The Birmingham Line of Coaches

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 103, 7 March 1889, Page 3

The Birmingham Line of Coaches

(BY A. PASSENGER.) V; On Monday Mr Samuel Daw com--r oieuced running^ a line of coaches betweeu Peilding and Birmingham, The start on the maiden trip was made at 8.30 a.m. from the proprietor's stables opposite Hastie's Hotel, and iu an hour and ten minutes from that time Cheltenham Hotel (half way house) was reached, aud after refresh^ ments, the horses not being forgotten, the journey was resumed, and in just two hours and twenty minutes from the start from Feilding, the passengers aud luggage were at their destination, viz., the Waitapu Hotel, or rather Lowes' accommodation House as it is properly called. Yes, a real, sound, substantial and elegant looking structure, and not the ruins or ashes of it, as a most preposterous rumour whiuh had spread abroad in Feilding, and for the grounds of which it is impossible to conceive a cause, might have led one, who was over giveu to credulity, to expect. After a look ; round, several of us went and inspected the new school house, which j has been completed in good style bv j tbe contractor, Mr Tapp, and which is to be formerly opened to-day, when the teacher, Miss Low, from Marton, who was a passenger with us will ■enter on her duties. "Returning to the hotel we partook of an excellent dinner, which prepared us for another stroll. This time we went a good distance up the road till we came to the bridle track leading to the Feilding Small Farm Block, designated, I be lieve, the Oroua Valley road. Here we found Messrs McKenzie Bros, and Poole almost drawing to a close their contract for widening and otherwise improving the track, haviug made apparently a good job of it. Oue who has not visited this part of the country can form no idea of the grandeur of the scenery, of the progress which iB being made in the improvement and settlement of the district, or of the productive capabilities of the land. Grass grows with the greatest luxuriance, aud a sample of cocksfoot, which measured 7 feet 6 inches in height, grown by Mr Lowes and which he had on yj,ew; afcthe hottd, I managed to beg «j>..%8. to bring home and show the Feildingites. At 4. 30 p.m. we started on tue return journey, reaching Feilding shortly after seven, and thus ended a thoroughly enjoyable trip. It is due to Mr Lowes to speak of his geniality, aud the way he and his family endeavor to make visitors feel at home, •while nothing but what is good can be said of the accommodation his house affords. Mr Daw received numerous suggestions as to the running of his coaches, most of which leaned in the direction qf inducing him to make Birmingham the starting ' point, so that visitors may come on to Feilding, do their shopping, or other business, and return the same day. He gave all to uuderstaud that he should study and endeavor to meet the requirements of the settlers generally. All I can say is that Sam is to be commended for tho enterprise he is manifesting in seeking to supply an evident public want, and that I trust he will meet with the success he deserves. This, however, I think I may safely say, is guaranteed in the near future. As the country gets known people will be sure to go out there on trips of pleasure in the summer, and as it is a perfect paradise for sportsmen, the coaches are pretty sure to be well patronised during the shooting season. - •