SOUTH OF THE RAKAIA.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2717, 23 December 1882, Page 3

SOUTH OF THE RAKAIA.

[PROM THE " PRESS."]

During the past autumn, winter, and spring, I have been making occasional trips through the various districts south of the Rakaia river, from the hills to the sea as far as Waimate, and quite recently I have again been visiting many of the various towns and farm homesteads on the Rakaia side of the Canterbury Plains. During my peregrinations I have observed many marked signs of social, commercial, and agricultural progress, and it has struck me there was a great deal that might be said, or rather re-said, about some parts of the districts through which I have occasionally been journeying. Thinking that just at this time of the year you may be able to devote space for a column of matter of a purely non-political tone, I am going to amuse myself by filling in a little of the leisure time an up - country individual sometimes finds himself blest with, r.nd ask you to publish a brief account or a few of my observations.

Leaving the Eakaia township one sloar sharp morning in June last, I arrived at the quiet little township of Methven, the present terminus of the Eakaia and Ashburton Forks railway. Methven is a thriving- little township a few miles distant from the foot of Mount Hutt, and possesses a railway station and post-office combined, both being in charge of a genial and most obliging officer; a good hotel; a well-stocked general store kept by Messrs Morgan and Hibbs ; one or two smaller grocery and soft goods establishments ; a Government school in charge of Mr James Murray, who has a good average attendance at his training establishment, the Boad Board office, with a neat little cottage adjoining, this being the residence of the clerk to the Board, Mr Compton; three

general smiths' shops, a livery stable, and a number of comfortable lookir g private residences, the country round being studded with excellent farms and homesteads. One of the first signs of progress that arrested my attention in this particular district was a splendid flo»v of valer to be seen coming down with a big rush from the direction of Pudding Hill, and apparently branching out in all directions over the hitherto arid and brown looking Rakaia This I presumed to be one of the head races of the waterworks scheme of that most energetic and useful body the Ashburton County Council. On further inspecting the district I learnt that a good flow of water was then coursing through some portion of the property of nearly every landowner as far away as the sea beach, and when it is borne in mind

that up to within a few months previous there was scarcely a drop of water to be found on any part of these extensive plains during the long spells of hot summer weather, your readers will have no difficulty in arriving at some idea of the immense boon these water races are to the farmer. From many reliable sources I learn that since the inauguration of the water scheme the land has very materially increased in market value, and there has been a very marked increase, both in the weight of the wool clip and the quality of the wool generally, besides which the sheep and cattle thrive better in every way on the plains than they did before the introduction of these artificial watercourses, over 600 miles of which are now regularly supplied from the north and south branches of the Ashburton river, channels having been constructed in various directions over the plains from the Eakaia to the Eangitata. After making a tour round the district I arrived, late in the evening, at the commodious hotel kept by Mr Patterson, and was ready for a good square feed, and after announcing my mission the necessary ingredients were soon forthcoming. During my stay there I was made aware of the fact that there still existed a few relics of the early days of the colonies, and noticed a little all-round " shouting" during the evening. I noticed also an act of kindness, and as it has some connection with a recent sad event, I may perhaps be pardoned for mentioning it here. Two gentlemen came into the hotel, and the night being bitterly cold, they "both wore scarves round their necks. Amongst the company in the hotel was a big brawny looking man (Victor by name), who said that he had a journey of some twenty miles to ride that night, and on observing the newcomers, he sallied up to the taller one of the two and asked for the loan of the scarf. No sooner was the request made than the owner of the scarf began to bare his own neck and wrap a handsome silK neckerchief round the throat of the stranger, and then went forth into the keen night air to his homestead, some considerable distance from the hotel. This little act of kindness was so genuine and unselfish as to call forth remarks of approbation from all present. A fortnight afterwards fifty horsemen were out scouring the country in every direction for the body of the performer of this deed of good, fellowship—Mr A. Anderson—but up to the present no trace whatever has been seen of this well known and popular gentleman, who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared while ou + pig hunting in the neighborhood of Pudding Hill, having gone thither in company with Mr A. Grant. Mr Anderson was last seen by his companion making for a certain point on the hill, closely followed by a faithful dog. In a.moment he disappeared, and has never been heard of since. Search parties Jwere out scouring the country for weeks, the faithful dog joining in the exploration, till he became one day engulphed in the stream, as a large party were scouring the Ashburton river bed. Here Mr Andersoa's dog also disappeared, and met with a similar fate, as it is feared, befel his generous and much respected master. *

To resume my journey. I found comfortable quarters at Patterson's Hotel, and, after a good night's rest and an early breakfast, I made further incnrsionß round the district up to midday, when I took a passage by the mail buggy, ■which runs thrice a week from Bowiek's Hotel to and from the Methven railway station. After a ride of about nine miles, mid snow and hail, the driver of the mail cart pulled up at a point called the " Single Tree," the time occupied on the journey being just three hours. [On the following day I covered the same ground on foot in two and a half hours.] I relied out of the buggy and landed on something —I don't know what—and after proceeding for about a mile in the direction of the source of the north branch of the Ashburton River, I began to feel that I possessed a couple of feet, being reminded of this fact by a tingling and burning sensation usually experienced on the blood commencing to circulate after a very near approach to frost bite. Nestling in a snug little cove close under the then snow-clad hill, with a most picturesque bit of scenery forming a background, stands the residence of one of the principal farmers of the district, Mr A. McFarlane, a most hospitable and loyalhear. ed Scotchman. " Oome in and have something to eat," were Ms words of greeting. In half-an-hour I was stretched in a huge armchair before an enormous fire, smoking a pipe, and feeling as happy and contented as a baron after a feast. Your humble correspondent hails from the West of England, and till quite recently had not been th-own much in the company of Scotchmen, and moreover hai been led to believe that, as a class, they were particularly canny and cold-hearted; indeed, I have heard more than, one Scotchman say in effect that they were utterly wanting in anything like demonstrative kindness and affection towards their fellowmen. During the past few months I have been thrown in contact withmany a man hailing from the Land o' Cakes, and my limited experience teaches me that acts of kindness and hospitality are so natural to them that they don't even know when they are entertaining a stranger ; but somehow nature has taught them how to extend the right hand of fellowship in the most true hearted and thorough manner. Premising to return and spend the night at Mr McParlane's house, I proceeded to the township of Alford Forest. This consists of a Postoffice and store, kept by Mr H. Knight, a public school, a blacksmith's shop and hotel, the proprietor of both these establishments being Mr J. Bowick ; and a considerable number of small houses scattered through the district. Amongst the resources of the district is an extensive tract of bush country, comprising many fine birch and pine trees, an unknown quantity of excellent building stone, and patches of good grain growing land. The majority of the land, however, is still in native tussock, and much of it near the hills is very stony. With the exception of a few farmers, the majority of the settlers appeared to bo engaged in the bush, and evidences of their thrift and industry was to be seen in innumerable stack:; of posts and rails and piles of firewood. Before I had time to do more than a hasty look round night came on, and having st rnc four or five miles to walk I made my vajas best I could through the darkness to the residence of my host. I encountered more than one obstacle on the way, and after being brought up standing by a v. ";re.j fence or two, a few logs of trees, innuirer- ' able pools of water and eo forth I suddeaU found myeelf waist deep hi a soft-bottomed creek.

I will pause here, and resume rny jourj.ey next week.