UP THE MOUNTAIN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 28, 16 January 1912, Page 8

UP THE MOUNTAIN.

SOME HOLIDAY EXPERIENCES ON EG MONT’S SLOPES.

<By a Visitor.)

The Falls House—consisting really of four separate buildings and a stable —soeins quite a busy place after the quiet seclusion of the Stratford retreat, several families having evidently made it their quarters for the timo being, the custodian, Mr Graham, being kept busy attending to their various needs.

Dinner was on when wo arrived, and we . were soon doing justice to the viands put before us in the wellfurnished dining-room, our appetites whetted by the exertions of the last four hours.

Just in front of the main building a largo three-staged platform has been erected, from which a good view of the surroundings is obtained.

The Falls are a short distance below- the house, and thither we now made our way, at first along the main road, then by a turning to tin; left which brings us to the bush-covered edge of the gorge below the Falls. The track leading down to the bottom of the basin is fairly steep in places, but evidently well patronised, and in a few minutes wo are standing at the font of the cascade drinking in the wild beauty of the scene. There is a fair volume of water whore it leaps over the rocky face of the cliff apparently 80 to 100 feet high, breaking into spray, which the gusts of wind spread far and wide over the loose boulders and weather beaten bushes, ere it plunges itself into the seething pool at the bottom. The cliff face is rather bare of vegetation and does not lend itself well to photography, the more so as a distant view is practically impossible owing to the dense bush surrounding the lower rim of the basin, but we make two attempts, one from the limb of a tree in the edge of the bush, the other' from tho rocks by the edge of the out-flowing current, tho latter position being rather uncomfortable from tho driving spray. A few minutes’ scramble up the steep path and we are once more on tho half open grassy plateau Irordoring tho gorge, which woidd make an ideal picnic ground and from which peeps of the Falls can bo had through the dense surrounding pledge of shrubs.

Now wo commence tho return journey past the accommodation housb and beyond a few hundred yards where the track to the mountain turns off, which we had not noticed coming down as the notice-board is turned towards the upward climber. Just inside this turning, by the edge of the little stream from which the water supply for'the house is evidently obtained, is a cool, tree-shaded arbour with a tempting seat by the trunk of a tree which lures us in for a few minutes’ rest and rumination on our beautiful’surroundings—the fine high standing bush, tile murmuring stream meandering its peaceful way through tho undergrowth, and occasionally the twitter of a bird or the note of the tui breaking in on the stillness.. A' few chains further up on tho opposite’ side we came on a noticehoard: “To Victoria Falls,” also unnoticed on Our downward way. A pretty little cascade not so imposing as the Dawson Falls, but well worth a visit and expending a plate

on. As we proceed on onr upward way we meet two or three parties returning from their afternoon walk. One party of three had been across to the Stratford House, and we had previously met them on the way out. By-land-by we reach the gate at the top. The remaining mile and a half to Stratford House is downhill, which we saunter easily along, arriving at the house about’ 5.30 in nice time for tea and a chat before turning in for the night. The Inglewood Track and Curtis Falls. By 8 o’clock next morning (Thursday) wo have had breakfast and are ready to start out. this time with the object of visiting Curtis Falls and the Inglewood sido of the mountain. Guided by one of the caretakers’ boys, we cross the horse paddock along a not-very-distinct track till we reach the valley of the Te Popo stream where our guide leaves us. From this stream to the Curtis Falls in the Manganui Gorge, some 1 to 1 miles, the track bears to the north and slightly downwards, and is marked nut by marks on the trees which have to be carefully watched for, as the path itself is rather uncertain in the dense bush. The sun is shining brigatly overhead 1 ut it is nice and cool in the leafy shade. The mellow note of the tui and the cooing of the pigeon can bo heard at intervals but otherwise there is nothing to break the sylvan solitude. Presently we arrive at the edge of the gorge, and descending the steep slope emerge from the thick hush on the wide rocky bod of the Manganui, evidently a rushing raging torrent at times when the heavy rains and melting snow from the mountain dash their way down into the valley. Now the stream is comparatively small and easily crossed on the stepping stones that abound in its hod. Looking up the gorge a fine view of the mountain is obtained winch shuts us iu with its some 5000 ft of height above whore we now stand. As yet there is no sign of the Falls, but proceeding a little way up and rounding a bend the lower cascade comes suddenly into view, sweeping gracefully over a ledge some 40 foot high into a rocky cavern which almost cuts off the view at the bottom. After securing a snap of these Falls we proceed up the gorge for some quarter of a mile to the upper Falls—which is the Curtis Falls proper, I I understand, a much smaller and more j confined body of water, but consider- 1

ibly higher in drop—probably GOft ;o SOft—and broken into a sort of louble cascade some ten feet from :he bottom through Ireing caught in a projecting ledge of rock. Here the jjorge is rather barren of vegetation, and dries not make such a pretty picture as tho lower fall. Still proceeding upwards the galley gets more and more barren and rocky, with huge slips hero and there loosened by the winter’s frost and snow and rain. The bush on the top gives place to scrub and by-and-by to tussock and moss as it nears tho snow-line. Some distance from tho top of the gorge the main body of the water of the stream is seen issuing from a densely scrub-covered gully on the right leading .upwards to tho base of the, rocky cliffs from which it evidently takes its source, and a little higher up the, stream itself is lost amongst tho loose rocks and bofildors that strew tho bottom.

(To bo continued.)