Omaha daily bee., 1901-03-10

ground in which they have grown. There
are acres OF turnips their green tops
eaten off and the white, round roots lying
like tens of thousands OF billiard balls upon
the ground. The sheep will feed upon
them until nothing is left.
How beautiful the land Isl 1t is rolling
We go over plains which look like the blue
grass lands of Kentucky and others which
remind me of the meadows of old England
We pass through groves of cabbage trees or
New Zealand palms. Each has a tall trunk
ending in a feather duster OF green leaves,
which jut out on all sides There is plenty
OF poor land as well as good and some
large tracts which still belong to the crown
and which will some time be turned into
farms.
railroads Belong to Government.
As we go I examine the railroad Like
all in the colony. It belongs to the govern
ment and its officials are government clerks.
The conductor is called the guard He
comes through the station and punches the
tickets from time to time. The smaller
stations are also postofflces and see signs
evidencing they are government savings
banks and the offices OF the government life
insurance company as well.
The gauge Of the railroad is only three
"
with lava and pumice stone and 1t seems to
be well built The cars are comfortably
made, half after the American and half
after the English fashion, At every station
n bell Is rung before the train starts.
Every now and then there Is a five minutes
stop that the passengers may get out and
buy a cup OF tea, a glass OF whisky or beer.
The New Zealanders are great drinkers.
They are always stufing and swilllng.
Nevertheless they keep fat and healthy.
Beer. whisky and tea are sold at the stations.
try them all. The whisky Is Scotch.
II has a smoky, peaty taste and II costs IL
cents a glass. Tea Is tuppence cup.
Every one takes II with milk and sugar.
II is strong, but not bad. No coffee Is sold
for no one wants It,
The chief trouble with the cars is the
lack Of heating arrangements. The weather
was cold and every passenger had a travel
ing blanket which ne wrapped around his
feet. had a foxskin one and to this
added my rubber hot water bottle. took
II from my bag and had II filled by the
girls at the tea stations. One young woman
was amazed at the request and wondered
what wanted hot water for. At last q
smile lit up her face and she said: ~
understand. You want It for the baby
(baby)."
Eyes. my dear" said I, as I handed hei
shilling "but I am the baby"
That Is something like the English the,
talk down In New Zealand, You hear Q
great deal OF the cockney accent IL
frequently like "1'' or "ai," and you have
to often translate the phrases you hear
This Is so in the stores. In buying thu
foxskin I spoke OF asked the depart tmen
store clerk where the rugs were kept. III
said: go through that aisle and down BY
the lices" I could not think what HI
meant by "the Ices" and n brief vision o
crawling insects and frowzy hair came be
? fore my eyes until on the other side Of th'
store saw some white lace, with carpets
} and rugs beyond, and knew the young mar
, meant laces. As for the letter 81"
have never heard II so mistreated In Eng
I land as In New Zealand. II Is always OF
r when II should be on, and always on wher
II should he on. Even the school chill
dren butcher the kings English In this re
! spect, and In everyday conversation tn
: faults are common. They remind me OF tn
blacksmith whom like TO quote wheneve
our English cousins talk about such Amer
3 icanisms as "I guess" The blacksmith
Y was discussing the effect NJ hunting versu
Z macadami7ed roads on the horses feet
n when ne said
e "Hit hisn't the topping hover edges wha
I 'urts the 'orses' 'oofs, but hits the am