Carnarvon.

Manawatu Herald, 29 January 1895, Page 3

Carnarvon.

(from our own correspondent.) the weather here has been very warm and dry lately and harvesting and stacking is the order of the day everywhere. THE FOXTON RACES the other day was a diversion among us from the every day work and monotony of our existence. A few friends and myself got into the tram at a siding away back and were honoured with outside seats in trucks, so we had a good opportunity of seeing the country as we passed along. The weather was beautiful with a gentle breeze blowing just sufficient to keep us cool. We found ourselves passing through the Carnarvon Estate and on either side there seemed to be abundance of feed. One big paddock which we could not see the end of was covered with fat sheep on rape. We next came to Mr Gifford's place ; here a large area had been in crop which was nearly all cut and the rest in stooks and stacks. On the opposite side of the line lies Mr Lumsden's place where the crop was in stook — a mob of sheep feeding on rape and a paddock newly ploughed for a green crop of some sort. We then passed Mr Boyle's place, but could not see much of it only we were told that Mr Boyle was a big road contractor. Mr Robinson's property came next. Here we saw a carriage drive, seemingly in course of construction, winding its way among pretty round little hills to his house which is about a mile off the line* and is surrounded with English trees and situated near a small lake. This will be a very pretty place when the drive is finished and more of the land reclaimed from its semi-native state. We also passed a part of Mr Scott's property but could not see his residence. Then we passed through Mr McLennan's property, Oroua Downs, which takes up a large tract of country on both sides of the road. A good deal of the land has been cleared and laid down, but still there is room for improve-* ments of the same sort. The house is prettily situated on tastefully laid off grounds surrounded by large plantations— too much hidden per haps with high trees for the public to see and admire it, as one of the desires of the owner of a pretty plage

generally likes the public to do. By this time the accommodation of our carriages was pretty well taken up with about 100 passengers amongst whom we observed the manager of the tram, Mr Cox. On getting to the racecourse nearly all the passengers got out, but we and some others went on to the antique, looking town of Foxton. We had refreshments and a splendid luncheon at the Manawatu Hotel, which is kept by Mr and Mrs Harrison, who were very busy with visitors. Everything here was so nice and orderly that we were almost tempted to give the racecourse a wide berth and stay inside all day. Was it the good cool room we occupied and the excellent creature comforts we enjoyed that would lure us ? No, but it wa's the "way" of our host and hostess. How much the people of a place have to do with making it enjoyable or otherwise ! However we went to the races and had a good time meeting friends whom we had not seen for long. January 26th, 1895.