TO NELSON AND FOXHILL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5235, 3 January 1878, Page 3

TO NELSON AND FOXHILL.

(I3V ONE OF OUB KEPOHTERS.) The AVellington took a number of excursionists to Nelson on New Year’s Eve, leaving the Queen’s wharf about half-past S. The run across was undisturbed by any incident of moment further than that those inclined for sleep were somewhat prevented by the watch-night services of a select party in he smoking-room on deck. Ou reaching Nel?on, at 7 a.m., that town presented its usual quiet appearance. I have heard the place called “ -Sleepy Hollow.” Look yon, my friends, the town may deserve the epithet of sleepy but the cabmen don't. They are just as wide awake there as in “ The Village” itself. For he who drove the vehicle which took myself and friends from the port charged us Is. all round, on the plea that it was “ after hours”—at 7 a.m. In Nelson breakfast was the premier ordre du jour, which was cheerfully supplied by the host of the Nelson Hotel. Satisfied inwardly, we proceeded to the next order of the day—how to get through it. As for me, my mind was quickly made up. Has not Nelson been lately described by an evening paper as the proper habitat of the Rose of Sharon ? and has not one of our own specials but yesterday shown the town en. fete ? Shall I then exhaust my genius by endeavoring to overtake these descriptions? Not so. I’ll go on to Foxhilt. I did well. The ride from Nelson to the Fuxhill station was a most pleasant one. The land through which the train passed does not appear to Vie very ricli soil ; but it is harvest time, and the golden grain nodded at us as' we went by, and the face of the country looked pleasant. It remindEd mo of long ago. Fora considerable stretch we passed field after field of wheat, aud while the wind whispered softly to the listening ears “ the tide of time flowed back with me for ten minutes I was young again, tbe hand on the dial had been turned back twenty years, anti I was a boy in the wheat fields of the dear old island. I didn’t stop there, for presently I was seated iu the Foxhill inn, showingunmi-takeable proof pf the benefit of sea air and a country ride ou the human a; petite. Now I have seen many country inns in the colonies, but of them all commend me to this one, ’tis a pleasant spot. One most noticeable feature of the country on either side of the line from Nelson to Fuxhill is the entire absence of any appearance of poverty. One would expect to find nice houses and well-kept grounds here and there, but I was certainly surprised at not seeing any poor-looking habitations, Along the whole distance I did not see a single hut; the smallest houses were neat little places enough ; there were no makeshifts. Luncheon at Foxhill we strolled back to the station, which is distant some two miles and a “ bittoek.” There is a conveyance if you prefer it. Kept awake the previous night by tiie spiritual songs of the party I have alluded to above, I slept the sleep of tiie just in returning to Nelson, consequently arrived there prepared to enjoy a ramble. Now I have said Nelson has been described. Nevertheless I like the place (in summer at all events); the pleasant villas the almost glorious gardens, with their wealth of color amt fruit, tho twining hop, seemed to enjoy the sun. AVlien I run for Governor (under tho new order of things) and am elected, thither will I, for a period each year, transfer my Lares and Penates ; there will I consider what I can do for tiie amelioration of tho condition of mankind ; there —— bah, I am raphsodising at at the base of tbe mountain, I’ll finish when I get to tho top. The steamer left Nelson to return at 8 p.m. ou New Year’s Day, and about fifteen minutes to 12 o’clock glided through the French Pass. Since tho little French vessel (was’ut it the Astrolabe '!) shot through ho many years back, no more contented individual has passed those dangerous narrow? than the writer, and indued tired content, I think I may justly say, was the predominant feeling on board. Tho vessel reached the wharf at 7 a.m. yesterday. Tho arrangements for the comfort of the passengers were all that could ba desired, and the stewards acted with unwearying

courtesy throughout. Into tno mysteries of the ladies’ saloon it was not given to me to penetrate, but, from the entire absence of-any complaint ou the part of -the r ladies on board, the same remark would no doubt apply to the stewardess. The trip as a whole was a complete success to those who went; there was but one drawback to tbe affair tbe Wellington could have accommodated many more.