HERRIOT

Mataura Ensign, Volume 6, Issue 346, 8 April 1884, Page 5

HERRIOT

I y * __ 1 /' (From a Correspondent.) / \April Ist has been an eventful day for Swii'£ Creek. The long promised railway to this\place from Kelso has been opened to tk«| publw, and I need hardly say the settlers are jubilant thereat. It is the commencement of a new\era for this important district. "We are only to have three trains weekly — Tuesdays, Qliursdays, and Saturdays, but I am satLsfied^,that as soon as the grain begins to come 'in \ve will have a daily train, now that the farmeVs in Crookston district will pour in its quo\a io the usual large quantities; from Swift; Creek and Dunrobin districts.i The opening was one of the quietest possible — no free train as is usual on such occasions, ami only a, few visitors from Kelso and-; Tapanui. 1 dare say the retrenchment policy is sg&'ething to do with it. j^j^ahe improvements here are of a very sub"-; 'stantial character. To commence with !£f, Collins new hotel, it is being fitted throughout with the most modern inventions, and" i» a x very beautif ul knd commodious establish-* , ment. _ Its dimensions are 45ft depth by 36ft frontage, two stoVeys, and it will contain when finished 21 rooms. It has four parlors two of them being Vlsft square, aud the other two .very, little lessL It has ten large and airy bedrooms, anfi commands a splendid view of the surrounUihg country for miles. Mr Collins was happy, in his selection of a site} the hotel being immediately in front of ; -, the railway station,! and distant just .one ■ chain from it. ,There|is also- a bath room oh ' ~ the lower floor, the Water b^ingiuppliea 1 frpm a : concrete ; tarikj capable 'bfetioldip^.3(K)p. -;,•-. .gallons, built- at the. rear, df the ■ hpteJ.;J • The . kitchen is also supplied from ..the^samff anfci. - by .means pf : pipipg->.thsbf?gh. >|£c wall/l^t; . ..^ tapped just abp.ve |he!si|bkV, whic^h^is^ojli.iMm,.;'' iron 30 inches. byV 15, inches. rT^erVis^jmj^/ exhaust pipe , under; ;the\^builo^^ .carries all impurities a^ay^^d^f-ithp^Vard.^/,,^ ,The kitchen is fitted' up with ■'. 'one:* of J : shsto£< ?% : l6ck's ;be'st -ranges wi^h plate-rack \cpinpleteJ;'n v V The ;stable.s\- a.x&jyery % siibstantiai : itf^e^-boi-.,^-^ (str«ctio^ v .being;v;3^.b!y ; :)iL^^ ' ; a^^^repdi|)&^^:ap;ng|"t;angl^'^ -his _'^t|--'SoS^<?^il^B^^p|9j j.tibii-fo;it^(HiS!i^a\ r ;:yery*' sipfe, ;b"eing jiist -in'&o'nij'.'of rthb lew&a^ ' built Va- large' blacksmith's s)aop, imnie^pe^p ;^ alolngside 'Mr < "^v •h^ alsb^a^ w'heelwii^ht's'\shop^o^^ site, Mr"E'. ; Mnlay : is; ■.building'i ■ &sssms:£jg.i\ shop and -has moved his present gresidedciet^f^Va more smtable^gite . in. r the- 'tQ^§h;p>;jj^£dx'«<?-'' three priyate.houses are built .'or .ib.;oourj^ •'>.. -\ ■ of erectiorh ; All these improvement ? KpiyeJ ' Z. been done within lihe.; last • six ; inonths>;^Q<|- ' / more" are on, the, tapis, so you see ■ ihe"'i^6^ .^ -•'■* "dents ijiave faith in. the r r^turel,.o£'tl^irow,n4v-; J ;' ship of, '" Herriot ''which/is a^.the|ian>e,pf 1 . the station..- '• ' j ',',-,']' .. V '.'■ X'" ",i> T -I " The crops are. very' heavy Here ; th'ijuyeaf ■/. ■' without an exception, and- the Batngle.' of; i;i grain first-class: Most of the qat^dropf : '-& ; : • cut and some is stacked, and' now' that. the weather is glorious the farmers? may expect '.^ > a bountiful They have one seridui v/ v drawback, and that is, ; the state 6i : the ipadl;;.. \n the district. I may say without Tea* off;' . ' contradiction, that although the land" lias been occupied now eight years, and very . . < substantially improved, not one chain of' metalled road has yet been formed. : There » was a considerable sum voted for the formation of the worst portions, and also: for a bridge over Swift Creek through the tp#n- , alnj). Whether it is .through the apathy of. our representatives of the County. I know. not", but ; Ills Ido know, that Swift Creek is 1 '• ■ shamefully njrjlected. What with the bag quest iun, iiie Ijigh rate of tariff on railways, the low prices i'or grain, and the bad state. . i.«£ i]jw road?, the farinevo lot is nob a happy,' uiic. " • ' -'. E '•