To Rotorua and Baek.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 412, 7 April 1904, Page 5

To Rotorua and Baek.

(By "Dredger.")

A desire for a change of country or place, to see strange sights, to breathe once more the ozone as it emanates from the vast ocean—these were the principal reasons which lately caused me to ask for a month's holiday. This being granted, I forgot all about dredges, tbeir returns, the state of the river, and all the little etceteras in connection with the industry, as my mind was fully occupied in picturing to myself the places of interest which I intended to visit. So one sultry afternoon I bestrode my bike, and, with a fair wind and stout heart, started on my journey: Mr Paulin bad predicted electrical disturbances for that day, and strange to relate they came true, as I afterwards found, out. I had ne\er ridden in any bicycle race, nor have I been intimate with any champion of the oycle track, so readers will be able to understand that my progress was slow. "His brow was marked with honest sweat." Yes, it was all right; and J had to stop several times to '* dicht" it, or I would have been unable to see how I was steering;, When about nine miles from Alexandra the heavy black clouds that were seen in the south came up in a big hurry to get to the north (I suppose the south was too cold for them),and when I was directly in line of fire I was assailed in the rear by heavy artillery in the. shape of repeated peals of thunder whioh, however, did me no damage, but made me exert myself still further, so as to get under cover from what I knew was coming. For speed, I'll back a thunderstorm against any bike champion, and as I said before that I don't lay any claim to that title, it will be readily seen that I had to receive some of that storm. Mentally calculating its speed and mine, I formed the conclusion that this storm of. rain and hail would pass me in about two minutes 59 seconds. Never was man more properly misled, as when the storm overtook me; it slackened its pace, and just kept up with me, I suppose for company's sake. I did not like this, ' but what was a poor bloke to do.' When nearing civilisation—to wit, D, G. Gunn's accommodation house—my companion made haste to leave me, as I thought for good. Seeing that I was wet through, but dry inside, I felt that a long shandigaff would be acceptable, and having thus got wet inside, I resumed my journey to meet with my late companion, or a brother of his, some distance away. There is ho occasion to state anything further in connection with my sad plight until 1 reached John Reilly's hostelry at Ida Valley. At my luggage was to be sent by coach to the railway station here was I Wet through, cold and miserable, hungry and tired, and with no prospect of a change of clothing until Mine Host saw my predicament, and hastily bringing some of his wearing apparel, bade me retire to a room, and don his garments. Those who know his corpulent build will smile when they imagine me in h'"s togs. I even smiled myself, when I sat down at the dining table to regale myself with the hot meal that was set before me, and dire would have been the calamity if I had remained there until I filled myself out to meet even the nether gaiments. In the back blocks the cut of a person's clothes is nothing, as long as he has them dry, and after having dined, I forgot all about the shape of them, only remembering that it was good to be in them for a time. A sound sleep, a sleep of the tired and just, and morning was ushered in by the crowing of cocks, accompanied by the barking 'of dogs and the call of the waggoners to their horses. Having received my own garments, which by the way, were being dried by the fire as I slept, I had breakfast and feeling fit for another 1 sjpio, I thanked my host lor the Joan

of his clothes, paid my bill and departed to catch the train, Evidence of the heavy rain the day previous was manifest by the state of the roads, but having plenty of time to reach the station I took things easy.' On arrival of the coach from Alexandra, I was pleased to see two well-known resi dents getting into the same compartment, and we had a real good time until Dunedin was reached, There was plenty to be seen en route ; but as . pretty well everybody up this way has been on the line, it is needless for rae to write anything in that direction, only mentioning as soon as Maniototo; was passed, and we got into the gorge it occurred to me again that it Was a huge mistake to bring the line up that way, as, with the exception of the Strath Taieri, the whole of the route goes through rocky ravines, hardly fit for pastoral purposes. However, the line is made now, and although the engines may have some difficulty in climbing up some of - the inclines, it will remain the route for the Otago Central. Dunedin was reached at the proper time, and making arrangements for my luggage and bicycle', I took jfche eable car to my destinations As my time was limited, I did not: care to stop any longer in Duhedin than I could possibly help, 5 evenC though I knew every street and corner in it, and would like to renew acquaintance with old friends, so I made inquiries as to the steamers going North; On Tuesday afternoon I went on board the Union Company's fine boat Mokoia, bound for Sydney via northern ports. The voyage en route was most enjoyable, the steamer calling in at Lyttelton, Wellington, Napier, Gis« borne and Auckland. Wellington, windy Wellington, is a nice place to be out of. This was my first introduction to it, and first impressions are generally correct, The harbour is a capacious one, and the wharf accommodation is more extensive than in any other port in New Zealand. On this, as well as on the return, visit I made it my business to see as much as I could of the town. The largest wooden, building in the world is the Government buildings, in which are most of the offices of the Government. (To be Continued.) |