CATLINS RIVER.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 230, 6 December 1878, Page 6

CATLINS RIVER.

[prom our own correspondent.] Your correspondent, " One who Signed "the Petition," must have suffered keenly from the application of my remarks on dit last week. I regret this extremely." After ~a careful perusal of liis letter! have come to the conclusion that we have a At Junius " j , "in the 'district, fhough rather an abusive 'one. .^His classic allusion the Progress | c Committee and Pygmalion Tvas so very happily put, and is so deeply profound as it is — funny. " One, who Signed the. Petition" is decidedly facetious, dryly humorous, and given to wayward flights of imagination. lam not aware that I. made " an unwarrantable attack upon one evidently so immeasurably my superior,"' or on anyone. These quotations sound and look well in print, but had £ -the Catlins River (or Owake) " Junius " -considered the application of the quota-' ] tion he makes use of, viz. , " verbum sap," ; he would have spared me this reply en. passant. By reference to your i>aper, it; can be ascertained what I really did say, and what objection I raised. However well " the feelings of the residents were' ' tested," I may say that a large proportion - 'of residents -knew nothing about .the petition until it was placed before them : "for signature.: "'*' Junius" -was not mis- "" taken in his impression that he had seen my name on the petition , and I have yet "'to learn how- he could think I objected to it. I certainly did not state^aii objection. question of the nomination of a J.P. was mooted at a well-attended public meeting, when our member, Mr Jowitt, visited us i previous to the county election ; but those interested in the matter, and who must have : then "been testing the feelings of the residents,"- since it was "'that evening the Progress Committee was ;l properly and formally inaugurated (was j PygmalipnVever properly and formally ? "" "inaugurated ?) -never said one word about T ~it. I still adhere to my statement that only a portion of; the residents' feelings were p tested. , -His letter is open to further [/ 'contradiction, but" Your Own" does not |\ wish to enter the lists: with "one so imI s r ineasurably^superior to "himself "as ii the f '^^Junius," who signed tlie. petition. As '" Your" Own 1 " I shall .^jscharge yay duties I always'^ and^tp the best of/my ability,-ini- &; partialbr*j£ earl^ly, aii cL regardless of in- > K^ **timi<laiid?ii"an4 in Hoing \^oji wiay possibly p give " ptiraa^'^fui^erfo^poi^nn W^'S 'thepdißjpJaySgf i^h^v^JHti^^^coirgs- " ■■■ feSiwfeSM^ the deputation /,

have to. meet the, ratepayers of this district who object to the levying of the special fate of 9d in the £, to see if some amicable arrangement can be made relative thereto. On the same evening the Church Committee also meet, .when the collectors for the Manse Building Fund are expected to hand iii their lists. The lists are at present in course of circulation, and notwithstanding the approaching festive season of the Christmas holidays, when those who have money also have the inclination co keep it, they are, I believe, being liberally responded to. I trust the declaration of the financial poll on Friday evening will pleasurably astonish the Committee.

Wpper Owake settlers are going ahead, and are preparing to build a school and meeting-house, a, required cist that has long been felt in $hat quarter. .The order for the necessary timber and material is in- course of execution, and I trust soon to ~see the building erected.

Some of your readers who contemplate taking a holiday this summer, might go further antHare 1 worse than -they would at Catlins River. Those who do not want excitement, and are content with the '" harvest of a quiet eye," this is the place for them. Nature 3aere is -worth, interviewing. The noble river-has charms for those of an exploring turn -of -mind,, and offers facilities for a pleasant and interest,ing cruise -that would well repay such as are 'thus inclined. "Fishing and shooting could also be indulged in, and a ramble, or rather scramble, through the grand and dense bush that -borders either side of theCatlin, offers additional .attraction for those who love to view "Nature" in its I primitive state. There is something unspeakably grand in the aspect of the bush here, and the contemplation of its mighty solitudes and mystic shades, the soils of which have never yet yielded to the pressure of man's foot,, inspires >one -witli sensations rpeculiar to describe, but pleasureable rwithal. ' The beach fronvthe mouth of the Owako to the bar, is well worth promenading, .and then the

" vast mysterious sea" offers unresisting charms. A week or a fortnight here could be pleasantly and profitably spent, and the health invigorated by the chango. If Catlins River was in the Old Country, it would undoubtedly "be a favourite watering place. In Ne~w Zealand, however, it is merely an out-of-the-way " bush district. " But those who have not been here can have no idea of its many attractions, its healthy situation, and its -beauty of scenery. Its very seclusion ami unpopularity are, I think, .-attractions to those; who love to-enjoy themselves quietly and unbrushingly.. The CatlhVs River Hotel, which lias lately undergone extensive improvement, offers excellent accommodation and good stabling. To those who anticipate a tour, and are uncertain as to where they shall go, I would recommend them to turn their attention to this place, which is really delightful in the summer.