. Ashman, Sydney; Mr. H. J. Hogg, Opotiki, Mr. T. Coverdale, Kaiwaka; Mr. and Mrs. Lonergan, Sydney; Mr. Hoadley, Sydney; Mrs. and Master Murphy, Queensland; Miss M. Taite, Queensland; Mr. J. Horn, Wellington; Mrs. G. Morse, Wanganui; Mr. Feilding, Taumarunui; Mr. H. R. H. Balniairs, Wellington; Mr. T. W. Waite, Wellington; Mr. A. McKee, Christchurch; Mr. Mostyn Jones, Te Kuiti.

Amongst the guests at the Royal Hotel last week were the following. Mr. T. J. Grierson, Christchurch; Mr A. J. Rutherford, Dunedin; Mr. Francis M. Sutton, New York; Mr. and Mrs. Pearl, Sydney; Mr. and Mrs. Morris, Sydney; Mr. and Miss Tilly, Ceylon; Mr. and Mrs. Julian de Cordovna, Boston (U.S.A.); Mrs. A. Harris, San Jose (Cal.) ; Mr. and Mrs. McCutchan, Katikati; Mr. P. Ayson, Katikati; Mr. A. H. Woodger, Wellington; Mr. Gluar, Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. Drain, Kawhia; Mr. T. Evans, Masterton; Mr. L. H. McAlpine, Morrinsville; Mrs. and Miss Whitney and Miss Deuchars, Waiwera; Mr. A. Thorne, Whakatane; Mr. V. Hertog, WTiakatane; Mr. JStewart, Wellington.

The following is the list of guests staying at the Central Hotel, Auckland, last week:—Mr. W. A. Fras ®J Wellington; Mr. Geo. Robson, Sy new Mr. A. C. Gummer; Mr. J. B. Clarkson, Christchurch; Mr. and Mrs McGregor- Mr., Mrs. and Miss Cop “y Mr and Mrs. Kebbell, Wellington’ Mr. J. Ballantyne, Christchurch, Miss Olive Ballantyne, Christchurch, Mr. and Mrs. Hennah; Mr. O. r. Burke, Christchurch; Mr. and Mrs. J. H Jarman, Canterbury; Miss Mary Connolly, Bushy Park, Wa^ Mr. and Mrs. Fleming, Gore, Captain W. H. Will, Dunedin; Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Taylor, Raglan; Mr. A. E. Hacon, Raglan; Mr. Chas. Husband, Raglan; Hon. A. T. Ngata.

Mr. A. J. Flanagan, who has managed the grain and produce department of Messrs. Leary and Co., Ltd., Wellington, has resigned his position to enlist. He will enter camp this month.

Mr. R. Lea Wright, travelling representative of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, has been on a visit to Christchurch, and has now left for the West Coast.

Fishing in the Rangitata river recently in daylight, Mr. James Pringle caught a beautiful quinnat salmon, weighing just on 251 b. It was caught from a small minnow, and took half an hour to land. The fish was in splendid condition.

Cats, dogs, rabbits and chickens have been killed in such numbers by the electrified wires protecting the Dutch-Belgian frontier, that • the German soldiers have had to be set to work to bury them.

The Hon. J. Drysdale Brown, M.L.C., of New South Wales, brother to Mr. J. Vigor Brown, M.P. for Napier, left Sydney last week by the Moeraki on a holiday to be spent in New Zealand. Mr. Brown intends visiting Napier before returning to Australia.

A private cable message received in Nelson states that Sub-Lieutenant D. E. Harkness, of the Royal Naval Flying Service, has had his commission confirmed, and has proceeded to France. The young airman is a son of Mr. G. A. Harkness, of Nelson.

An eel was discovered in an unusual place in New Plymouth the other day (states the “News”). Whilst sinking foundation holes for the new theatre, next the Criterion Hotel, the contractor struck an 8-inch eel, 11 feet down. In the old days a stream passed through the section, which, like most of the middle of the town, has been filled in. Whence did the eel come? That is a question which is puzzling the contractors.

Mr. Ernest Gillon, locomotive engineer in the head office of the Railway Department, is acting as locomotive engineer for the Auckland district during the absence of Mr. F. Morrison on his annual leave.

The Auckland City Council has expended within the last four years the following amounts from loan upon the purchase of parks inside the city boundaries: —Point Erin, £20,000; Gillies’, Parnell, £16,500; Kilbryde, £5000; city expenditure on formation of Myers’ Park, £4500 —total, £46,000.

Mr. A. C. R. Perrin, for the past two years assistant sub-editor on the Christchurch “News,” has joined the non-commissioned officers’ camp at Featherston. Prior to his departure for Wellington he was presented with a wristlet watch from members of the “Press” staff. His father is Mr. A. Perrin, of Kilbirnie, Wellington.

Mr. Malcolm Niccol, Grand Secretary of New Zealand Freemasonry, is at present in Auckland, making preliminary arrangements for the transfer from Christchurch of his head office, which will, under the Masonic peripatetic system, be stationed in Auckland for two years from May next.

Tourist traffic is a traffic that leaves many sovereigns in its trail, and countries that before the war did a profitable trade in catering for tourists are now suffering severely from the great falling off in their particular business. It is officially estimated that the absence of tourist traffic owing to the war has cost the Isle of Man an actual loss of revenue of £1,000,000, and another million in respect of goods ordered by tradespeople and boardinghouse-keepers for which there is now no demand.

The greatest monument in the world is the Great Pyramid of Egypt, which was built nearly 6000 years ago. It was built by Cheops, King

of Egypt, who, following the example of previous kings, wished to have a magnificent tombstone, so that he would be remembered. He is remembered, but not at all as he would have wished, for it is certain that the thousands of men who were engaged in building it worked under the lash. The result is Cheops is always put down as a tyrant. According to Herodotus, the ancient Greek historian, 100,000 men were at work on it for 20 years. It covers an area of 13J acres, and contains 7,000,000 tons of masonry. It was built in layers —over 200 in number —and then the edges were filled in to make the sides smooth. The stone used varied in weight from two tons to sixty tons. When it was built it was about 480 feet high, and the sides were each 775 feet long. Passages led to the centre of the pyramid.

Australia, with its vast timber resources, is unable to supply the military camps with tent pegs and poles. “Most people will say with the Minister, that such a thing is nonsensical,” says the Melbourne “Herald.” “The Defence Department, however, is of that opinion, and as it is the buyer it is important that its opinion should be changed. Australian hardwoods are good enough for sleepers for our railways, piles for our piers, and blocks for our street pavements, and our soft woods are suitable for house construction and railway and tramcar panelling; yet when a few pegs and poles for military tents are required, it is said by the Defence Department that it is necessary to go to America for them. Australia possesses an immense quantity of marketable timbers of every variety suitable for all requirements. What is lacking in one State is procurable in another.”

Sergeant Reg. Fear, of Wellington, who went away as a member of the N.Z.M.C., writes from London on January 10 to the effect that the Weymouth Camp (where the colon-

ials reassembled after their furlough at Home) was being abandoned, owing to its alleged unhealthy condition, and in consequence the New Zealanders were reassembling at Hornchurch, occupying the huts recently occupied by the Sportsmen’s Battalion. The place belonged to a wealthy gentleman who had given his home and grounds to the War Office, had built and fitted the huts, and provided everything in readiness for the reception of the troops. The house, one of the fine old English types, covered with Virginia creeper, is ages old, and is known as “The Grey Towers.” The place is considered to be one of the best camps in England. When he wrote, Sergeant Fear was N.C.O. in charge of the hospital, with a staff of eight under him. Sergeant Fear is a passenger to New Zealand by the Arawa, which is due here shortly.

Mr. W. W. Smith, for some years manager of the Bank of Australia at Wanganui, was presented by the clients of the bank with a purse of sovereigns on his retirement from the service.

Professor Kennedy, the newly-ap-pointed United States Attache in Australasia, has arrived in Sydney. The object of his mission is to promote trade between America, Australia and New Zealand. He will travel through the Commonwealth and the Dominion, and during next year issue a handbook for the use of United States exporters.

Among the interesting gifts received in Auckland top the Old Colonists’ Museum was a block of wood from H.M.S. Orpheus, wrecked at Manukau; photographs of Auckland goldfields, 1853 to 1916, and history of the fields; photos, of scenes from the Maorx war; a complete set of tokens issued in Auckland province; walking stick made of the wood of the ship Endeavour, which was scuttled in Dusky Bay, 1795; hand grenades from Orakau Pa; Fort Britomart, 1869, showing H.M.S. Blanche, Challenger, Virago, Charybdis, painted by S. Stuart from authentic materials; walking stick of the wood of the Boyd, which was burned at Whangaroa, 1809; and a portrait (oils) of Samuel Marsden.

Dr. N. A. Neeley, who was a resident of Christchurch for some time, and who was well known on the West Coast, having been a director of the Ross Goldfields, Ltd., writing from Boise, Idaho, United States, where he now lives, states that it is an interesting little city, situated in the Boise Valley, which is a large centre of irrigation, the water coming from a reservoir filled by the Boise River, nineteen miles from the city. The dam, which was recently constructed by the United States Government, is known as the Arrow Rock Dam; it cost 6,000,000 dollars, and is 349 feet high. Dr. Neeley describes the country as “a vast undeveloped territory, 85,000 square miles, in area, with a population of 400,000 persons, struggling with the problems of development.”

A visitor to Whangarei, writing to the “Wairarapa Daily Times,” says that there seems no reason at all why sub-tropical plants should not be grown in sufficient quantities in Whangarei and the surrounding district to provide fruit for the whole of the Dominion. “The production of suitable fruits and a consequent reduction in its cost to the consumer,” he writes, “are problems still requiring settlement. Talking of cost, however, brings a case to mind which came under notice during this visit to Whangarei. The visitor was shown over a splendid grape vinery and partook of some of the finest grapes it is possible to produce. Being of an inquiring mind he asked what the owner of the property was getting for his fruit at the present time, and was told that he had got sd. in Napier that morning, and previously 3d. in Wellington, and out of this he had to pay freight. When the proprietor was told that the same grapes were fetching 2s. 6d. in Wellington only a week or so previously he gasped.”

Captain William Gillies, master of the steamer Invercargill, died at Dunedin last week, after some months’ illness. He had been in the service of the Invercargill Shipping Company for over 25 years.

Four thousand bullets, made during the Maori war, have been presented to the New Zealand Government by the Ngaita tribe of Torere, in the Bay of Plenty. The bullets had been buried for some years, and on the outbreak of war it was suggested that they should be given to the Government to be used in the making of munitions.

Mr. H. A. Merryweather, proprietor of the Rothebury Colleries, New South Wales, and Miss Merryweather, are making a tour of New Zealand. They have already visited the North Island, and will go on to Dunedin and the Southern Lakes district, and then to the coalfields on the West Coast before returning to Wellington on their way back to Australia. Mr. M. C. Reid, a nephew of Sir George Reid, and a member of the Newcastle City Council and Chamber of Commerce, is one of the party.

Mr. J. C. N. Grigg, of Longbeach, is en route for England. He was farewelled at Ashburton by the Mayor (Mr. R. Galbraith), who wished Mr. Grigg, on behalf of the residents of Ashburton, a pleasant voyage and a safe return. Mr. Grigg, in thanking the Mayor, stated that he expected to return to New Zealand about next Christmas. He also intimated that if the residents of Ashburton desired at any time to entertain their returned soldiers at a picnic, his grounds at Longbeach would always be at their disposal.

A visit of inspection is being paid to the American (Consular offices in New Zealand by Mr. Stewart Ja,mieson Fuller, Consular-General at large for the U.S.A. Mr. Fuller is Inspector of American Consulates in Eastern Asia, to which district be has been recently appointed, and this is his first visit to New Zealand. Previously he was in charge of the North American district, which includes Canada, Mexico, and Bermudas. His predecessor in his present sphere was Mr. George H. Murphy, who has been appointed to the position of ConsulGeneral at Cape Town. The inspection district of Eastern Asia includes China, South Sea Islands, Australia and New Zealand.

A cable message has been received from India announcing the death at Mhow, India, on 27th February, of Lieut.-Col. J. C. C. Perkins, D. 5.0., son-in-law of Mr. Harold Beauchamp, of Wellington. Col. Perkins was military Deputy Auditor-General for the Southern Army of India. He married Charlotte Mary Beauchamp in 1913. There was no family. The late Col. Perkins was a direct descendant in eldest line of the late John Perkins, senior partner in the great brewery firm of Barclay and Perkins. He was born in London in 1866, and was the son of the late Surgeon-General R. H. Perkins, Indian Medical Service and the Honorable East India Company’s Service. He gained his D.S.O. during the South African war.

A writer in the Sydney “Referee” states that after travelling through the Australian States and New Zealand, the man he would give the palm to for physique was the man who walked the streets of Brisbane. The New Zealander was much more stoutly built —more like the Yorkshire and Lancashire millhand —but he was not of the lean, free and easy type of the Queenslander.

Mr. James Stewart, who has been on the Government Hemp-grading Staff in the Wellington district for the past ten years, has been transferred to Foxton. Prior to his departure he was farewelled at the Occidental Hotel by the Manawatu, Wairarapa and Marlborough fiaxmillers (Mr. A. A. Brown, of Waikanae, presiding), and presented with a handsome gold watch, suitably inscribed, as a mark of esteem.