WAIKANAE TO THE HUTT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1350, 30 January 1912, Page 9

WAIKANAE TO THE HUTT.

A PLEASANT WEEK-END OUTING. A correspondent forwards the following interesting account of a week-end round trip, which would break new ground for many city residents, and can be undertaken at small cost. Taking tho train from Thorndon to Waikanae, a stay is made there for tlie night. Sunday is spent in walking, or driving, over'the picturesque country lying between Waikanae and the Upper Hutt. and a return is made to the city by the alternoon train from the Upper liutt. Our correspondent writes:— "From Waikanae to Hutt needs only a normal pair of feet, as was amply proved by two delicate-looking young ladies on Sunday, who completed the journey 011 foot in eight hours' actual time, 'with, half a dozen.camera interludes thrown jn. Again, why should mystery enshroud the obviously simple journey 011 dry land and good roads from Waikanae to Uutt: Mr. J .en Freeman, the genial host of Mahara House, Waikanae, has shouldered the burden of proving to the public that thero are no lions in the path between the unconscionably separated districts; no bridges in the hitherto unknown part, needed or otherwise; 110 appreciable grades, anil not an obstacle even so much as a fencej 'That, on the other hand, the whole route is full of interest and beauty, near scenes of picturesque New Zealand floral groupings, far scenes of land and waterscapes, clear skies with all a summer sun's radiance. 'I'liose who would like it, as also those whose doubts ivould tempt them to prove it, can test the question for themselves. Sunday's party comprised a baker, a milkman,* a navvy, two ladies, and others, all of whom did the trip as a purely week-end function, without losing a moment from their usual avocations, and ,at a cost within the reach of all. This treatment of the subject of a round trip from Wellington to Waikanae and back, via Akatarawa and Hutt, is altogether beside the question of utility. When the utility element comes into the public view the pleasures of the trip will fade away, and those who have not availed themselves of its healthy influences will have nothing tn thank themselves for—it will be an opportunity gone for over of beholding New Zealand's fern-clad floral-adorned forest wonders. Talking of utility, reminds that it is stated that an engine which can only haul 150 tons of goods by the present route could haul 500 tons 'by a possible road through from Hutt, via Akataraitfi to JVailcanae, and it is only necessary to count the cost of that difference to judge how long it will bo before tho authorities avail themselves of the newly-discovered opportunities. The trip 011 Sunday—which inspires the present article —and which may be repeated 011 application to Mr. Len Freeman, Waikanae, who has taken the matter up with patriotic enterprise—began at Thorndon railway station at 4.15 p.m. on Saturdav. Sleeping accommodation 1 wai 1 found at Mahara House, Waikanae, breakfast on Sunday morning, and an earlv walking tour commenced. On arrival in the heart of the forest a halt was called for bivouac. Hence, the trip is romantic, changeful, and altogether passingly delightful. When the conveyance met them at 2 o'clock 011 the Akatarawa side the two young ladies of the partv evinced such chagrin that they decided'to walk the wholo v-ay. which they did. The men, moro business-like, rode the last lap in tho conveyance, and thereby gave themselves time for tea and cake'before hoarding the 5 p.ii). train for Wellington. j his trip is not a directly commercial venture, and is, therefore, very cheap, and can bo arranged for at any week-end when enough applications reach Mr. Len Freeman to pay his ' out-of-opeket expenses and those of Mr. 1 Edwards, .Upper