JOTTINGS BY THE WAY-SIDE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 307, 18 April 1877, Page 2

JOTTINGS BY THE WAY-SIDE.

By Traveller.

One of the most pretty and romantic spots (so common in New Zealand) is to be found close to Waimate, in South Canterbury. The place I refer to is the Waimate bush, adjoining the township. Your correspondent having heard a great deal of talk about the prettiness of this place and having a little spare time on hand thought he would avail himself of the opportunity offered of judging for himself. He, therefore, patrcnis6d a local livery stable, which soon furnished him with a horse and trap, and being accompanied by a friend, started off for a drive, ostensibly to kill time until the departure of the afternoon train southwards. I own I did not regret having made up my mind so to do. After getting clear of the township we drove along the Bush r.oad for about a mile, when we came to Bruce's saw-mill, which is situated close to a small creek, running through the bush. appeared to be the scene of ext'-nsive operations in the timber line, judging from a glance that we had on passing; also from the 'number of dwell- ,

ing houses erected, hereabout?" «&Hc handsomety-finished residenc> ■■£ Brace to the familiar slab huts by the employe's engaged in cations essential to the working 0 f M? mill. lam told that there are some men employed at this mill alone '>llß. year round, .and in busy times Sj Brucs's establishment gives emplßj ment to doable that number, so ttalp stranger on entering the township He Waimate naturally ask? wlurs Ml all the people, as the population' of Ml mate is variously quoted at from il l hundred to a thousand inhabitants ; H if he would only take a run into the buKj and take a note of the number of P«W employed at the mills when in full s\v& his surprise would vanish instantly. AiH; passing Bracks, and traversing about M miles of a road (which evidently had cH a large sum of money before bringing its present condition, as the timber this portion of it appeared to lie parti larly heavy, having the app.arance ~ gigantic avenue, only the stately tot and pine taking the place of the famil avenual poplar), we arrived at a cr road, which we found, on exploration, right into the centre uf the bush, stopped at a small civek to water horse,, and here were heard the sw notes of the different species of bit makin" one fancy that he was in su secluded spot in the Old Country, pleasant to the ear was their warbhi But time, the great mover of all thin was speeding along, and w« had to m, another start, this time W.iinintewar only taking another road for it. We su emerged from the bash, and came on the top of a rise, commanding as it di splendid view of the country lying 1 tween the Pareora river on the north a t'-e Waiho on the so..t'i. T.iis part oft country being thickly studded with fani upon which were to be seen hundreds stacks, containing (as I have no dm they did) the principal staple of produce viz.", wheat— tiie far.tiers in this <] ■ trict seem to have no reason to Co plain of the quality of the l;i hereabouts, as I have heard. < experienced agricultnralis:s speak in i t uisiastic terms <>f th« soil a? bei about the best, and ( qially as ric i as a|| in the Colonies for a ;r'.c lit -ir.il purp iv.-a land there is not the slightest'doubt t-liH when Mr. Stndholme cuts up his lata tract of laud into modv.-rate-s'z,-d firiiisM as I hear lie purposes (loin _;—this P>rtH tlie country will eventually become ""uS t>e most prosperous in New Zuahuj After continuing our drive along the oij skirts of tilt; ""bush, and admiring tj di.'lVrent places as wo pass-d along, Ws mate soon hove in sight —thus c mc n< r ii on; of the most pleasant drivi s it is ]u| sible to wis 1 for, and I advise any peral having plenty of spare time and fond I an excursion into the c mntry, to take| trip to Waimate, tlienc ■ thro.igh the bnsi and w'u-n *" : cy have United t e trip I ;i| sure they will agree with me that it is ot| of the s for an cXjursiou| be found in any part ;,f these islands. |