ON THE TRAMP.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 28, 8 May 1916, Page 7

ON THE TRAMP.

(By Scedyess.) Leaving Nelson at 8 a.m. in the Midland express, we reached Glenhope, the terminus, about noon doing an :average or about 15 miles an hour; so alter allowing the time for sundry chats at oho wayside stations for the officials and fanners it must be considered good time. After the first twenty miles or so, occasional hop gardens are seen, also our old friend, the blackberry, which thrives in this, district. We uoiiced a territorial camp in full swing on the journey. Friends were waiting at Glenhope with a real country luncu, all of the best, the leading host being the chairman of the county'council. We left biter, after a very interesting time, with some of the settlers, and started d(,\vn the famous Buller Ltoacl. The railway is partlly formed for a mile or two further on. | One has only to mention "railway" to hear "language." J expected every , minute to see the shade of some ol iStraiford's early bid lock-drivers embracing the men as kindred souls once jmore united. Some men are still eraIployed on the work—namely, one en'gineer, one inspector, one overseer, one timekeeper, as well as a storeman in I charge of picks and shovels, one carpenter, and (1 have heard) three laborers. We did not see the laborers, oi any signs of progress; these men may I have been away pig-limiting, as the I weather was fine, but to make the Murchsion mari really sit up and don his \ruv paint, all that has to be done is to say "Waiuku," referring to the new railway up north > where, they say, & great political 'Rangitara took all their men and plant. Some day, after the war, it will start again, but they never forget there is to-morrow.. fliey ideserve a better fate. See the land they have taken up, and the means of access that they have. Mose's trek to [the Promised Land was a picnic com'pared to some of the men's experi'ences. They have hearts as large as elephants, and if is a joy to have met them. After a 17-mile drive we arrived at our stopping place, where a dinner lit for the gods awaited us. Devonshire 'cream! You could out with a bread 1 knife, and there were other good things. Next day we started for Mur'chison. The sun was shining, but there were ominous clouds on the mountains and hills; these fully qualified their baleful aspect before we returned! In Murchison, we, .met Mr. llennoll, an old Taranakian. Now he is manager of the only hank there—the Bank of New Zealand. We also shook with some other Taranakians on our witv home ,hv motor, from..W.estpoit.

;l MMurohiebn V) What a name" to juggle with! t can ' romcmuer <the name from .earliest, ,clnldhood. How many thousands tramped it' on their way to the 'Eldorado- t>f the West Coast diggings! Get hbld of the oldest inhabitant and hear the .stories of how they made it easy and spout it easy! Those days are now passing away. The township boasts two excellent hotels that would be pretentious in a city, also county council buildings, a town hall, school, and a" dairy factory : at the lasb-mentioned- they, will proudly .tell you they made 100 tons of butter last year and that it is likely the amount will be larger this your. Meeting Mr Fraser, the courteous county chirk, I was soon hearing things. jchison is the largest county -in NeW Zealand or one of them. It .consists of 'one million and thirty-three thousand (acres, only about one ninth of which is, 'rateable; the revenue is just ,about ,'£2ooo a year made up of about £IBO in gold revenue, £73 on hocel licenses, and the balance in rates. There are two hotels paying £25 each for license fees, four paying £G, and one (listen to jthis) £3 per annum. The members' 'travelling expenses absorb about five 'per cent, of the rates, and the nationjal debt of this huge county is less than |£20()0, made up of £950 for the council chambers and £IOOO for a road loan. lit comparison it may be stated that [Stratford County's national debt '«

[about £140,000. To reojioio, llie mi ■ ; road from Nelson to Westport is kep. by the Government, and well kept it is. There is a big future before the

district someday. Ycfc we must be like- the Nelson people, and remember that there is a to-morrow. jl the reader be not wearied, i shall continue the story in a future issue, telling of my visit to the wonderful lake, the beautiful Buller, the reminisences of a miner from the Howard and his hoard of gold, the wonderful way they had recruited U\ per cent out of a population of 1204 people (men. women and children)—not half the population of Stratford—and the send-offs to every one who t>ocs; and the delightful people they generally are. (To be continued).