THE TOURIST and TRAVELLER

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1459, 11 April 1918, Page 36

THE TOURIST and TRAVELLER

HERE AND THERE.

Australian and other visitors to New Zealand who are including Rotorua in their itinerary are highly recommended to make Grande Vue their abiding place during their stay in the Hot Lakes district. A large roomy house, it is ideally situated, the balconies overlooking the Government Gardens, wherein are the Government Bath Buildings, and as the latter are only a couple of minutes’ walk from Grande Vue, it can be readily seen what exceptional bathing facilities are offered patrons. In fact, one can say without reservation that the house is unrivalled in its desirable situation, a point well worth weighing when the gardens are such an attractive feature of the township. It is further popularised too by Mrs. Rees, who personally superintends every detail for the proprietor, Mr. G. M. Brown, and through her tact and capability has been instrumental in making Grande Vue the leading house in Rotorua. * * * * Captain E. T. Perkins, o: the Royal Artillery, who originally left New Zealand with the Main Body, is in Wellington on furlough. * * * * Captain Swa’es Eyre, of the Union Company’s steamer Kakapo, who has been on a holiday to Australia, has returned to New Zealand. ♦ * ♦ ♦ Dr. Drummond Ferguson and Mrs. Ferguson, formerly of Auckland, have left for Australia.

Mr. G. S. Strack, M.A., has been appointed to the staff of the Palmerston North High School. Mr. Strack, who is a son of Mr. Strack, rector of the Hawera High School, recently returned from the front, where he saw considerable service. * * * * Captain J. Thompson, M.A., has been appointed lecturer in French at Victoria University College (war appointment). Captain Thompson, who had a brilliant career at Otago University, spent a year on the staff of the Waitaki High School, but gave up teaching to go to the front. After a year in Gallipoli and a year in France he has now returned wounded and has been discharged. :Jc sjc :|s * Mr. James Ames, City Valuer, Wellington, and Mrs. Ames have left on a holiday visit to Rotorua. if: if: Mr. J. W. Brodie, who has just returned to Wellington from a business visit to America, has been appointed general manager for New Zealand for the British Empire Trading Company. * * * * Recent visitors at the, Grand Hotel, Auckland, were: Mr. and Mrs. O. S. Watkins, Lower Hutt; Mr. J. G. Rutherford, Dunedin;. Mr. and Mrs. Robertshawe, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Knight, Dannevirke; Mr. and Mrs. Beatson, Hastings; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bull, Wellington; Mr. A. Loudoun, Napier; Lieut.-Col. Barcroft, N.Z M.C., Hastings; Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Lowry, Hawke’s Bay.

Lieutenant A. F. Watchlin, R.N.R., who left the command of the Union Company’s tug Terawhiti over three years ago to join the Navy, is spending a month’s leave in Wellington. * * * . * The hotels and boarding-houses at Rotorua were well filled for the Easter holidays, though there was a noticeable absence of the overcrowding that has been such a feature in former years at that period. Last year, of course, traffic was abnormally heavy, owing to the interest aroused by the Waimangu eruption which took place on April 1, just prior to the Easter holidays, so that could not be taken as a criterion. Unfavourable weather and the curtailment of railway facilities were largely responsible for the falling-off in numbers, and the great war, of course, leaves its mark on the tourist traffic overseas. Enquiries elicited from authoritative sources that most of the visitors nowadays come from New Zealand and Australia, some from India and the Straits Settlement, and just a few from America. There was not quite the usual rush for the trips either, owing to the wet weather. The round trip had to be put off on Easter Sunday, though Mr. W. T. Carr, managing director for the Motor Coaching Company, Ltd., reported excellent bookings. The smaller trips to Wakarewarewa were well . patronised in spite o; the. rain, and motors and ’buses did good business. Later on in the week the weather was more amenable, and the round trip was readily availed of. There’s a fascina-

tion about Rotorua that calls one again and again, and many visitors make it their regular holiday resort. Having exhausted the wonderful sights of the thermal district, they perhaps don’t care to go again and are content just to stroll about the lovely Government grounds, enjoy the games—tennis, croquet, bowls —on the well-kept lawns, and take advantage of the world-famed baths, with their marvellous curative qualities. Mr. Wm. Hill, resident Government officer, is a mine of information to tourists from far and near, and is ever ready and courteous in enlightening them on the various points.

PROGRESSIVE WELLINGTON PROPERTY AGENT. P. D’E. HODGKINS. An announcement appearing elsewhere in this issue draws attention to a splendid farming proposition at Whangarei, offered by Mr. D’E. Hodgkins, a well-known and successful land agent at Wellington. The farm under offer is recognised as one of the best in the northern district, and one with a splendid future. It has. a beautiful harbour frontage, and is only eleven miles from Whangarei by road. It has a capital stockcarrying value, and is without a doubt a very payable concern indeed. Mr. Hodgkins was for many years associated with the Government as an expert in land and income tax matters, and gained a wide knowledge in farming and business matters in other spheres. Farmers and traders generally are advised to place the preparation of their land and income tax returns in Mr. Hodgkins’ hands for adjustment, as his wide knowledge of these matters places him in the front rank of adjusters in New Zealand. Quite recently Mr. Hodgkins saved a Dannevirke settlerover £4OO, and there are many others who bear testimony to his ability and trustworthiness in attending to important business affairs, all of which are treated in a confidential manner. Mr. Hodgkins will be pleased to answer all inquiries addressed to him at 119

Lambton Quay, Wellington, while buyers and sellers of property are always assured of a hearty welcome when calling upon the firm.

The Rev. Clement Houchen, M.C., who was among those mentioned in dispatches at the end of December by Sir Douglas Haig, will return to New Zealand shortly, having been declared by a medical board unfit for general duty within a year. He was severely wounded in the head on October 4th, and,- though improving generally, has lost the sight of his left eye. Mr. Houchen was vicar at Te Kuiti before leaving for the front. * * * Two New Zealanders who hold commissions in the Royal Flying Corps are on furlough. They are Captain J. G. Stewart, M.C., of Timaru, and Second-Lieutenant A. M. Hislop, of Hastings. Captain Stewart left (from Auckland) as a Second-Lieutenant in the original Divisional Train, fought in Gallipoli, where he won the Military Cross, and in France. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in April last as an observer, having previously been promoted captain. He qualified a little later as a pilot, and served for some time in the neighbourhood of Passchendaele. Lieutenant Hislop enlisted as a trooper in the Wellington Mounted Rifles. He served in Gallipoli, and after the evacuation was with the mounted troops on the Sinai front. He obtained a R.F.C. cadetship in November, 1916, and went straight to England for training. After obtaining his “wings” he was sent across to France, and has seen much service there, taking part in the Cambrai offensive. * * * *

Expert disagree in regard to methods of physical training just as much as doctors do about medicine; and so it is not surprising to find that doubt has been thrown upon the efficacy of the Swedish system of setting-up exercises and that experiments are being made along new lines altogether. In France, Lieutenant Hebert, an officer of the navy, has worked out a new method of physical training based upon his very close study of nature. He abandons the Swedish system entirely, and with it all artificial gymnastics, exercises with dumb-bells, elastic pulleys, and so forth. Hebert’s starting point is found among the savages and animals of the African wilds. The gymnasium training, he contends, hardens a man’s muscles and does not adapt him to the hardships which have to be endured in modern warfare. On the other hand, a trained horse has never been put through a gymnasium, while a monkey, which can climb trees, run on all fours and jump about without experiencing any strain, is, according to Hebert, a far better developed animal than the best athlete produced by artificial training. Under Hebert’s system, therefore, the men in training are half naked in order to toughen their skins; and amongst the exercises they perform in this condition are tree climbing, running on all fours, lying on their stomachs, rolling over the ground, fording streams and going through almost every kind of animal movement and in all sorts of weather conditions. Lieutenant Hebert’s method is gaining recognition throughout France, and since his visit to the United States is being considered for the purpose of being experimented with in the training of American soldiers. The Hebert exercises are something more than physical exercises, inasmuch as many of them provide the basis of actual military operations, such as charging with the bayonet. Agility is frequently of much importance as strength and endurance, and it is in this respect that the new system appears to have a great deal to recommend it. But like so many new methods, it can only supplement the essentials of an active life in the open air.