The Wonderland of the Antipodes. By J. Ernest Tinne, M.A.
(Sampson Low.)—Mr. Tinno is a young graduate of Oxford, who, having had the good sense to spend some time in New-Zealand travel, has obliged his fellow-countrymen by giving a sensible and useful account of it. The special object of his jonrneyings was to visit the Hot Lakes of Rotoma and Rotomapana, and the volume is chiefly occupied with a lively description of these places, and of his ride thither from Auckland
and thence again to Napier. At the same time, he gives some practical suggestions to persons thinking of emigrating. Mr. Tinne has, we gather, himself settled in the country, and is working a flax-mill, or rather a Phormium-tenax mill, which is to accomplish the same results. He seems thoroughly in love with the country, though he does not think much of the profitableness of sheep-farming, and sees no particular advantages open to professional men, except indeed to engineers, for whom there is, he thinks,. "a decidedly good opening." We must transfer from Mr. Tinne's pages one good story, illustrative of life in New Zealand. He was tapped on the shoulder by an old schoolfellow who had been with the same tutor at Eton, and was then a livery-stable keeper and cabdriver in Napier. Nevertheless, he was in " society," and so fell out the following:—" Colonel Russell, the Minister of Instruc- tion, hired the hansom for a ball in the neighbourhood ; and on reaching the door of the house, gave N— directions to return for him at one a.m. ; N— touched his hat and drove off, but bad not gone far down the carriage road before he stopped, took the horse out and tethered him to a tree, and slipping off his mackintosh, came back to the house in full evening dress, having received an invitation also himself. The evening wore on, and morning arrived. About three o'clock some one walked up to Colonel Russell, whom he saw leaning against the wall and look- ing rather annoyed, and remarked to him, 'Why,-Russell, I thought you were an early bird. What are you doing at the ball still ?" Well,' said the Colonel, I had intended to go home about two hours ago, but there's that confounded cabby of mine engaged for three more dances, and I can't get away till he's done.'" We must not forget to mention the interesting photographs which illustrate the volume.
Previous page
