'Time never seems to fly so quickly as when one is having a good time, and thus we found it when visiting New Zealand after a few years' absence. The five weeks allotted for our stay seemed to pass like lightning, so many friends had we to see and call upon; but with the 22nd of March a terminus came to our happy experiences of life amongst the hospitable people of Otago, and on the Rotomahana's decks we had to pay our last adieux to the many friends assembled to wish, us bon voyage, for being bound for a distant clime many years may roll by before we again touch foot on our native shore.
After a good night's run we find ourselves early next moming alongside the wharf at the Bluff, and where we are informed we will have to stay till Saturday afternoon, as Good Friday being a holiday no cargo would be shipped; so the majority of us passengers take the train up to Invercargill, to while away a few of the shining hours at our disposal. Otago's southern city though still small, is undoubtedly on the rise and should at no very distant date be able to take its place amongst the leading commercial centres of New Zealand, for being in possession of splendid back country both for agricultural and pastoral purposes it cannot. hel going forward; we were very much struc with its system of water supply which nears perfection. We returned to the Bluffin time for dinner, and afterwards had a pleasant walk in the moonlight, finishing up with an oyster, supper, which was pronounced first class qnd the leading feature of the Bluft's many good[qualities, Next day about one-thirty our lines are loosened and off we go for Nature's '94 Wonderland "The Sounds.
'As we push on through Foreaux Straits the clouds darken around us, and the lofty hills of Stuart's Island are steeped in a white milky substance which gives them the appearance of being tipped' with snow; the wind as the afternoon advanced increased in strength till at nightfall it was blowing a small gale with a high sea running, so much so that we were rather doubtful whether Milford Sound would see us on the morrow, for if the weather is very boisterous it is not safe to enter. Next morning we are up with the lark; if that bird would take the trouble to rise on such a morning that presented itself as on that occasion. On going on deck everything was miserable; rain was falling, the wind was whistling, and the clouds were as low as they very well could be. On the starboard side were tall grand-looking mountains, the tops of which could not be discerned through the thick mist that enveloped them; it was most disappointing as such crags' would indeed have been grand if topped by the glories of an azure sky and favoured by the friendly smile of the sun, but so dark was it that we were afraid that the captain would not see his way clear to enter. However, on we went, past Thompson's Sound, and half an hour or so later were abreast of George's Sound when the-breakfast gong went, Appetite is a great autocrat and his demands must be obeyed, so reluctantly we went below; the meal was hurried through and then on deck again. 'There's the entrance!" was the cry. "Iwas not necessary to blow the whistle for "all hands on deck"; seasickness was forgotten for the time and' everybody appeared above the companion, so much so that we were surprised to find the Rotomahana had so many passengers. At length we enter. Stupendous mountains with verdure clad meet us every hand. Miniature waterfalls innumerable fall down their precipitous slopes into the sea, some of which the wind caught andin its playful mood blew them into lovely sprays of living water greatly resembling alody's veil waving in the breezes. We then enter a -very narrow passage with high
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.