FROM CROMWELL TO PEMBROKE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1017, 14 October 1881, Page 3

FROM CROMWELL TO PEMBROKE.

(To be Continued.)

After leaving the sandy city, only a few dwelling-houses are passed until you reach the Welcome Homo Hotel, situated at the Lowburn, some two miles distant from Cromwell., where it is evident that every attention is paid to the travelling public with a view to their comfort and convenience. Opposite tho hotel stamla a hnyo water-trough, which is continually flowing over, the water being supplied from a dis°tanoe, and carried through iron piping, so that while you drink yourself, you can let your cattle drink also. With hotel-keeping is combined general store-keeping, butcher imr, and farming, a'J on an extensive scale. In close proximity to tho hotel is a line kitchen garden and orchard, tho latter showing every sign of yielding an abundance of fruit. From a cursory glance, a favorable impression was made on my mind respocting tins well-known hostelry and the owner thereof. Mr Perriam and his good wife appear to have a knack peculiar to themselves for pleasing their patrons. Their stores are well filled, their garden is well tilled, and themselves well willed. After leaving tho Lowbum, no houses are to be seen until you reach the Five-mile Creek, some distance up which stands two neat cottages, surrounded by a lot of bluegum and other trees, which gives a pleasant prospect, and relieves the monotony of the road. From the quantity of tailings and flow of muddy water running down the creek, I concluded that sluicing operations were carried on above. Further on, and some seven miles beyond Cromwell, stands tho Mount Pisa Hotel, which is anything but a pretentious structure, but certainly presents the appearance of comfort and cleanliness, while tho viands which profusely adorn the shelves behind the bar seem to be the best. This hotel is a favorite halting-place for waggoners, as no less than three large teams were camped thereat as I pissed. About two miles further on, and on the same side of tho road, is the Mount Pisa Station, which consists of a great pile of buildings, all substantial structures, and many surrounded by gardens and orchards, enclosed by live fences, within some of which stand the largest forest trees [ have seen in New Zealand, giving umnistakeable proof of the richness of tho soil hereabouts. The condition of the flocks of fat sheep and herds of well-favored kiue also speak silently tho same thing. From the station mentioned nothing came in sight to attract my attention except tho rabbits, which ever and anon kept crossing the road, with their long hind-legs and white tipped tails, hiding themselves in the gloom of tho tangled wild Irishman (an indigenous prickly scrub), or getting beneath the wings of tho Scotch thistle, which abound in many places. The Clutha River in some places runs in a deep gorge with high banks, while in other localities its banks are only a few feet above its serpentine course ; its current is very rapid, especially where it is confined within narrow limits, while at other places it spreads out into a mighty stream; itscirj cuitous windings were mostly kept in view until I reached tho third hostelry known as the Half-way House, R. Kidd, piopriotor. Here, ton, excellent accommodation is offered to numerous friends, and the great unwashed generally; but tho travelling public in particular. At one of the wayside hotels mentioned I dropped across an old acquaintance, and asked for a tumbler of whiskey hot for him ; instead, one of tho waitresses brought two. As I never drank as much of the ardent as a wiuklo-shcll would contain, I asked my friend as a favor to drink the two. This he readily consented to do, saying that he did not believe in single nohhlers, explaining that after ono ho felt himself a different man, and then he was in duty hound to treat tho other man. I here discreetly left him, and resumed my journey to Pembroke, cogitating by the way on my friend and his second self.