Rangiwahia Notes.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 345, 21 June 1894, Page 2

Rangiwahia Notes.

(By Nkw Chum.) A crack of the coachman's whip and in another moment Mr S. Daw's line of coaches leaves the "Carbine Stables," Feilding, for Rangiwahia via Birmingham. Further along their journey "New Chum" joins the company, but on account of the Coach, being over-loaded he with his. pen, r' ink, paper, etc., was escorted to a buggy which was following close.behiad. AH went merrily except that most of the company had changed their colour from unite to blue through the bitter cold wind that was blowing, with a slight sp tinkling of rain; Birr. minghatn is reached, meals «ra par-, taken, horses fed, coaches changed* and the driver once more flourishing his whip o^e* the horses, called "All safe 1" Then away the company darts — this time in an open doublet! seated buggy wl.ich carried eight ; passengers nicely. This conveyance was taken because the regular running coach was undergoing repairs. The creaking and splashing soon reveal to us that we are on the bad roids to Pern-; berton ; but still worse it seems as the driver with a loud voice thundered out " Woe !" * Woe !" j will please alight and walk for some distance." This done we are brought on to a splendid metalled road. Fair riding was now the order of the day, and we darted through the bush, around corners, up hills, down valleys, sometimes on the tops of bills where below are perpendicular cliffs, and then creeping almost silently along some winding valley above which are towering hills. This road is good but on account of the late heavy rains/ slips have occurred and in several places made it impassible for wheel traffic. Eventually " Peepo'-Day " is" reached with safety, but, " Oh My % how the cold wind still blows, making the tall forest trees bend their lofty, heads, and the cold rain falls heavily. Still on we go, when, to our surprise, the road is blocked by a land slip. Every passenger dismounts and has a private inspection of the mass of timber and debris which now lies before them, and hinders their further progress. " What is to be done ? " an= individual inquired ; but the energetic fc'aiu Daw was not to be beaten,; and set out for assistance, a few minutes later and he arrives with men, spades, shovels, and axes. Passengers and all hands set to work to clear off the obstacles. "New Chum " looked interesting at this work in his "White choker," Sunday pants, and polished boots. In less than five minutes, his white shirt was spotted, his trousers, the same colour (yellow; as his boots in fact it would be hard to distinguish boots from trousers— hands and face likewise. While the men were at work i i the wind and rain, the young children, who were among the pas-' sengers for Rangiwahia, were weeping bitterly from the cold. At last the slip is partly cleared, horses are taken from the coach and got over the slip successfully, after which willing hands drag the vehicle over also, harness up again and off we go. All goes well till we are within four miles of our destination, when we, male passengers have again to dismount and tramp, as the road from this point is too bad for heavy traffic. We now jog along nicely, " New Chum " keeping the centre of the road, plunging through mud and water knee deep, singing the " Old Folks at Home" and "The girl I left behind Me." At last Mangiwahia is reached only two hours behind time. The roads up here are in a disgraceful condition, and do not reflect much credit upon the local bodies who have the control of them.