WALKS ON THE ROADS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume 1, Issue 3, 25 January 1851, Page 6

WALKS ON THE ROADS.

No. lI.—TRACKS PROM THE BRIDLE-PATH

TO RICCARTON AND CHRISTCHUBCH

From the summit of the bridle road, as already stated, a track,'just passable for horses or cattle, but easy for sheep or foot-passengers, follows the topmost ridge between the port and the plain, towards the West. In proceeding along this path, a vast panorama of the Plain is obtained, bounded to the N.by the Kaikora mountains and Mount Grey, to the southward by an oceanlike horizon of level land, and to the westward by the unbroken chain of mountains, of which Oxford Hill, Mount Torlesse,Mount Hutt, and Mount Peel, —the last being sixty miles off in a straight line to the W.S.W., —are the principal peaks. After keeping the ridge for about two miles, the path turns down a spur, which is about two miles in length, to the bank of the Heathcote, near Trigonometrical Station, N0.12, C. This is at a point about 5 miles higher up the rirer, by its windings, than the Ferry. Another path leads to this spot, along the foot of the hiUs, from the bridle-road where it first reaches level ground, the distance by the path being about three miles. The tract of land between the river and the hills varies in width, but bears throughout nearly the same character as that part of it which lies near the Ferry, and has already been described.

Crossing the mouth of a valley between two spurs, the path goes close to Station No. 10 C, on the westernmost spur of the two, and then diverges towards Riccarton Wood, the southernmost, or furthest to the left hand, of all those on the plain.

The river Heathcote is crossed about a quarter of a mile from the hills, by a rough bridge which had been erected before the arrival of the •colonists. This useful stream is said to be navigable for large boats up to this point: and there is no doubt of its being navigable for vessels drawing 6 ft., up to the Ferry where it is intended to build a bridge at some future time. A few Hundred yards beyond the Heathcote, a narrow, sluggish, water-course, by which some swamps are drained into it, is also crossed by a rude bridge. Hence there are two tracks ; one -along a direct surveyed line to the landingplace at Christchurch, commonly called "the Bricks ;" the other, more circuitous in order to avoid boggy tracts, leads to the Messrs. Deans's farm at Rioearton Wood.

With the exception of one or two sandy spots of insignificant extent, the whole of the land traversed by both these paths, appears to be of exceedingly good quality. Some of it is wet in winter, but a very small portion is irreclaimable by drainage.

The distance from Station 12 C, to the Market-place at Christchureh is about 3, and to Riccarton nearly 4, miles. From Lyttelton it is thus, whether by the path on the top, or by that aiong the foot of the hills, about 8 miles to Christchurcb, and 9 miles to Riccarton.

Returning to the extremity of the bridle-road, at the site of the Ferry and future bridge, the traveller finds a cluster of newly erected temporary huts, and a ferry-boat kept by Mr. Hughes, who will put him across the river for 6d. From the point where he lands, a line of marks, put up by the Surveyors, will guide him along the future main line of road to Christchureh from the Ferry. This line touches the bank of the Heathcote twice, where that river bends to the N., crosses one boggy tract of no greatextent, the remainder of the journey being over very good land, and is 4 miles in length to the Mar-ket-place at Christchureh. The distances between port and capital will thus be 8 miles, by the bridle-road and ferry, as well as by the old path further to the W. We understand that the road is to be at once made, from the Ferry to Christchureh, in a complete state; as it forms part of the intended line of main-road which passes through Surnner.

We hope, on a future occasion, to complete our glance at the means of land communication in the neighbourhood of the port, by following that intended line of road from Lyttelton, through Sunnier, to the Ferry.

It is as well to state, that the bridle-road is now perfectly passable for horses along its whole length : and we call attention to a hand-bill issued, to the effect that a pack-horse is now despatched daily from Lyttelton to Christchurch and back. This is a private speculation, which deserves every encouragement.