Reading for Everybody.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2230, 24 October 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

Reading for Everybody.

JAVA AS IT IS.

FORTY MILLION INHABITANTS

NEW SERVICE WITH AUSTRALIA. Among the passengers who arrived from Sydney by the Ulimaroa (says the “Dominion”) was Mr. M. C. Koning, representative in Australia for the Royal Dutch Packet Company, an old established East Indian lino of steamers, who recently have spared two of their best boats (the Le Maire and Vanspilbergen) to open up a fiveweekly service between Batavia (Java) and Sydney and Melbourne. Mr. Koning, who has been nine years resident in Batavia, only left there in June last for Sydney, and so far his business lias consisted of tho preliminary work of establishing agencies and advertising the .advent in Australia. of the company. Mr Koning has already appointed Messrs Thos. Cook and' Son passenger agents in New Zealand, and is to talk through freights with the Union Company’s headquarters.

Speaking to a “.Dominion” representative, Mr. Koning stated, in answer to a question, that there was not much in the way of cargo to be expected from Java, the staple industries of which consisted of sugar, rice, rubber, coffee, tea, and copra. There was a heavy duty on most of these lines. Going back, however, they would take frozen meat, cattle, coal, horses, butter, and: other produce, the bul'k of which wouldi be shipped in Queensland. It is the passenger trade his company is seeking, and Mr. Koning considers that their steamers between Sydney and Batavia offer a new and altogether an interesting trip in smooth water to places quite a 6 uni-S que as they are picturesque and educative. Coming from Batavia the steamers call at Samarang, Sourabaya, Balik Papan (in East Borneo), Macassar, Banda Island (noted for its spices), Aroe Island (a pearling centre), and so on, to Thursday Island, through Torres Strait to Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. On the return the steamer cuts out Balik Papan and takes in Boelolnng. The entire trip (single) occupies a month, end as said to be brimming with interest from beginning to end.

“We have 40,000,000 people in Java, and for a country of such a vast population it is the happiest and most prosperous country in the world. We do not- know your English word 'union,’ and there is no servant, question to trouble one— to select: from. I had ten in return for accommodation, food, and a very small wage. We do not get the Sydney temperatures, but our heat is a moist one, and it is pleasant to get to the mountains during the hot seaeon. The best three months for tourists are May, June, and July—-when the dry monsoon blows —then there is no place like Java. It would l be difficult to oxhaust the resources of the country in a few weeks or even months. There is something to suit every taste. For sportsmen here is big Preanger, and for the student of architecture and ancient art there is much to be wondered at in the mined Hindoo temples of Prambanan and Boro Boedoer. Those interested in social life and the customs of a primitive people would find plenty to study in the native kampongs or quarters, and the student of colonisation can see one of the most unique examples of a huge nation being governed by Dutch officials through the instrumentality of native regents. There are also wonders for the geologist, the botanist, and the # lover of scenery. Thanks to its mountainous character, and the varying altitudes of its towns and hill-stations, the visitor can, within an hour or two, select his climate for the day. He may migrate from Batavia by the sea to Sindanglaja, 3483 feet above the sea-lovel, or from Sburabaya to -Tosari, which is 5776 feet in the air, and renowned for its bracing air.” Mr. Koning states that the hotels are conducted on the European plan, and English is spoken everywhere when required. Asked if there is any prospect of the line being extended to New Zealand, Mr. Koning replied: “Why not?” He has not seen much of the country, but he was struck with the appearance and business-like air of Wellington.

SENSATIONAL FINISHES ON THE TURF. RACES WON IN THE LAST STRIDE. • (English Paper.) There is . probably no sensation more thrilling than that wliich is crowded into the last few seconds of a closely-contested horse-race, when two or more Eclipses of the Turf strain neck and neck towards the goal, and when’ one of them flashes past the post a few inches ahead of its rival. It is a moment of heart-stopping, breath-taking excitement such as is seldom experienced in a lifetime, followed by a wild, delirious outburst of the pent-up feelings when the tension is removed. The famous Voltigeur was the hero of three such sensational finishes nearly half a century -ago, after his memorable dead-heat in the St. Leger with an outsider called Russborough. This race, exciting as it was, was tame and commonplace compared with those which followed, anti which are talked of in Yorkshire to this day.'

THE RIVALS MEET. When the dead-heat was run off the course was crowded with a hundred and fifty thousand, spectators, worked up in anticipation, to the highest pitch of excitement, “strong men grew pale, several fainted outright with excitement. The packed crowds which pressed on the course so closely as to barely leave room for the horses -were hushed into awed silence, .-as -the rivals raced neck and neck, neither being able to gain an inch on the other. Then, as the horses rounded the Red House bend, a deep groan went up from a hundred and fifty thousand throats. Voltigeur, the idol of the north, was losing ground! ‘Volti’s beaten 1’ rang out the cry which swelled into a mighty roar of anger, surprise, and disappointment. Is he beaten? Look! Job Mason, Volti’s jockey, plying whip and spur, gaining inch by inch. A few yards from the post he draws level, and by a last almost superhuman effort, horse and rider flash past the post first by a short head.”

such a scene of Delirium as greeted this dramatic victory. Hats and sticks by the thousand were thrown into the air; storm after storm of cheers rose and swelled in deafening volume; men danced with delight; complete strangers embraced each other, and “countless enthusiasts rushed to the conquering Voltigeur to wipe some of the sweat off him with their handkerchiefs to keep as a memento.” DONCASTER. CUP. Two days later this tumultuous scene was re-enacted, when Voltigeur met The Flying Dutchman in the race for 1 the Doncaster Cup. It was a race of giants—the champion of the north against the unbeaten champion of the south. So equally were they matched that until the last few strides it was impossible to say which horse was loading. But. those last strides proved fatal to tho “Dutchman.” Nat Flatman called on his mount for a last effort, and “Volti” again flew past the post a winner, this time by a neck. “After the ‘Dutchman’s’ defeat the crowd seemed paralysed, and utterly unable to believe that such a giant had fallen at last. His backers wandered about pale and silent as marble statues, and Marlow (bis jockey) stood near the weighing-house in a flood of tars, Lord Eglinton, himself as pale as ashes, kindly trying to soothe him.” BY A SHORT LENGTH.

Once more the redoubtable Voltigeur was. called on ‘to fight his battle over again, -at the York Spring Meeting. In this race he went off at such a terrific pace that he soon had a lead of three lengths, and this he retained, in spite of all the “Dutchman’s” efforts, until the last turn was rounded. Then Marlow made a final frantic bid for victory. Inch by inch he crept up to his rival; opposite the stand he drew level; and, riding -as for lithe literally forced . the “Dutchman” past the winning-chair —first, by a short length. Probably -the only parallel to these Titanic duels was the historic struggle between Hambletonian and Diamond, as long ago as 1799. Each horse was a giant of his time, and the match created an almost unparelleled excitement in the racing world. Over four miles of the Beacon Course tho two champions raced, with never more than a foot- between them. Whip and supr, the frantic shout of ’ cheering thousands, could not separate them until within a few yards of the post. Then Hambletonian, by a supreme effort, got his head in front and won. the greatest -race of the century by half a neck. MANY OTHERS WON BY INCHES.

Although these four races stand' out as the most- sensational and closelyfought, in Turf history, there have been many others little! less thrilling. There was that memorable Derby of 1857, when .the laurels were nearly snatched from Blink Bonny in the last stride by a hopeless outsider. So hopeless was Black Tommy sonsidered that he could scarcely find a backer at the tremendous odds of 200 to 1. To the amazement, "however, of all; the despised outsider ran so bravely and well that less, than a yard separated him from victory, while his next two strides took him past the winner. Phophorus and Aanmto, two other complete outsiders, against whose chances it w'as eaid to bo “all Lombard Street to an orange,” actually snatched their victories in the Derby in the last few strides, and in the 1849 Derby the Flying Dutchman, who only lost a single race in his brilliant career, beat Hotspur by a bare halflenght after onc„of the closest and most thrilling races ever seen.. WON THOUGH DEFT AT THE POST. But few races have proved so thrilling from beginning to end as that for the 1830 Derby, wjiicli Priam won in a fashion little short of miraculous. Wihen the signal was given to go, Priam, always a highly nervous, horse, began to reaT and pl/ungc, and before he could be induced to start the field were already some distance away. It seemed madness to attempt to overtake them, but Sam Day, Priam’s jockey-, thought otherwise. Under his stimulus the grand' horse simply fiw over the track. Swift as the wind lie raced, scarcely seeming to touch the turf with liis flying hoofs. One after another he flashed past his rivals until only one was able to show him lus heels. Swifter still he sped] h few

yards from the finish he was abreast 1 of his last rival, and with a last burst ho dashed to the front and Avon one of tlie most thrilling races on record, in the last two leaps.