FROM EAST TO WEST.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1952, 8 January 1914, Page 6

FROM EAST TO WEST.

BY FOREST AND FLOOD.

IDEAL TRIP FOR TOURISTS^

'A novel and interesting bush trip by a no,w route was mado at the New Year by Messrs. Arthur Seed, manager of the May Morn Estates (Now Zealand), Limitod, H. F. von Haast, and C. H. lUissell. Tho purpose of tho trip was to traverse the 18,000 acres of the May Morn Estate, which extends from the Hutt River almost to tho Otaki Forks. Travelling light, with sleeping-bags for night accommodation, unci tea, beef, bacon, and biscuits for tho commis-

sariat, the trio spent a pleasant four days in their journey from t.ie May Morn Bridge across the Upper Hutt to .Martin's sawmills at Waihoanga. Sun-Chequered Cladss. The average duration tff the first three days' march was from 8 a.m. to (i p.m., with the usual Halt for "billyboiling." After an inspection of tho sidling which tho company is constructing to open iip the bush in ono of the gullies abovo the Hutt Ilivor, tho steep hill abovo tho Kororipo Creek was surmounted, and a stiff pull up the long ridge that lends to the Kakariki trig made a spell there welcome. The first camp was made by the Putaputa Creek, at tlie back of Baigont's sawmills. A morepork duet in tho minor mode lulled the wayfarers to sleep under a lofty rinni, wliilo the kaka's shrill and grating call roused them at daylight the next moriiing. Good going, through the open, sun-chequered glades of tho forest, over undulating country, was exchanged Inter in the afternoon for higher travelling in a thick fog, which developed later on into a steady rain, continuing all night. An artfully-con-structed "mi-mi," a shelter of branches thatched with forn leaves, and a roaiing fire of toro kept tho travellers warm and dry, but it was with considerable relief that they wore ronsod tho next morning by the shimmering of blue Bky through the grove of tawhero. Along the Divitlins Range. Sunday morning was occupied in 5, long climb up and along the dividing range, in which llu'ssell, "the pathfinder," slashed a way through the undergrowth. Progress was laborious and slow, the feet sinking in tho thick, yellow moss, while a friendly fern bush or sapling helped the climber up slippery slopes through the stunted growths, festooned and cushioned with golden mosses and lichens. About noon a high point on the range was reached, close to which tho Waikanae and Waiotauru Rivers and France's Creek take their source. ■ A little clearing with the slasher opened up a fine panorama. Down France's Creek and tho Akata-a-awa Valley the, Upper Hutt could bo seen, while further oft the T.araruas and Mt. Victoria could be easily distinguished. To tho left the May Morn Estate lay stretched out liko a relief map, and any spectator viewing it from this point would be easily convinced of the, abundance of good milling timber and of tho very easy nature of the country to-work onco the top plateau were ■roache'd i'rom the Kororipo Creek. Upon the other side of the range, the eye travelled down tho basin of the Waiotauru River, past the thickly-wooded spurs that descended,to it from all di-J rectipus, out of the, grassed slopes and Bkeletphs of trees in the distance, marking tlio progress of civilisation up from the .Otaki .Fork-. ■ beiigtitfu! V/atie'Down the River. • The afternoon, 1 to 7 p.m., was spent first in a steep scramble through lawyer aiid supplejack down a. creek, thu Waiotauru, and then in a long but quito delightful wade down, the river, .which descends in an easy grade to its junction with tho Otaki.'. The scenery is magnificent, as fine as tourists go miles to seo upon tho West Coast. Mountain sides slope to tho water's edge, clothed in every shade of green, from which lofty straight-holed rimus rear their drooping nests and bushy ratas glow liko crimson torches; groves of tree-ferns raise their bright green towers from tho darker and moro sombre background, creeks come toppling down to join the fast-growing river, water oozes everywhere through mossy rocks. The rivor itself pursues its

tortuous way with infiito variety; long stretches of shallow grey water gliding over brown pebbles, then gathering volume in a succession of rapids, and rushing between high grey boulders into a deep green pool, and curdling there under the cliffs. Unknown Crassy Flats. A' series of grassy river-flats apparently unknown to tlio settlers at the forks, the nonchalant appearance of some wild cattle on the shingle, the widening out of tho river-bed seemed to indicate a speedj" emergenco into more open country, but were .succeeded _ by' a "long gorge tliat required a little patience and thought to negotiate. Nothing, however, in, the shape of a, waterfall or long strip of deep water shut in by chfts on either sido was met with, and only twico did tho "paddlers" have to Jeavo tho riverbed for the bush in order to avoid one of tho deep pools. Nothing more pleasant can bo conceived than a cool stream, a sunny day, and tlio swish of the'water, now above-" tho ankle, and now above tho kriec,' to tho pedestrian, who has been half-scrambl-ing and half-dragging himself up the ndges, and nothing more soothing to hot heads and sore shins. Chiming Concert of Bell Birds. 'After another largo stream had joined forces with tho Waiotaum, and a large- rock had been passed, standing solitary in the centro of the river wftii a- riißU and other trees upon, it, darkness was approaching, when a grassy flat with a sandy beach running down to an ideal clear green swimming bath was: selected for tho camping ground. While tho "Pathfinder" wielded his axo and split up driftwood for tho nocturnal fire, the sportsmen in vain flicked tho fly in tho face of two wily trout, and tho gourmand cut off rashers of bacon preparatory to toasting it for tho evening meal. Next morning a chiming coneert of bell birds heralded tho break of day, and tho sportsmen chanted hastily, "Hail, Smiling Mora, that Tips the Hills .with Gold," while tho cynic drily remarked that that was ono of tlie few things that did tip anyono or anything with gold. Another two hours was spent in the river, with,a pause for some shots at a shaggery on the arching boughs of a -tutu, the'presence of which accounted for the small number of trout seen in tho stream. Just before the edge of the bush was reached, three black wild pigs—papa, mamma, and baby—made a sudden plunge into the wish from sunning themselves on tho shingle after their morning tub in a sandy pool. Comparison of tho country that had already boon felled and cleared with the upper readies of the river satisfied the travellers that in addition to its fins milling timber tho banks of tho river ■will in tho Mure provide farms for many enterprising settlers. In tho meantime if tho road were extended for another couple of miles, hero is a stretch of beautiful scenery that could be reached by motor from Wellington in little more. than three hours. . In Europe- tourists; would ravo over such forests and' rivers". ■ Hero wo disregard the beauties at our very doors, and go further afield where distance* lends enchantment to tho viow.