A RIDE INTO THE COUNTRY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 74, 31 March 1869, Page 3

A RIDE INTO THE COUNTRY.

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail,

Sir— You do not often tell your readers of what is going on in the country, so I think of describing to you°the impressions made upon rny mind by ■what I saw in a ride I took into the Waimea a few days ago. You must know that lam almost a stranger to that road, and as I had heard a great deal of its being one of the main arteries by which the life blood of traffic was conveyed from the heart or town to the different members in the country, I must confess that I was a little surprised at meeting so few vehicles, and I came to the conclusion that sooner or later, unless a marked improvement took place in this respect, the whole body must die of atrophy, but then I had been up late the night before, was slightly bilious, and had had no breakfast, so that I was not likely to take a cheerful view of matters generally. On getting over those dreadful lulls, which ought to have been levelled long ago, but which are now likely to stand as a monumentum cere perennius of the folly of those who laid out the road that way instead of taking it round by the port, I was delighted at the beautiful view of the surrounding country, which must be remarkably fertile, as it appeared to be all hi a good state of cultivation, and yet not a man was to be seen at work in the different fields. My Tide extended for some fourteen miles, and the only signs that were visible of farming being the •chief occupation of the inhabitants, were one threshing machine at work on one farm, and two ploughs on another. But lam going ahead too fast, I haven't yet got so far as the Turf Hotel where I called in to take a little refreshment in the shape of a glass of ginger beer, and entered into conversation with a gentleman who was apparently much excited about a certain "slashing young colt," with which he is to win the Galatea steeple-chase, the marvellous anecdotes with which I was favored as to its jumping powers, requiring occular demonstration to enable me to realise the fact of there being such a leaper in New Zealand. Re-mounting, I proceeded along the long straight line of road leading to Richmond, on both sides of Avhich was the same deserted appearance that struck me as being so strange on first entering the Waimea Valley, not a single individual being visible in any one of the fields; whether it was a holiday or not I cannot say, but there was everywhere a sense of desolation, and had I been a poet there was no inspiration wanting to make me produce a companion poem to Goldsmith's "Deserted Village." The only living beings to be seen -were a few cows, and large flocks of sheep, the latter seemed to abound everywhere, some evidently undergoing the fattening process, others in such condition as to make your mouth water as you thought with a sigh that sixpence a pound had to be paid to your butcher before you could get a slice ofl the fine looking legs. By the way, can you, Sir, or any one else, tell me why, when sheep are selling at such ridiculously low prices, mutton must be paid for at the exorbitant rates that we have to pay in town ? I shall never get on though, if I am going to speculate in this manner on the difference between sheep and mutton, and I must tell you that nay thoughts were distracted from this subject by the admiration with which I was filled on observing the very peculiar formation of the road for about a mile on this side of Richmond. I wonder who the roadmaker is, I should like to cultivate his acquaintance, for I am certain he must be a genius and a very original one too; I have knocked about a good deal in one place and another but I can safely .say I never saw a road like that road. It is something like the roof of a house with a ridge board some 18 inches in width; a capital road ■ for a man to wheel a barrow along, I don't think you could have a better, there you are occupying _a elevated position in the centre of the road along which you can trundle your barrow without being in the least interfered with by larger vehicles which carefully avoid placing one wheel on the ridge board. It is quite a relief to turn the corner of the road which passes through Richmond and leave behind this masterpiece of roadmaking and by the time I had done so, I arrived at the Star and Garter and was ready for some more gingerbeer, so I went in, much to the suprise of the host to whom a customer appeared quite a novelty, and after swallowing the little stimulant in which I indulged I went for a stroll through the village. Here I found great excitement with regard to the Prince's visit, especially among the poultry who were rather dreading his arrival as a signal for a massacre of the innocents. The country people evidently don't mean to be outdone in the coming fun by their brothers of the City, I heard rumors of how this large party meant to be in the Grand Stand in plenty of time, and how that was to be at the port to witness the landing, I even heard whispers of wherewithal some of the country lassies were to be dressed, and very pretty they will look, or lam much mistaken. The publicans too are anticipating a roaring trade and I was confidentially told that one of them had gone the length of ordering three dozen of ginger beer, and alO gallon cask of ale. I sincerely hope it may prove a remunerative speculation. But I have no time now to describe my travels any further, I must keep that for another day, if you, Mr Editor, feel inclined to publish! any more of my country experiences. Yours _c, Skylark.