Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-01-20
NEW zEAkAND LITER.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, |
January z. ISS2


arrived at Auckland on a beautiful Sunday
evening in early Spring after fast and most
delightful trip from Honolulu on the CITY Of
.Syiuty, among whose passengers were some
charming people whose presence shortened the
hours materially. All were interested in the
Sandwich Islands, and seemed = er tired Of
looking at the many beautiful views had OF
them and the lava flow, regretting that the
steamer arrived at Honolulu on Sunday thus
preventing'the purchase Of any. From what
was said, fancy Mr. Montana, Of whose ar
tis,ic workmanship my collection was chiefly
comprised, would have made a fortune. The
pride taken in showing and explaining the pic.
lures has been humbled. One morning, day
or two before reaching Auckland, they we're
stolen from my state-room where had care
lessly left my trunk unlocked on going down
to breakfast. Unfortunately | did not miss
them for some time after arriving here. The
mandarin who made my bed was, believe,
possessed Of an inquisitive and acquisitive mind
as well as an eye for the beautiful. 1.-The priced
them as did could almost forgive him. As
it Is, thank him for leaving the portraits OF
my friends, and all my cabinet photographs of
natives and others.
Few pictures have been attended with emo
tions calculated TO engrave themselves so in
debly upon the memory as was this fair city
when its undulating outlines greeted the eye.
But il was not so much its scenic charms, great
as their fascination Is: nor was il any historic
or poetic association which evoked the heart.
expanding thrill. No, lovely as are the skim
mering waters of the Waitamata and the EN-.
erald and sapphire gems sudding its throbbng
bosoms its sand and shelly beaches, verdure
clad hcsdlands, butting hills dotted with
groves, gardens, rural retreats, and rolling
away till they melt into the distan, blue OF the
western coast range, throwing its faint outlines
upon the neutral tinted heavens-no, lovely as
all this was it conveyed no sentiment, so heart.
feastng as that of the gable, shed, ogec,
mansard, curb, cqpical, fiat, hip.roofed and
homely houses huddled together like drove
Of sheep gazing in curiosity at US as we slowly
approached them half afraid they would turn
chitcctural cxcrescence regarded as fondly as a
mother loves her baby's pet mole, or as lover
the intellectually illuminated countenance OF
his otherwise plainfaced Psyche.
Odd sentiments these perhaps, yet they are
such as necessarily arise on returning to the
walks Of civilization after protracted absence
far beyond its confines, where art may be in
embryo but is yet unborn, and Nature rules
supreme, however, in sort OF intoxicating
grandeur from which the soul turning finds I'M
expressible relief in the comparative insignihi-
canoe, evanescencc and slcevelessness Of hui
man handiwork, just as the country gentleman
after spending day at a scientific congress,
where his long buried acquaintance with the
dead languages has been subjected to gal
vanic process Of resuscitation, returns to the
bosom of his family where childish pra,tle
about horses, cows, sheep, dogs, kittens,
chickens, rats and mice, salutes his ears, and
after the Dutch concer, in bastard Greek and
Latin is as sweet music from angelic lips.
Nothing is more remote than any intention OF
casting invidious reflections upon those gems
of the ocean where, according to the old pun,
the descendants of Ham have bre(ah and
mus,(a)erd so long. Probably more suitable
comparison would be of a soul leaving the
realms of bliss to revisit this pretty world
again; to stroll through the busy streets
where, il gentleman spirit, he would observe
the latcs, inventions in locomotion If a lady
A. L.. IL. -, he ,al rs
she ran her fingers caressngly through hei
snowy wings fut,ering with delight, making
people fancy some one touched them as the,
pass along, and disseminating the sensation o
presence not seen.
Our landing was attended with inconveni
ences humorous enough in their way, but ;
little philosophy was required thus to regarc
them, which am sorry TO say, but few pc
frs, with the Custom House officers, then witt
boatmen and cabbies, who said they charg
double on Sundays and holidays, but If the.
had only doubled once there would have beeI
less vexation among their victims Had tn
steamer come alongside the wharf as usual
boatmen would have been saved from breakin,
the Sabbath, strangling their consciences ant
inilaming the tempers Of choleric passengers
A rare exhilaration thrilled every fiber il
walking along the smooth asphalted sidewalks
among huuying throng amid scenes to som'
Of which had been stranger for many years
As rule the vehicles seen here are decided,
antiquated in style and deserve an honorec
place in some museum rather than being
knocked about the streets. To American eye.
the horses convey the impression frequently at
tributed to Michael Angeles Hercules, name
ly, such an abnormal muscular development a
TO render the slightest movement Scycopear
effort, whose accomplishment it is difficult to
realize. As might be expected in country
where spor,smen are so numerous, there ar,
many fine breeds of dogs, beautiful, intel
gent, honest looking animals upon which tn,
eye feas,s and helps the mind to shake of tn,
nigh, produced by the revolving canin,
market. place, which owe their existence to
crime--a crime Of omission--a truth equal,
applicable to Honolulu's cats. never coult
reconcile the unquestionable refinement Of Ho
nolulu ladies with their fondling OF such dis
gusting pets, and that in the face Of all tina
has been said by visitors who have behei,
those feline rights. Here the family tabb,
Is large, slick, IA, and deserving Of the caresse
received.
About three miles walk from the bay bring
YOU to the top Of Mount Eden, the Punchbow
Of Auckland, but with non-oouugated and les
precipitous sides, and lacking something Il